When orphans Aiden and Maddy Lynch first meet trailrider Jefferson J. Jackson in the spring of 1865, they’re struggling to survive on their f...
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Feb 16, 2010
Cara
rated it: 
The stunning cover is what initially got me hooked. The guy is in the "in between" (being a man and boy) looking off to what we can't see but we get the feeling he's looking for something to solve all his worries. The backdrop is scenic and makes you feel like you can almost smell the air he's in.
Besides the wonderful cover we have a haunting story. Aiden and his sister Maddy are starved beyond belief (eating mud and grasshoppers) in a drought-ridden Kansas with no family l More...
Besides the wonderful cover we have a haunting story. Aiden and his sister Maddy are starved beyond belief (eating mud and grasshoppers) in a drought-ridden Kansas with no family l More...
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Jan 20, 2009
Debbie
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4 1/2 stars. What an engrossing story to read on a snowy day, or any other day. I didn't want it to end. The devil takes many forms in this novel, not just smallpox. Great cover.
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Mar 10, 2009
Teen
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Review: McKernan is a historian; her first book was”Shackleton’s Stowaway,” which was a fictional account as accurately based on the facts as possible. One of the features of that book was an appendix of what happened to the men of that expedition to Anartica, as the book was based on the actual members of Shackleton’s crew. In “The Devil’s Paintbox,” McKernan does not have real people to weave her story around, but there is evidence of her intensive research into the settlement of the west b
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Mar 04, 2009
Peg
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McKernan is an historian; her first book was "shackleton's Stowaway,"
which was a fictional account as accurately based on the facts as possible. One of the features of that book was an appendix of what happened to the men of that expedition to Anartica, as the book was based on the actual members of Shackleton's crew. In "The Devil's Paintbox," McKernan does not have real people to weave her story around, but there is evidence of her intensive research into the settl More...
which was a fictional account as accurately based on the facts as possible. One of the features of that book was an appendix of what happened to the men of that expedition to Anartica, as the book was based on the actual members of Shackleton's crew. In "The Devil's Paintbox," McKernan does not have real people to weave her story around, but there is evidence of her intensive research into the settl More...
Jan 11, 2010
Terri
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 29, 2009
Gwen the Librarian
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Once again, Victoria McKernan has written a gripping historical novel. The Devil's Paintbox tells the story of Aidan and Maddy, two orphans who are on the verge of starvation out on the Kansas prairie when a wagon train comes by and rescues them. Off on the adventure of the Oregon Trail, Aidan and Maddy actually have an easier life than they have ever known before. They have indentured themselves to a logging camp near Seattle to pay their way west. But, of course, the westward journey is fr
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May 31, 2010
Christine
rated it:
I started this book back in January, but in the midst of the flurry of interviews I had going on at the time, it got lost in the shuffle.
The Devil's Paintbox is at times beautiful, at times blunt. Sometimes the prose surprised me with novel turns of phrase and unusual metaphor. At other times, the writing was stiff and alienating.
This is the story of Aiden Lynch, and his journey across the United States to Seattle. Aiden has nothing to lose. Most of his family has died from More...
The Devil's Paintbox is at times beautiful, at times blunt. Sometimes the prose surprised me with novel turns of phrase and unusual metaphor. At other times, the writing was stiff and alienating.
This is the story of Aiden Lynch, and his journey across the United States to Seattle. Aiden has nothing to lose. Most of his family has died from More...
Dec 03, 2010
Belann
rated it:
The year is 1865 and Aiden and Maddy are starving on what is left of their drought-stricken farm in Kansas. They are the only survivors of their family, and are now out of food. When Jefferson Jackson shows up on their farm, they are suspicious, but see him as a way out of their situation. Aiden, 16, convinces Jackson to take he and Maddy along with his wagon train in exchange for Aiden's promise of payment of future wages from the logging camp destination to Jackson. The travel in the wagon
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Oct 09, 2011
Janet
rated it:
This was a great historical fiction. It was set in the West on a wagon train headed for Gold country. 2 young siblings must survive and keep each other safe. Not only does it deal with the hardship of that life, it introduces the issue of small pox in the 1800s. The country is at the cusp of finding a vaccination but this lifesaving vaccine is withheld from the Native American community that is so terribly vulnerable and devastated by the disease. Great interplay of relationships between th
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Apr 27, 2010
Amy
rated it: 
I really liked this book. Aiden and Maddy are the only two remaining members of their family who have not died as a result of an accident or starvation. They are on the brink - eating dirt to stay alive, when one day a man rides up on a horse and offers to take them west over the Oregon Trail in exchange for a year's servitude in the logging business. It's their last hope and they agree. The trek west is filled with adventure - soldiers who have small pox, Native Americans who help guide the
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Apr 08, 2010
Jean
rated it:
This was a well written book and I learned a lot of history from it. I didn't like it. In fact, I wanted to throw it across the room a few times. Twice I closed it determined not to read any more. (I really don't like it when my favorite characters get killed off.) If I was to rate it for TV it would look something like this: LSVD. I also lost interest toward the end. Yes, exciting dramatic stuff was happening, but at that point I knew the outcome would be grim no matter what: "The I
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Nov 30, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
I really like historical fiction and when a student was looking for a book in the school library we came across this book. The name was intriguing and there was no description in the book. This book chronicles Aiden as he moves from the midwest to the northwest with his sister. They experience many trials along the way including a tragic loss that Aiden has to confront and deal with for the rest of his journey. Aiden and the wagon confront experience the same trials experienced by those who
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Sep 11, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
As the only surviving members of their family, 15-year-old Aiden Lynch and his sister, Maddy, have barely made it through the harsh winter alone. Not much remains in their part of Kansas after the flood and the fires, and the two are reduced to living off clay from the river and the occasional grasshopper.
