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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
“Do not judge them. Let them eat.” (271)
So, I think this is a fairly accurate and harrowing account of the Donner party. Having read a few books this morbid curiosity now, I think this story is unique in its decision to tell the tale in prose and poetry. This method really refined the story to its “bare bones” if you will. Every character is their own poet and you truly get this sense of their voice. Attention has clearly been paid to the details here.
In a gruesome and tragic story like this one that has been so sensationalized, I think it can be difficult to restore a sense of humanity to these poor people but this book really manages to do that well.
At the end of the day, the Donner party is a story about hungry people. About people hungry for all kinds of things. Hunger propels the story. In that sense, I truly appreciate how hunger is personified in this tale. (Similar to how Death is personified in Zuzak’s “The Book Thief”) That personification emphasizes the larger than life quality that hunger and yearning and wanting can take on, even in our own lives. It’s terrifying. It’s chilling. You never know what might be eating you.
So, I think this is a fairly accurate and harrowing account of the Donner party. Having read a few books this morbid curiosity now, I think this story is unique in its decision to tell the tale in prose and poetry. This method really refined the story to its “bare bones” if you will. Every character is their own poet and you truly get this sense of their voice. Attention has clearly been paid to the details here.
In a gruesome and tragic story like this one that has been so sensationalized, I think it can be difficult to restore a sense of humanity to these poor people but this book really manages to do that well.
At the end of the day, the Donner party is a story about hungry people. About people hungry for all kinds of things. Hunger propels the story. In that sense, I truly appreciate how hunger is personified in this tale. (Similar to how Death is personified in Zuzak’s “The Book Thief”) That personification emphasizes the larger than life quality that hunger and yearning and wanting can take on, even in our own lives. It’s terrifying. It’s chilling. You never know what might be eating you.
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My sudden Donner Party obsession has been fully satiated after reading this book. It was excellent! I’m flooded with more dates and details than I hoped for. I love that it was told from several points of view. I feel like I personally know the victims and suffered with them on their torturous journey.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf is a fascinating account of the Donner expedition as told in verse. Readers experience the story primarily through the eyes of members of the party - everyone from party leaders to their children - but also through other unique perspectives, such as a pair of oxen. The most notable narrator is Hunger, a personified representation of the constant and ever-increasing pressure of the party's gradual starvation and increased desperation. Although so many various narrators can be difficult to trace, Wolf helps this by giving each primary character a title, such as The Princess or The Scholar, which helps keep everyone as organized as possible.
In addition to the vast number of characters to remember, there are constant mentions of various locations and paths which can be challenging. As I read an ARC, many features of the finished copy aren't yet available. While the ARC indicated plans to add a map, I feel this work would benefit from several maps showing a progression throughout the journey. It's difficult enough tracking a mental picture of the trek across the country, much less when considering where various groups of people are in relation to others. There were many references to various campsites or one group pulling ahead away from the others. Perhaps it's just me, but visualizing the paths and the locations of each character was often challenging.
Experiencing this story as a novel in verse was a really unique experience. The format of the poems was very different than expected. I especially enjoyed the poems that included repeated chanting verses or characters speaking the same lines but relating to different circumstances. These always felt very effective as storytelling tools. The visual poetry in the snow poems was striking and always felt like a little gutpunch regardless of whether the page was full of snowflakes or featured a single lonely flake. Definitely a cool technique to connect readers emotionally.
Three Graves is obviously well-researched. Readers can tell this from the writing itself, but I also appreciate the thorough notes and citations provided by Wolf. He credits his sources, but also explains in detail the areas where he had to fill gaps of details lost to time or make an educated guess. He is very transparent about what aspects of the story were entirely fabricated, which I respect and of which there are very few. The end notes include additional features, such as select character bios describing what happened to them after the events of the story, stat sheets outlining various statistics from the journey, and much more.
I found this read incredibly fascinating. I tore through the pages, eager to find out what would happen next. I quickly found myself emotionally invested in certain characters and their plight. All of that said, I'll warn that this read isn't for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Deaths and vividly described injuries abound and unsavory proteins are harvested and eaten in the name of survival. The entire book is a study in what true desperation does to the human mind and spirit. The horrifying reality of what these people lived through was borderline overwhelming at times. I'm grateful to have experienced this read and learned more about the Donner-Reed party, but I can't say the journey through this book was easy.
