Bound for Oregon by Jean
Van Leeuwen
New York: Dial Books, 1994
In the mid-nineteenth century, over 200,000 Americans risked their lives in order to build a new life in Oregon. For them, Oregon was the promised land, and they were willing to endure the rigors of the Oregon trail in order to reach it. While these pioneers left many accounts of their harrowing adventures, virtually all of them were written by adults and describe the trip from an adult perspective. Perhaps the lone exception is the story of nine year old Mary Ellen Todd, who in 1852 made the journey from her family's home in Arkansas to the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
As an adult, Mary Ellen shared her stories with her daughter Adrietta and her grandchildren. Fortunately, her daughter published these memoirs in a book called On to Oregon! A True Story of a Young Girl's Journey Into the West. Bound for Oregon is based on this book, and as such much of the story is true. Not all of the recollections were complete, and as a result, Jean Van Leeuwen fills in the blanks with her fascinating account of this remarkable journey. While the dialog, the names of many of Mary Ellen's friends and relatives and her descriptions of Mary Ellen's feelings are fictional, most of the major incidents described in the book really happened. It is no wonder that for the many thousands who braved and survived the trek, it was the adventure of a lifetime.
The book accurately describes the difficult challenges and choices faced by these early Oregon settlers. What route to take; what provisions to carry; when and for how long to rest; and whether to travel alone, in a small party or as part of a large wagon train were just some of the crucial decisions that led to a safe journey or spelled disaster. The book includes Mary Ellen's descriptions of difficult river crossings, confrontations with Indians, disagreements among the travelers, and the impact of disease on the health of the travelers.Comment
This book is easy to read and quite short (167 pages). Jean Van Leeuwen deserves credit for helping her readers relate to just how difficult the journey along the Oregon Trail must have been for those brave enough to attempt it. As she points out in the book, many failed. Many gave up and returned to their homes while others perished en route. Since the trail crossed Idaho, it is particularly interesting to learn about the Todd's journey when they were in Idaho. There are references to Ft. Hall, Ft. Boise, the Shoshone Indians and the crossing of the Snake River. For more information about the Oregon Trail, click:
www.or.blm.gov/NHOTIC/OTHistory/overview.htmReading Level: 5.3
Interest Level: 5 - 8
167 pagesSupports the following Instructional Objectives:
Trace the exploration and settlement of the West
Identify the Motivating Factors that led to the American Westward Migration
Excerpt
Father tried to calm our fears.
"All those terrible tales we have been hearing are exaggerated," he told Louvina and me. "Most Indians, like the Kaws we saw today, are peaceful toward the white people, and most wagon trains are not bothered by them. But the Indians do have reason to be unhappy. You know, all this country once belonged to them. They have killed their buffalo and taken their land. They have not been treated with fairness.
Thinking about the Indians in this way made me feel more kindly toward them and less frightened. Still, in the black stillness of midnight, when I heard wolves howl and Rover answer with his low rumbling growl, I couldn't help remembering those stories and wondering if Indians were creeping up on our camp in the darkness.Picture of the Oregon Trail courtesy of EDSITEment at:
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?ID=323
Accessed July 31, 2002.Historical Fiction and Idaho U.S. History Curriculum
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E-mail Blaine Davies at blainedavies@cableone.net