Teenager Sallie Hester and her family packed their supplies into a wagon and set off on a dangerous 2,000 mile journey to California. They faced disease, raging rivers, and blazing hot deserts. Through it all, Sallie wrote down her experiences in a diary. Read her story, and learn about the Oregon Trail from someone who traveled it.
April 1, 2014
Gr 3-5-In this lively collection, pivotal historical periods are told in the words of young people who lived through them. Each book begins with a two-page introduction that places the diary and its author in a broader historical context. The youthful perspective is refreshing and, at times, unexpected. The bulk of the content is made up of the diary excerpts, while editorial sidebars expand on things mentioned in the diaries. For instance, Sally Wister mentions "Hessians" in a diary entry, while an adjacent sidebar explains who the Hessians were and what they did. The illustrations are made up of well-reproduced photographs, drawings, and maps. A useful and new take on history.
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