A Dream to Follow (Return to Red River #1) [Paperback]

Lauraine Snelling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

It is 1893 and the first generation of immigrants who came to America for the promise of free land and a good life for their children have finally achieved their dreams. They labored hard on the land and now have a bountiful heritage to pass on to the next generation. However, many of the young people aren't interested in becoming farmers--they have aspirations of their own. Thorliff Bjorklund has been writing stories and plays since he was a young boy and longs to attend college to study journalism. But his father has other plans for him and refuses to agree. Thorliff is torn between love for his father and the pull of his dream. Must he choose between the two?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this follow-up series to Snelling's popular "Red River of the North," a historical series about a Swedish community in North Dakota, Thorliff Bjorklund dreams of being a journalist, but his father refuses to consider sending him to college, expecting Thorliff to help run the farm. But even Thorliff's love for Anji is not enough to stave off his dreams. After praying for the Lord's guidance and with his mother's support, Thorliff leaves home to attend college. Thorliff is that curious mixture of child and adult trying to grow inside the same skin. His decision to pursue his own dream comes from the man he will become, while his reactions to other events expose the boy that he still is. Unfortunately, an otherwise enjoyable tale is marred by the jarring and abrupt ending. For series collections only.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Snelling's A Dream to Follow begins her Return to Red River series, a child of her popular Red River of the North series about the Swedish settlement of North Dakota and Minnesota in the 1870s. Her hero in this first installment is young Thorliff Bjorklund, son of Ingeborg and Haaken Bjorklund, who heads off to college at St. Olaf's to study journalism, but feels guilty leaving the farm to his overworked parents and his younger brother. It's an utterly predictable tale, though Thorliff is likable enough, and once again, her strong suit, Snelling's knowledge of life on the farm, shines through. John Mort
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House; Reprinted edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764223178
• ISBN-13: 978-0764223174
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #718,600 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lauraine Snelling, an award-winning author of fifty-plus books with sales of over 2 million copies, also writes for a wide range of magazines and teaches at writers' conferences across the country. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Continuation!, October 18, 2001

By 

Coppertop (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dream to Follow (Return to Red River #1) (Paperback)

I loved this next books about all the wonderful characters of Blessing. I was so excited to be able to read more about the characters and can't wait for the next one to come out. One of the major scenes towards the end of the book was definitely a tear jerker though. I was thrilled with most of the developments, but I would have liked to at least hear from the characters from Blessing in Disguise and hear how Augusta was getting on in South Dakota.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dream To Folow, September 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Dream to Follow (Return to Red River #1) (Paperback)

This was a very good book, a great way to continue on the Red River series. It was very easy reading. I had a hard time putting it down and wanted to know if Thorliff would ever be allowed to attend college. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Reading!, February 20, 2002

By 

Christian Bookshelf "Christian Bookworm Reviews" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dream to Follow (Return to Red River #1) (Paperback)

Searching for God's plan for your life is an integral part of maturing now as it was for the teens in Lauraine Snelling's A Dream to Follow. Norwegian immigrant, Thorliff Bjorklund yearns for college and a writing career, yet his father sees a more practical future for his son. His father's dream is for Thorliff to take over the family farm.

Elizabeth Rogers has always wanted to be a doctor. But before the turn of the 20th century, woman doctors were not accepted. Elizabeth is determined and knows this is the path she is to take, but why so many obstacles?

Snelling alternates between the comfortable rural family life of Thor and Elizabeth's more sophisticated upper class atmosphere with ease. We are given many insights into Minnesota farm living and rural life as well as the life of a family in a more urban setting in the late 1800's. Snelling's writing is very simplistic and although she may not have intentionally aimed it at young adults, it would certainly appeal to teens who are searching for God's plan for their life.

This book displays how God's will for our lives may not be as clear cut as we would hope and that we must continually seek him and have faith in His plan.

--- reviewed by Robin for Christian Bookshelf