It's been five months since they've seen another human being, so when Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on their land, lookin More...
As the only surviving members of their family, 15-year-old Aiden Lynch and his sister, Maddy, have barely made it through the harsh winter alone. Not much remains in their part of Kansas after the flood and the fires, and the two are reduced to living off clay from the river and the occasional grasshopper.
It's been five months since they've seen another human being, so when Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on their land, lookin More...
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May 31, 2011
Tara
rated it:
Great writing. I read 'The Compound' (another Beehive Book award selection in the young adult category) and 'The Devil's Paintbox was so much better written. I have to remember that Young Adult category can be watered down adult content rather than a step above the childrens section. Although there is nothing inapporpriate (the main character does not engage in sexual activities, nor are there explicit details) in the book, it does introduce sexual references/relationships and the topic of pr
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Jan 11, 2010
Cheryl
rated it:
All that is left of Aiden’s family is his 13-year-old sister Maddy. Alone on the drought stricken Kansas prairie Aiden commits to work one year logging for his passage and an additional year for his sisters on wagon train heading to Seattle. During the journey the teen overcomes dangers and befriends an Indian youth. The story takes an unusual turn when Aiden nears the end of his journey and begins working out his time at the logging camp. There is an underlying account of the terrible toll t
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Mar 17, 2010
Pam
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A well-researched book about traveling the Oregon Trail and the perils of frontier living. Written about two orphans, Aiden(15) and his sister Maddy (13) as they leave their drought-ravaged farm/ranch in Kansas at the end of the civil war and join a wagon train. Aiden indentures himself to a logger and helps the reverand and his wife learn to live as pioneers. The harrowing journey, heartbreak, and rugged living are vividly described. Relations with Indians, loggers, and settlers are all expl
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Nov 27, 2008
Claire
rated it:
I am still reading this excellent story of Aidan's transformation from boy to man. the story is grave but very engaging.
Set during the US westward expansion- post Donner party-
The book open with Aidan and his sister Maddy so hungry in the windswept prairie that he is eating clay just to have something in his belly. As he traps a dinner of one grasshopper Aidan is found by Jackson a wagon train leader who pities these kids (13 and 16) and agrees to take them on his train west. More...
Set during the US westward expansion- post Donner party-
The book open with Aidan and his sister Maddy so hungry in the windswept prairie that he is eating clay just to have something in his belly. As he traps a dinner of one grasshopper Aidan is found by Jackson a wagon train leader who pities these kids (13 and 16) and agrees to take them on his train west. More...
Dec 10, 2009
elissa
rated it:
Set after the Civil War is over, starting in the midwest, following the Oregon Trail, and ending in the Pacific Northwest. Took a little while for this one to get going for me, but once it did, it really did. I spent all day yesterday being sad that I was done with it, although the story wrapped up fairly well. I guess I just wanted to spend some more time with Aiden, and see how things turned out for him later. There could easily be another whole story about him. I enjoyed hearing about a
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May 12, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
Bleak, epic and heartbreaking, McKernan's novel is excellent historical fiction. After living on grasshoppers in rural Kansas for too long, Aiden and Maddy are brother and sister just hoping to survive. When Jefferson J. Jackson stumbles upon them and invites them to join the wagon train to Oregon, they hop at the chance.
After befriending some Native Americans on the trail, Aidan suffers devastating personal hardships which lead him to become a logger, fighter and drinker.
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After befriending some Native Americans on the trail, Aidan suffers devastating personal hardships which lead him to become a logger, fighter and drinker.
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Jan 10, 2011
Linda
rated it:
This story depicts the pioneer era, featuring one particular young hero. He loses much of his family and has barely survived cold and starvation in the winter before the story even begins. He and his sister join a wagon train in a last effort to find security and some kind of life. There are good guys and bad guys, challenges and triumphs throughout. But the title comes from the thread that connects all the above: smallpox. I really enjoyed the historical elements in the book. I think I'd
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May 23, 2009
Jamie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 07, 2010
Christine
rated it:
Historical fiction is my favorite. I think I've said that before. In this story we have brother and sister Aiden and Maddy surviving on their own after the death of the parents.
Not only do you have a pioneer on the trail story, you also get a Kansas sod farmer story, a little bit of a civil war story, a how the white people treat indians story, a Seattle logging camp story, and a small-pox outbreak story. That might seem like a bit of overkill, but I think the author does a great job of b More...
Not only do you have a pioneer on the trail story, you also get a Kansas sod farmer story, a little bit of a civil war story, a how the white people treat indians story, a Seattle logging camp story, and a small-pox outbreak story. That might seem like a bit of overkill, but I think the author does a great job of b More...
Dec 10, 2011
Dolores
rated it:
This felt like two different books to me. The first book I really liked. That was the story of the westward trip on the Oregon trail. When the author was telling that story, I loved the book. But, when Maddy died, it felt like a plot device. Yes, I know that the journey was difficult and that many did not survive it. But the accident that took Maddy's life seemed much more likely to have claimed other members of the party. It seemed to me that Maddy had more value to the rest of story dead that
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Mar 21, 2011
Kris
rated it: 
I had a hard time getting into this book. After the first 20 pages it was all right, but I just didn't get interested in it very fast.
It seemed pretty scattered in parts - I think it could have probably cut out a good 100 pages and it might have been a little tighter and better. There's only so much depressive moping I can take, though. The plotlines could have really benefited from some more working around.
A little graphic in some places, and did we really need an expl More...
It seemed pretty scattered in parts - I think it could have probably cut out a good 100 pages and it might have been a little tighter and better. There's only so much depressive moping I can take, though. The plotlines could have really benefited from some more working around.
A little graphic in some places, and did we really need an expl More...
Aug 25, 2009
Tseashore
rated it:
full disclosure: this book was written by one of my closest friends.
now that i've gotten that out of the way, i'd like to say that i feel like a jerk for not having read victoria's incredibly vivid novel immediately upon receiving it.
it's written for the young adult set, but the story stands on its own for anyone interested in a bit of american history. the characters are so real: strong, smart, and flawed. i have come away from this book with a colorful snapshot of More...
now that i've gotten that out of the way, i'd like to say that i feel like a jerk for not having read victoria's incredibly vivid novel immediately upon receiving it.
it's written for the young adult set, but the story stands on its own for anyone interested in a bit of american history. the characters are so real: strong, smart, and flawed. i have come away from this book with a colorful snapshot of More...
Apr 17, 2010
Barb
rated it:
This has taken me a long time to read -- but NOT because it isn't a GREAT book! It's a pioneer historical fiction book set in 1865, the story of two teen orphans in drought-stricken Kansas who are able to talk their way into joining a wagon train heading west with all the struggles and challenges that provides. When they make friends with a young Nez Perce Indian, we see many things, especially about the small pox epidemic and vaccine, through the viewpoint of the Native Americans, which was m
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Feb 22, 2011
Lynnette
rated it:
Think of it as a suspense, thriller, orphans get a 2nd chance, potboiler of an adventure.
It's April 1865, the Lynch farm has been devastated by fire and drought, the last survivors of the family are Aiden,15, and sister Maddy, 13 and even though they made it through the winter who knows how much longer they'll last.
When Aiden meets Mr. Jackson and indentures himself as a logger in return for ferrying them across country in his wagon train the orphans see a chance at a ne More...
It's April 1865, the Lynch farm has been devastated by fire and drought, the last survivors of the family are Aiden,15, and sister Maddy, 13 and even though they made it through the winter who knows how much longer they'll last.
When Aiden meets Mr. Jackson and indentures himself as a logger in return for ferrying them across country in his wagon train the orphans see a chance at a ne More...
Jun 14, 2010
Finvarra
rated it:
At first, when I picked up this book and saw the cover I thought, "Oh no, another book about a young teen being awesome without any troubles (at least not any troubles that he can't get through) falling on him."
Boy was I wrong. By the first chapter I was hooked. Mainly due to the character Maddy and Jackson. They, along with the Doc and Joby were my favorites.
Well worth the read, and so sad. I certainly would have liked the book better if the swearing was cut ba More...
Boy was I wrong. By the first chapter I was hooked. Mainly due to the character Maddy and Jackson. They, along with the Doc and Joby were my favorites.
Well worth the read, and so sad. I certainly would have liked the book better if the swearing was cut ba More...
Jun 07, 2010
Su
rated it:
Here is another title from the Beehive Book Nominations of 2011. It's listed at Young Adult fiction--with a note that is for somewhat older readers---it gets a little brutal and deals with adult subjects, but never in an inappropriate or suggestive way.
I really enjoyed the flow of this book as you travel with a young man and his sister walking with an 1865 wagon train as it crosses the country. Many sad and discouraging images are left as the stories of the American Indian and the sm More...
I really enjoyed the flow of this book as you travel with a young man and his sister walking with an 1865 wagon train as it crosses the country. Many sad and discouraging images are left as the stories of the American Indian and the sm More...
Feb 15, 2010
Amy
rated it:
I really loved this book. If I were a middle school or high school teacher teaching about post-Civil War era and the experiences of those travelling the Oregon trail, I would simply have them read this book. It was so well-done! I loved the characters, I loved the reality of their experiences, I loved that the story was unpredictable and raw. I definitely would not recommend this book for anyone under the age of 14...it is gritty and really "raw" in some places but I didn't feel it was
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