Overall verdict: Quick, approachable nonfiction on a fascinating topic. Solid pace. Intriguing characters. Emotionally stressful and often more-than-a-little gross, but never gratuitously so. Would recommend for mature(ish) readers who enjoy history, adventures, survival stories, and general wilderness lit.
Special thanks to Edelweiss+ and Candlewick Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In addition to the vast number of characters to remember, there are constant mentions of various locations and paths which can be challenging. As I read an ARC, many features of the finished copy aren't yet available. While the ARC indicated plans to add a map, I feel this work would benefit from several maps showing a progression throughout the journey. It's difficult enough tracking a mental picture of the trek across the country, much less when considering where various groups of people are in relation to others. There were many references to various campsites or one group pulling ahead away from the others. Perhaps it's just me, but visualizing the paths and the locations of each character was often challenging.
Experiencing this story as a novel in verse was a really unique experience. The format of the poems was very different than expected. I especially enjoyed the poems that included repeated chanting verses or characters speaking the same lines but relating to different circumstances. These always felt very effective as storytelling tools. The visual poetry in the snow poems was striking and always felt like a little gutpunch regardless of whether the page was full of snowflakes or featured a single lonely flake. Definitely a cool technique to connect readers emotionally.
Three Graves is obviously well-researched. Readers can tell this from the writing itself, but I also appreciate the thorough notes and citations provided by Wolf. He credits his sources, but also explains in detail the areas where he had to fill gaps of details lost to time or make an educated guess. He is very transparent about what aspects of the story were entirely fabricated, which I respect and of which there are very few. The end notes include additional features, such as select character bios describing what happened to them after the events of the story, stat sheets outlining various statistics from the journey, and much more.
I found this read incredibly fascinating. I tore through the pages, eager to find out what would happen next. I quickly found myself emotionally invested in certain characters and their plight. All of that said, I'll warn that this read isn't for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Deaths and vividly described injuries abound and unsavory proteins are harvested and eaten in the name of survival. The entire book is a study in what true desperation does to the human mind and spirit. The horrifying reality of what these people lived through was borderline overwhelming at times. I'm grateful to have experienced this read and learned more about the Donner-Reed party, but I can't say the journey through this book was easy.
Overall verdict: Quick, approachable nonfiction on a fascinating topic. Solid pace. Intriguing characters. Emotionally stressful and often more-than-a-little gross, but never gratuitously so. Would recommend for mature(ish) readers who enjoy history, adventures, survival stories, and general wilderness lit.
Special thanks to Edelweiss+ and Candlewick Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
I read this book because it was required for my YA Lit class.
I would teach this book in school because it discusses an important event in history, and it allows students to practice close-reading. This novel should be taught in public schools because it introduces students to a major historical event. It provides multiple points of view from the Donner Party and it allows the reader to get an idea of what it must have been like to travel from the Midwest to California. It offers a more sympathetic portrayal of the Donner Party. Students reading the book will develop critical thinking skills and be put out of their comfort zone. They can ask themselves hard questions and place themselves in the shoes of the Donner Party.
Drugs: There are no drugs.
Sex: There is an innocent romance between two children.
Language: Mild. There is the occasional "damn."
Violence: One of the main characters stabs and kills another character. Two characters are killed and eaten by a few members of the Donner Party.
Rock&Roll: Half the party dies due to starvation and other injuries sustained during the journey.
I would teach this book in school because it discusses an important event in history, and it allows students to practice close-reading. This novel should be taught in public schools because it introduces students to a major historical event. It provides multiple points of view from the Donner Party and it allows the reader to get an idea of what it must have been like to travel from the Midwest to California. It offers a more sympathetic portrayal of the Donner Party. Students reading the book will develop critical thinking skills and be put out of their comfort zone. They can ask themselves hard questions and place themselves in the shoes of the Donner Party.
Drugs: There are no drugs.
Sex: There is an innocent romance between two children.
Language: Mild. There is the occasional "damn."
Violence: One of the main characters stabs and kills another character. Two characters are killed and eaten by a few members of the Donner Party.
Rock&Roll: Half the party dies due to starvation and other injuries sustained during the journey.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's one of the best books I couldn't wait to be done reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent