Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 6^-10. There is no doubt that the gruesome fact of cannibalism is what will lure readers to these accounts of the westward journey of the Donner party, which was trapped in the snows of the Sierra Nevadas 150 years ago. However, both books avoid sensationalism. They place the horror in the context of who the 83 emigrants were on that ill-fated wagon train, where they came from, what they brought with them, and what their journey was like, until the last desperate survivors ate the corpses of their fellow travelers and were finally rescued. In fact, there is so much background detail it's sometimes hard to keep straight the names of all the individual people as well as the comings and goings of the various groups. Lavender, an eminent historian of the West, draws on authentic primary documents, combining a vivid narrative with his analysis of what happened and why. His handsomely designed, slightly oversize volume has lots of photos of the places and people. He helps us imagine the backbreaking labor of making trail, what that journey must have been like "step by step by step." Editor Zeinert gives a lot of background history, and she has done a good job of condensing the memoir of one teenage survivor, Virginia Reed Murphy, and weaving in occasional extracts from the diary and letters of two other survivors. The primary documents are immediate and dramatic. Both books leave open for discussion what mistakes were made, who was to blame, whether the pioneers were brave or foolish. It's clear that many questions, including whether murder was committed, cannot be answered. Students might also want to think about greed and racism. Who were more dangerous: the emigrants or the "lurking" Indians? --Hazel Rochman
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 UpThis noteworthy recounting of the Donner party and its gruesome end should be a sure success. Zeinert presents, along with introductory material and editorial commentary, the edited memoirs of survivor Virginia Reed Murphy, age 12 during the trip; the letters and diary of Virginia's stepfather; as well as excerpts from the journal of Patrick Breen, who faithfully recorded all of the horrific events that befell the Donners and their fellow emigrants. It is fascinating to compare the different accounts; Virginia does not mention any cannibalism, but nevertheless gives a realistic picture with a minimum of flowery 19th-century prose, written 45 years after the event. James Reed's early letters to the newspaper back home exhibit a macho brashness and confidence, while his later diary entries reveal underlying emotions of anguish and fear. Zeinert explains what encouraged the Donner and Reed families to undertake this arduous overland journey cross country in the spring of 1846. Primary sources and additions by Zeinert also show why the party became stranded and the foolishness of some of its decisions. In later life Virginia's advice to friends in Illinois was, "Bring nothing but provisions and just enough clothing to last until you get here, and don't take any cutoffs." Chronologies, maps, and reproductions of historical photographs accompany a bibliography of sources and a list of books for further reading.David A. Lindsey, Lakewood High and Middle School Libraries, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
With letters by James Reed. The tragic story is told through the memoirs of Virginia Reed, who was twelve at the time, with supplementary accounts based on her father's letters and the diary of another traveler. Given the sensitive nature of aspects of the journey, young readers will find the background notes and explanatory comments helpful. Somewhat sketchy maps and numerous reproductions illuminate the westward experience. Bib. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
