Beyond the Divide [Hardcover]

Kathryn Lasky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1983

In 1849, a fourteen-year-old Amish girl defies convention by leaving her secure home in Pennsylvania to accompany her father across the continent by wagon train.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this affecting pioneer tale by a Newbery Honor-winning author, an Amish girl heads west with her father after he has been shunned by their community. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 254 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1St Edition edition (May 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027516709
• ISBN-13: 978-0027516708
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,289,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science. One of my favorite animal fantasy series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, is a major motion picture. I liked writing about Ga'Hoole so much that I decided to revisit that world in a new series, Wolves of the Beyond. Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com to see a slide show about the real wolves I researched for the series and for the latest update on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole movie. All my best, Kathryn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book!, February 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond the Divide (Mass Market Paperback)

I read Beyond the Divide when I was 12. It is well-written and has haunted me ever since I first read it. Despite its intention for children, the book treats the hardships of pioneer life seriously and beautifully captures the coming of age of an adolescent girl. Because of the nature of some of the book's themes, I would only recommend this book for teens and above (or very mature younger readers). It is fast-paced and fascinating. Read it and you won't regret it!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good book, October 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond the Divide (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was, I admit, boring at the beginning. I had trouble staying awake through the first few chapters. As I read on though, I became more interested in the vivid storyline and began to get an image of what pioneer life was like back then. Once the book became interesting, I had trouble putting it down. I recommend this book to older children, as it does deal with some mature issues.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book has false information about the Amish, August 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond the Divide (Mass Market Paperback)

This book has very little to do with the Amish. The names are all wrong -- no Amish person names their child Taylor. It isn't done. They don't use "thee" and "thou" -- that is ancient Quaker language. I think the author thought it would be neat to use the Amish tie-in, but it really fails to add anything to the story. Yes, the girl was sheltered, but so were many in 19th century rural America. There is so little mentioned about the Amish (and even less that is correct) that the whole subject could have been left out totally. There is also no real tension about this daughter leaving home. Amish daughters rarely leave home and espcially not to follow a father who has been shunned. Why does she love her father so much? There are no clear explanations. This entire event took one chapter. All in all this could have been done a lot better if it had left the Amish out and concentrated more on the harshness of pioneer life. And the rape and suicide stuff is a little much also. Unnecessary additions to a story that could have stood on its own without all the extra nonsense.