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An American Adventure #1
The Overland Escape
After Hildy Corrigan's stepmother leaves with her brother and sisters, Hildy refuses to stay in the backwoods with her grandmother and runs away to find her siblings.
176 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1989
2 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Lee Roddy
102 books18 followersLee Roddy's journalism career began as a radio drama script writer. He has been a newspaper and radio broadcast executive with experience in advertising agencies and public relations. His award-winning newspaper was sold in 1973, and he is presently a full-time Christian writer. On the West Coast he writes and edits for prominent Christian leaders. He has taught many writing courses including sessions at Mount Herman Christian Writers Conference and Biola College. He is the author of numerous books and his published items number in the thousands both for secular and Christian publications. As a lifelong history buff he has written hundreds of newspaper columns on the subject. For several years he wrote and narrated the radio series "Your American Heritage." Mr. Roddy is a graduate of Los Angeles State College and lives in California with his wife near Disneyland. He has two grown children.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 3, 2010
When I was about 12 years old I read the books of this series and enjoyed them a lot, but rereading books you liked such a long time ago is usually rather a risky thing - some things I know I loved back then are things I shake my head at today.
Lee Roddy's "Overland Escape", 1st in the American Adventure series, isn't one of these books though.
Set during the great depression, it's the story of two girls trying to find their way from Arkansas to Oklahoma and ultimately to California, in search of the families, chased by a mountain hunter hired to bring them back to one of the girl's grandmother. Roddy manages to create a realistic adventure interwoven with bits of cultural and historical information. Only at a few times these informations seem a bit too obvious and in-your-face. The characters within the story are very vivid, although not always completly free of stereotypical features. The author did however manage to give them all their very own, distinctive voices, which is one of the book's strongest features.
One thing that personally annoyed me though was the constantly try to force would-be suspense at the end of each chapter by the rather plain, repeated hints á la "little did they know how much danger awaited them."
All in all still a definately good read that doesn't have to rely on violence or unrealistic events in order to create suspense. Smoothly written, good to read, and also for someome who usually stays away from "christian" literature, like me, rather reccommended!
Lee Roddy's "Overland Escape", 1st in the American Adventure series, isn't one of these books though.
Set during the great depression, it's the story of two girls trying to find their way from Arkansas to Oklahoma and ultimately to California, in search of the families, chased by a mountain hunter hired to bring them back to one of the girl's grandmother. Roddy manages to create a realistic adventure interwoven with bits of cultural and historical information. Only at a few times these informations seem a bit too obvious and in-your-face. The characters within the story are very vivid, although not always completly free of stereotypical features. The author did however manage to give them all their very own, distinctive voices, which is one of the book's strongest features.
One thing that personally annoyed me though was the constantly try to force would-be suspense at the end of each chapter by the rather plain, repeated hints á la "little did they know how much danger awaited them."
All in all still a definately good read that doesn't have to rely on violence or unrealistic events in order to create suspense. Smoothly written, good to read, and also for someome who usually stays away from "christian" literature, like me, rather reccommended!
January 11, 2013
"I reckon ye will love readin' it!"
In 1934, life has turned into a dangerous adventure for Hildy. Her family just plain ran off, leaving her alone, in the Ozarks.
With the help of her cousin, Ruby, they go on a treacherous journey together, that's packed with obstacles..... which is complete with their very own merciless pursuer.
With all the commotion going on, Hildy is also undertaking the experience of strengthening her lost relationship with God.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The storyline is very original and each chapter's cliffhanger make the book all the more tempting!
In 1934, life has turned into a dangerous adventure for Hildy. Her family just plain ran off, leaving her alone, in the Ozarks.
With the help of her cousin, Ruby, they go on a treacherous journey together, that's packed with obstacles..... which is complete with their very own merciless pursuer.
With all the commotion going on, Hildy is also undertaking the experience of strengthening her lost relationship with God.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The storyline is very original and each chapter's cliffhanger make the book all the more tempting!
August 1, 2019
I didn't really like the beginning part, but it got much better as the book went on. My favorite part was when Hildy and Molly figured out that it had just been a misunderstanding, and that neither of them hated the other one. My least favorite part was when Vester had kidnapped Ruby and Hildy and almost got away with them back to their grandmother's house. The ending isn't exactly making me want to read the next book, but I might because of how much I enjoyed this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2021
A fun story for 7-11 year olds. However, I've seen scarier situations in the Boxcar Children series so I took off a star.
Recommended 6+ for violence
Recommended 6+ for violence
January 9, 2022
Not as much of a wold ride as other books have been but that's not necessarily a bad thing
April 27, 2016
This was a childhood favorite and I decided to revisit an old friend. Hildy was separated from her family by a misunderstanding. Her grandmother lied to her stepmother and said that Hildy hated Molly and wanted to live with her Granny. Molly believed her and took the rest of the family out west to meet her husband, the children's father. Horrified at what her grandmother has done Hildy and her cousin Ruby run away disguised as boys. After many harrowing adventures they are reunited with Hildy's family and she forgives Molly for their misunderstanding.
August 27, 2008
I want to read more of this series! I've read a bunch of books like this, but I can never get enough of them! And I like Roddy's writing style. It's very enjoyable.
July 22, 2014
I liked this book a lot when I first read it when I was 10 or 11. I haven't looked at it recently, though.
Want to read
September 4, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138347
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14138347
April 4, 2023
A tad boring; I skipped some paragraphs. Other than that, it's okay.
October 20, 2015
Read aloud with Jadyn - she loved it. I didn't do the Ozark accent any justice...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews