Sallie Fox: The Story of a Pioneer Girl [Paperback]

Dorothy Kupcha Leland (Author), Diane Wilde (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Fictional account of the historical journey to California of Sallie Fox and her family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-A fictionalized account of 12-year-old Sallie Fox's arduous trek by wagon train with her family from Iowa to California in the mid 1800s. Along the way, they are beset by Indian attacks, drought, illness, and personality clashes. What begins as an exciting adventure becomes an ordeal, days and days without water and animals and people dying at an alarming rate. Sally shares her fear of Indians and her excitement about buffalo hunting. She provides an interesting perspective in today's politically correct climate, proving again that hindsight is indeed 20/20. An exciting, well-paced story, a step up from the "American Girls" series (Pleasant), and a dose of realism for devotees of the computer game Oregon Trail.?Ann Cook, Winter Park Public Library, FL
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

...a heart-pounding saga...Leland has a knack for relating history from a child's point of view. -- Sacramento Bee

Everyday details of life on the trail will make this tale come alive for the children who read it. -- Daily Democrat, Woodland, CA

For young people intrigued by history and adventure, this is quite a read! -- The New Mexican, Santa Fe, NM

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 114 pages
• Publisher: Tomato Enterprises; 1st edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0961735767
• ISBN-13: 978-0961735760
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,481,896 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ONE TOUGH NUT!, June 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sallie Fox: The Story of a Pioneer Girl (Paperback)

This slender volume is based entirely on history, with most incidents painstakingly gleaned from diaries, letters and subsequent interviews with survivors, family members and descendants. Actual conversations and minor details are fictionalized to provide a smoother account. Bound by historical accuracy, the author has faithfully portrayed a real wagon train journey. Although commendable from a researcher's viewpoint, this makes for uneven pacing; after a light-hearted tale for the first 2/3 of the book, we wallow in a veritable disaster scenario all packed at the end. But then real life rarely conforms to literary formula.

The story of 13-year-old Sarah (Sallie) Fox and her large family makes enjoyable and interesting reading in general. Starting out from Iowa in 1858, they had the benefit of the Donner Party's ordeal 12 years prior. They fully realized the dangers of needless delay and possible starvation in the mountains. But this wagon train is atypical, in that the leader drove a huge herd of cattle to start a business out West--including each family's modest livestock.

The high risk and trials of wagon trian life are grimly familiar from other such books: heat, drought, river fordings, buffalo hunts and stampedes, birth along the trail, Indian raids on livestock and actual attack. Plus the inevitable debates and bruised egos over which route to take. No Sierra Nevada Mountains for the Rose party, although their goal was near the Gold Country in northern California. They chose the southern route to protect their extensive herd from hostile Indians; this Santa Fe trail snaked its way through New Mexico territory close to the Mexican border.

This is an excellent book to introduce middle school children to the ordeals of Wagon train life, especially from a child's point of view. Girls will relate to Sallie's coming-of-age during her Year-long trek of dust and despair. Boys will revel in the grim and gory adventures. All readers will see how the spunk and perseverance of a yo! ung girl--to plant a walnut which she found along the sandy trail--blossomed into more than a mighty tree, but also a thriving family business for future generations. This book reveals California's hardy heritage from these gritty pioneer children who, like their parents, were seeking a better life. Even though The Nut Tree Inn has passed into history, their story can inspire us still.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A vivid picture of life on a wagon train...a great read!, December 22, 1995

By A Customer

This review is from: Sallie Fox: The Story of a Pioneer Girl (Paperback)

This book is based on the true story of a 12 year old Iowa girl who traveled west by wagon train in 1858. After many harrowing experiences, including being shot in the torso by an Indian's arrow, Sallie reached her uncle's ranch in Vacaville, CA. This tale of heroism and survival is also filled with the everyday details of life on a wagon train that will make the story come alive for children who read it. Age 10 and up

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars TOUGH AS A WALNUT, June 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sallie Fox: The Story of a Pioneer Girl (Paperback)

This slender volume is based on historical fact, with most incidents painstakingly gleaned from diaries, letters and subsequent interviews with survivors, family members and their descendants. Actual conversations and minor details are fictionalized to provide a smoother account. Bound by historical accuracy, the author has remained faithful in her description of a real wagon train crossing. Although commendable from a researcher's viewpoint, this makes for uneven pacing; after a light-hearted tale for the first 2/3 of the book, we wallow in a veritable disaster scenario all packed in at the end. But then real life does not conform to literary rules.

The story of 13-year-old Sarah (Sallie) Fox and her large family provides interesting and enjoyable reading in general. Starting out from Iowa in 1858, they had the benefit of knowledge about the Donner Party's ordeal 12 years prior. They fully realized the dangers of needless delay and possible starvation in the mountains/desert. But this wagon train is atypical, in that the leader drove a huge herd of cattle as well--not just each family's modest contingent of livestock.

The dangers and trials of the overland route to California are all too grim and familiar from similar books: heat, drought, river fordings, buffalo hunts, stampedes, Indian raids on livestock and actual attack. All accompanied by the inevitable human elements of birth, courtship, bruised egos, and heated debates over which route to take. No Sierra Nevadas for the Rose party, although their goal was near the Gold country in northern California. They chose the southern route (the Santa Fe Trail) to protect their extensive herd from hostile Indians--plodding their weary, blistering way through New Mexico territory, snaking a path close to the Mexican border.

This is an excellent book to introduce middle school children to the ordeals of Wagon Train life. Girls will relate to Sallie's coming-of-age during this Year-long pilgrimage of dust and disaster. Boys will revel i! n the grim and gory adventures, identifying with ourageous youths who sacrificed much of their childhood for their parent's dreams of a new start in the golden west. Readers will realize how the spunk and perseverance of a young girl--to plant a walnut which she found along the sandy trail-- blossomed into more than a mighty tree. From that nut, still alive inside its tough and wrinkled shell, sprang a thriving family business for future generations. This modest book reveals California's hardy heritage from these pioneer children--like their parents seeking a better life; their story can inspire us still.