|
|
Sold Out
Book Categories |
On April 14, 1846, the Donner Party set out from Springfield, Illinois, in search of a better life in the largely unsettled California territory. The trip started well but eventually questionable choices and infighting delayed pioneers' attempt to cross the Sierra Nevada until winter. As the impassable snows closed in and their supplies dwindled to nothing, the group faced an almost hopeless struggle for survival that would push some toward the final taboo of cannibalism. Nearly half the members of the Donner Party were children. This account, filled with selections from the survivors' letters and diaries, focuses on the children's experiences, making it uniquely compelling and accessible to young readers. Index, bibliography, chronology, group rosters, suggestions for further research.
Uses materials from letters and diaries written by survivors of the Donner Party to relate the experiences of that ill-fated group as they endured horrific circumstances on their way to California in 1846-47.
| Price | Condition | Delivery | Seller | Action |
| $99.99 | Digital |
| WonderClub |
Marc Desaules
reviewed Perilous Journey of the Donner Party on May 23, 2010
Perilous Journey of the Donner Party
Here are the types of children who will benefit from reading this book, although a combination of all three types would probably be best.
#1. The Precocious And Brave History Nerd. Fearless pioneers partaking in manifest destiny forge through the unforgiving wilderness of the Wild West. Will they hack through the impenetrable Wasatch Mountains in time? Should they befriend the Natives? Will the forty-mile desert destroy or invigorate the pioneers? The first two-thirds of this book is for you , PABHN!
#2. Language Geeks. Get ready to salivate (poor choice of words, I agree) over the lush language, particularly in the ominous and liberal foreshadowing that Calabro so heavily relies on. It's effective, too, in that the horror around the corner always seems to be nipping at the party's heels. Like your buddy the History Nerd, Language Geek will love the first 2/3 of The Perilous Journey of the Donner Party.
#3. The Child With A Cast-Iron Stomach. And then, as we all know, cannibalism arrives. Although Calabro handles the subject gently - or as gently as one can handle describing the consumption of human flesh - it is very much not for the weak-willed. Even incidents preceding the cannibalism (like Edgar Breen's sickening fall from a horse) are horrifically blunt. As the desperation of the Donner Party mounts, so too does the tension, and Junior Gorehounds will probably enjoy the ride.
Calabro thoughtfully includes brief descriptions of the lives of the survivors in their later years and peppers the retelling with historical documents, photographs, and drawings that add to the humanity - and inhumanity - of the journey.
Login|Complaints|Blog|Games|Digital Media|Souls|Obituary|Contact Us|FAQ
CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? CLICK HERE!!! X
You must be logged in to add to WishlistX
This item is in your Wish List
X
This item is in your Collection
Perilous Journey of the Donner Party
X
This Item is in Your Inventory
Perilous Journey of the Donner Party
X
You must be logged in to review the productsX
X
X
Add Perilous Journey of the Donner Party, On April 14, 1846, the Donner Party set out from Springfield, Illinois, in search of a better life in the largely unsettled California territory. The trip started well but eventually questionable choices and infighting delayed pioneers' attempt to cross t, Perilous Journey of the Donner Party to the inventory that you are selling on WonderClubX
X
Add Perilous Journey of the Donner Party, On April 14, 1846, the Donner Party set out from Springfield, Illinois, in search of a better life in the largely unsettled California territory. The trip started well but eventually questionable choices and infighting delayed pioneers' attempt to cross t, Perilous Journey of the Donner Party to your collection on WonderClub |