Customer Reviews

Seven Alone (On to Oregon!)

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This book reads easily as we focus on 13-year-old John Sager of Missouri, who comes of age with grim immediacy on the Oregon Trail. Tall for his age but disappointingly immature and bratty, John reacts with sulky silf-pity and arrogant defiance when desciplined by his father on the plains. After a fruitless and embarrassing attempt to run away ere boy (as if a mere boy could make it on his own), John is rescued by the legendary Kit Carson and restored to his frantic family.

But wagon train life takes it pitiless toll on John's family of 7 children (a baby girl is born en route). First Father and then Mother succomb to wounds and disease. Suddenly John realizes that it is now up to Him to keep the family together (his mother's dying wish, as she entrusts the baby to his special care). Now the religious scoffer sets the standards (Bible reading on Sundays, entries of family data) as he realizes that he wants to honor his dead parents. He makes the commitment to fulfill his father's dream of farming in Oregon territory.

Before they were orphaned John shirked the chores of a Boy; now his siblings are amazed at the sudden appearance of their new brother who immediately assumes the responsibilities of an Adult. Facing incredible hardships and staggering odds, young John battles against weather, nature, Indians and well-meaning but interfering white adults who try to decide the fate of his siblings. To remain true to his father's dream of homesteading in Oregon, John must lie, cheat and deceive. But he will not permit anyone or anything to break up His family! The parents he disobeyed in life inspire him from the grave, as he attempts to atone for his selfish past.

This book is based on historical fact and only lacks a good map to help readers visualize the children's location, the geographic barriers and their destination. It reads well, since it is about 95% historical fiction with 5% non-fictional asides directed to the reader. This book inspired the movie ON TO OREGON. John trust! s God to lead him safely to the promised land of Oregon with all the children. An interesting and exciting story for a general audience.

"Father wanted us to go on to Oregon, and that's where we're going!" - When the wagon train pulled out of Missouri in 1844, John Sager thought the trip West would be great fun. But now both his father and mother are dead. John is determined to lead his brother and five sisters a thousand miles through the wilderness to Oregon . . . braving hunger, thirst, and unknown dangers - alone! A true story.

My mother remembered reading this book years ago and wanted to read it again so I found it on Amazon. The book was in fine condition and she was quite pleased.

Good companion for the movie for a contrast and compare. Would be good for social studies or literature class around the fourth - sixth grade level. Inspiring true story about the pioneer spirit of the US.

My wife loved it as a kid and got it for our daughter. A really good story.