If You Were a Kid on the Oregon Trail

by Josh Gregory, Farre Lluis (Illustrations)

As Josephine Jenkins sets off on the Oregon Trail with her mother and younger brothers to reunite with her father out West, she realizes that her beloved diary has gone missing. Meanwhile, her fellow traveler Stephen Byrd is sad to be leaving his friends behind as his family makes the move to Oregon. Follow Josephine and Stephen along the trail as they camp in the wilderness, look out over incredible landscapes, and prepare for their new lives in the West.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The factual parts of the book are good, but they try to also add in a fictional story which just is not fleshed out enough. They have one character loose a journal and the other finds it and returns it but I feel like so much more could be written to really give a sense of the journey from these fictional kid's point of view. What were their chores along the trail? (The book mentions that most kids did have chores but never gives any to our fictional characters.) What did they do when it stormed (did they keep walking or get in the wagons and wait it out)? Did they all get up and leave at one time each day or did each family do their own thing? Did our fictional characters have to leave anything along the trail - I know from other books that people often put too much in their wagons and would have to discard heavy, bulky items like Pianos along the way. Did our fictional characters have to give up anything. I don't know, it just feels like the authors might have offered more fictional events which might have given a child who picks up this book a better feel of what the title promises, which is what it would really be like to experience it.

The book starts by introducing kids to the idea that if you were traveling the Oregon trail you would spend hours each and every day walking to get to your new home. We then meet Stephen Byrd, in the spring of 1845, his family has left their home in Pennsylvania and are heading for Oregon. The other kid we meet is Josephine Jenkins. Her father left the family in St. Louis Missouri and traveled ahead to Oregon and opened a shop to sell supplies to newcomers. Now Josephine, her mothers and younger brothers will join him. On the morning of May 1845 they head out from the town of Independence, Missouri. The book lets us know that it would be hard to stay in touch with friends or family with no texts or even mail service yet. It is 2,000 miles from Independence Missouri to Oregon and it would take them five or six months. (In a modern car on modern roads that would take less than 24 hours. and by airplane it would take less than four hours.)

Each night they would camp have simple foods and sleep on the ground while some stay up to guard. Kids had chores such as collecting water or helping with siblings. The group passes chimney rock. The book has Josephine loose her journal and Stephen find it and uses this opportunity to mention that since most people didn't have access to cameras they would write in journals and draw pictures of what they would see. The book also mentions death by flue, measles, cholera and smallpox (so if you have a child very sensitive to death - be aware that this does come up in the book.) But it also mentions that people would bring musical instruments like violins and would sing songs or tell stories around a campfire.

Stephen returns Josephine's journal when he finds out she lost it. It is mentioned that travelers often meet Shoshone, Sioux and Ute people along the trail and that most meetings were peaceful with trades of food and other supplies. The book ends with a picture of Portland, Oregon in 1853 and says that as more people arrived more buildings, streets and structures sprang up. It is said to be November 1845 at the end of the book so our fictional group traveled in about six to seven months.

The book ends by telling us that 40,000 children traveled on the Oregan trail and shows us a map of the trail from Independence to Oregon City and timeline which includes the following dates:
- 1812 when the fur traders establish the first U.S. settlement in Oregon
- 1834 A group of settlers leaves Independence, Missouri, and becomes the first to travel the entire Oregon Trail on foot
-1841 The first wagon train leaves Independence for the West
-1869 The first railroad to cross North America is completed. The number of travelers heading west on foot and by wagon quickly goes down
-1978 The Oregon National Historical Trail is established to preserve this historic route.
It ends with a short glossary with words like cholera - a dangerous disease that causes very bad vomiting and diarrhea, usually due to contaminated water.
The author lives in Portland OR. The illustrator lives in Bareclona Spain and writes that over the 100 books he has illustrated he has drawn 40 witches, 200 dragons, 500 princesses and more than 1,000 kids from all over the world.

