Adventure in the Wilderness

American Adventure #13

by Veda Boyd Jones

In the early nineteenth-century, thirteen-year-old Betsy Miller and her pesky eleven-year-old cousin, George Lankford, travel with their parents from Boston to their new home in Cincinnati and have many adventures on the way.

History comes alive for eight-to-twelve year olds in this close-up, fun-to-read, multi-generational story of a fictional family spanning three centuries of actual historical events. God's hand is seen at work in people's lives and in the events that shaped our nation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Christian, Childrens, Historical, School

144 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 1998

About the author

Veda Boyd Jones enjoys the challenge of writing for diverse readers. She is the author of forty-two books: five children's historical novels, twenty-one children's biographies, three children's nonfiction books, three picture books, nine romance novels, and a coloring book. Other published works include over 400 articles and stories in children's and adult magazines (Cricket, Highlights, Humpty Dumpty, The Writer, Writer's Digest, Woman's World, etc.), articles in reference books, and five romance novellas. Veda has taught writing at Crowder College in Neosho, Missouri, and currently teaches for the Institute of Children's Literature. She and her husband, Jimmie, an architect, have three sons, Landon, Morgan, and Marshall.

Veda is a previous winner of the Writer's Digest Writing Competition in the articles division for a children's profile of Rachel Carson. Her romance novel Callie's Mountain was voted best contemporary in the annual readers' poll by Heartsong Presents a few years ago. Among her awards through the years from the Missouri Writer's Guild are Best Magazine Article, Best Historical Article, Best Adult Fiction, Best Children's Fiction, Best Children's Book, and Best Romance Novel.


Joe's Ghost is now available on Amazon Kindle.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the thirteenth book in The American Adventure series. This series tells about the lives of children from many generations of a fictional family throughout American history, from the settling of Plymouth by the Pilgrims through the end of World War II.

When her parents decide that the family will leave Boston to travel west to the growing city of Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spring of 1808, thirteen-year-old Betsy Miller is unhappy. She will miss her home and her best friend, and since her aunt and uncle have also decided to move to Cincinnati, she will have to put up with her annoying eleven-year-old cousin George during the journey. George never misses a chance to tease Betsy, and seems to enjoy humiliating her. Betsy, who has always been shy and quiet, has decided it's finally time to get her revenge. During their long, difficult, and sometimes dangerous journey, will Betsy and George be able to call a truce and work together for the good of their families?

Young readers who enjoyed previous American Adventure books are sure to enjoy this one as well, which introduces a new generation of the family featured in the series. I look forward to reading the next few books in the series, and recommend this series to young readers who enjoy historical fiction.

[Daniel Gaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey from Boston to Cincinnati via riverboat; an epic experience!

[Marius B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previously in the series: The American Victory (#12)

Set sometime within the years 1801-1809, Adventure in the Wilderness chronicles the journey of the Miller and Lankford families,
-of the struggle of leaving their home for someplace far away
-and of their trials in travelling on the dangerous Ohio River.

You follow Paul's cousin's daughter - Betsy (13) - who struggles with being taller than most children her age, with having to live in close quarters with her less-than-sweet cousin, George Lankford, and with the idea that her father wishes she were a son.

Historical figures involved/mentioned were Thomas Jefferson, Reverend William Staughton, Harman Blennerhassett, and Aaron Burr.

Next up in the series: Earthquake in Cincinnati (The American Adventure #14)

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives an account of traveling from Boston to Cincinnati in the early 1800's. I've never been down the Ohio, but the locations are probably authentic.