Author and lecturer Joan Wester Anderson was born in Evanston, Illinois. She began her writing career in 1973 with a series of family humor articles for local newspapers and Catholic publications, and was a monthly columnist for two national magazines during the 1980s. She has published more than one thousand articles and short stories in a variety of publications, including Woman’s Day, Modern Bride, Virtue, Reader’s Digest, and the New York Times Syndicate.
summary:problem/Joshua and his pa wanted to move to Oregon and Joshua wanted to go on the Oregon Trail on the way just like his Grandpa did while he was hunting. Also on the way there was death involved with one of his sisters. His oldest sisters died because she wanted to be a bat and hung from the motor home and her dress got caught around her neck and choked her and she died. Solution: His other sister got caught in a mud slide but Joshua jumped in and saved her from dying. He also saved his dog from being lost in the complete blackness outside at night.
Character traits: I think that joshua is brave to go get his dog even if he was scared of being by himself and same with the incident with the mudslide deal.
Author's purpose: Don't be scared of things that can mean a lot to other people even if you don't like that particular person. Still dont just walk away from something you can make a difference about it.