This historical novel really takes the reader back in time as we follow the story along the Oregon Trail. The journey is long and hard for these characters, but their travels are also life-changing and full of God’s mercies. It becomes an epic journey for the readers just as much.
The book follows three generations of women in the Brown family – each unique in their own way, but equally memorable. The grandma, Tabby Brown, stands out throughout the story as the rock of the family. She’s headstrong and stubborn, but she also has a heart for the Lord and her kids. She has many wise words throughout their journey west and proves to be a guide of sorts for her wandering family members.
Through her daughter’s and granddaughter’s perspectives, we learn more about their family and the hardships they’ve each experienced. And in a way, we experience it with them. Through the eyes of these three women, we get the unique opportunity of traveling the Oregon Trail as an old woman, a struggling mom, and an excited teenager.
I will say… there were times where the pace of the story seemed a bit slow to me. However, the author did a great job in telling the history of the people and the arduous trek west so many families endured. It almost read like a biography at moments, the details so clear and the conversations so honest. This may be a fictional story, but it sure felt like real life history to me. 🙂
This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the author for my copy.
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ABOUT THE BOOK:
Drama, Adventure, and Family Struggles Abound as Three Generations Head West on the Oregon Trail
When Tabitha Brown’s son makes the fateful decision to leave Missouri and strike out for Oregon, she refuses to be left behind. Despite her son’s concerns, Tabitha hires her own wagon to join the party. Along with her reluctant daughter and her ever-hopeful granddaughter, the intrepid Tabitha has her misgivings. But family ties are stronger than fear.
The trials they face along the way will severely test Tabitha’s faith, courage, and ability to hope. With her family’s survival on the line, she must make the ultimate sacrifice, plunging deeper into the wilderness to seek aid. What she couldn’t know was how this frightening journey would impact how she understood her own life–and the greater part she had to play in history.
With her signature attention to detail and epic style, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites readers to travel the deadly and enticing Oregon Trail. Based on actual events, This Road We Traveled will inspire the pioneer in all of us.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jane Kirkpatrick is inter-nationally recognized for her lively presentations and well-researched stories that encourage and inspire. Her works have appeared in more than 50 publications including Decision, Private Pilot and Daily Guideposts. Jane is the author of over 25 books including historical novels. Many of her titles are based on the lives of real people or incidents set authentically in the American West. Her first novel, A Sweetness to the Soul, won the coveted Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have been finalists for the Christy, Spur, Oregon Book Award, WILLA Literary Award and Reader’s Choice awards. Several of her titles have been Book of the Month and Literary Guild selections. Follow this link to see other awards that Jane has won.
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Great review, Savanna!
Thanks for stopping by, Caryl. 🙂 Have a great week!
Good review. It sounds like just the kind of book I would enjoy reading!
Hope you get to read it soon, Brenda! 🙂