Donner Part-A Diary of a Survivor

by Tod Olson

Virginia and her family have walked 1,000 miles. But they still have 900 miles to go. The year is 1846. Twelve-year-old Virginia Reed and her family are traveling with a group called the Donner Party. They are going to California. There, they will have a chance at a better life. But the group is having big problems. They are running out of food. They might be lost. And it has started to snow. They could get stuck. Then they would have to spend the winter in the mountains. Will Virginia and her family make it to California alive?

28 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Tod Olson is author of the historical fiction series HOW TO GET RICH, a Booklist Top Ten Series Non Fiction for Youth selection (don't tell them, but it's fiction). The first two books in his narrative nonfiction series, LOST, are now available. Tod lives with his family in Vermont and holds an MFA from Vermont College of the Fine Arts.

Reviews

[SCES · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this is realistic book about the absolutely awful exeperiences of the pioneers heading west. It deals with some serious issues. Through the diary format, the writer discusses how, when faced with starvation, some resort to cannibalism. Pretty gross to me! But the kids did not seem to overreact to the material. I'd just consider the group of kids.

[Candy Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! My class loves this book!