[Korey Bowden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. The story of these children while they travel across the country with their families is one of great wonder and beautiful opportunity. All the landscapes they see along their trip and the interesting things they learn along the way. Josephine losing her diary leads to a great new friendship as they promise to keep in touch when they reach the trails end and make their way to there stopping place. This is a great account of what life would have been like to be a child during this time and to have traveled on the Oregon Trial. What it would have been like to meet Native Americans along the way and how difficult things would have been without a home or many basic things. This story can help children relate to this time and to think about what they would have liked and or not enjoyed along the way, the diary of Josephine is a big piece of that, understanding how the things she experienced made her feel and what she learned from them. The writing is great and I now want to read the other stories by the author that can help my children learn about other times in history.

[Javier Trost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my great nieces who are 8 and 6. It's a simple read that I found fun and entertaining. My hope is that it will spark in them a desire for travel and adventure. I enjoy learning about history and I hope I can spread that passion to others and if they have passion for other subjects that is fine as well. Keep searching. Keep learning. I enjoyed the illustrations.

I would recommend it for 1st and 2nd graders. But I personally have no knowledge or expertise on what is proper education for children.

[Jessica Lewers]

This book is a great historical fiction book that gives kids insight into what the Oregon Trail was like. The story follows a family who is in search of their father as they travel and prepare for their new lives out west. They also come upon a remorseful boy who is sad that he is forced to leave his friends behind.
Age Level: 7-9
Lexile Level: 700L

[Miss Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this elementary reader that follows two children traveling the Oregon Trail in the 1800's. Like the stories of the two kids and the simplicity of the story. Each two page spread follows the story and gives a non fiction bubble.

[Alexis Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! The Oregon Trail is a sad event and this book gives a good twist to it. I love that it includes friendship and the scenery as a couple of the main points. I would suggest this book for Kinder-1st grade.

[Kenzie Hulsey]

If you Were a Kid on the Oregon Trail published in 2016 and is under historical fiction in our long for ages 7-12 and describes what it might have been like from a kid's point of view to be on the Oregon Trail with family. 5/5

[Christy Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction story that follows two children and their families as they travel by covered wagon from Missouri to Oregon in 1945.

[Peyton Poler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a really fun, educational read about the Oregon Trail that could introduce this time period in an interesting way.

ATOS: 4.4
Guided Reading: O
Six Traits: Ideas

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how it both told a short children's story and showed actual pictures and facts in the corner.

[Emma Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fun read for kids studying the organ trail. It is a great book to us as a catlist for conversations comparing what life is like for children now versus what life was like for children during different times.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s the middle of the 19th century, and Stephen and Josephine are accompanying their families on the Oregon Trail. During their 2000 mile trek, they see new landscapes and experience peaceful encounters with Native American tribes like the Ute. Josephine records these experiences in her journal—until the day she loses it! Then Stephen stumbles upon her book and decides to keep it, hoping that he will find the owner. Their journey by horse and wagon lasts six months. During this time, the children keep busy with daily chores. But there’s revelry as they near the end of the trail, and the settlers celebrate with music around a campfire. Josephine befriends Stephen and also gets her journal back! Upon reaching their destination, the children promise to keep in touch—Josephine’s family will stay in town while Stephen’s plans to claim farmland. Gregory uses accessible language to explain what life was like during this point in American history. Furthermore, the inclusion of historical snapshots effectively blends fact and fiction: Josephine’s journal keeping is typical since cameras are uncommon; the death of fellow travelers is sad but not surprising, because there aren’t doctors to treat illnesses like the flu. At the back of the book, a simple illustration of the Oregon Trail provides readers a visual reference of Stephen and Josephine’s journey. There is also a timeline, a glossary of 5 key terms, and an index. Recommended for its general overview of the subject; supplemented by Lluis Farre’s cartoonish illustrations.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelly Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series reminds me a bit of the You Wouldn't Want to Be series for a younger population.

[Kala · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars