Customer Reviews

West Along the Wagon Road, 1852 (American Sisters)

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Harriet Scott was a real girl who, in the spring of 1852, at the age of eleven, joined a wagon train for Oregon with her large family (consisting of Harriet, her parents, her five sisters, and her three brothers). More is known about Harriet and her family than most pioneers, because one of her sisters kept a journal that was later published, and Harriet herself wrote and published a memoir as well. Taking the facts and filling in with what was not known, the author has crafted a believable tale about the difficulties and tragedies this family encountered, which included the deaths of Harriet's mother and youngest brother. But what is certainly true for the survivors is that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Harriet is portrayed as a spirited, adventurous tomboy who develops a fierce loyalty to her family. She often resents her older sisters, who try to curb her spirit and keep her out of trouble. (Some things never change, no matter what century it is!) This book starts of a series that would be enjoyed by fans of the Dear America series.

The author really made the characters of Duck and her sisters come alive and she described the journey really well. This book was both funny and sad. This is a really cool author & series!

This first book in the American Sisters series was great. It was the story of Harriet "Duck" Scott, and the journey she, her five sisters, three brothers, parents, and nine hired hands made from Illinois to Oregon in 1852. Not far into the journey, however, Duck's mother dies, and the family must push on without her. But the journey isn't easy. Soon the Scotts are facing hunger, thirst, steep mountains trails, and other hardships. Will the Scotts make it to Oregon? Read this book to find out.

Harriet "Duck" Scott wanted adventure when her family left Illinois to travel in a covered wagon to Oregon. Then Duck's mother died, and her father became a distant stranger. Now Duck and her five sisters and three brothers, with the help of nine hired hands, had to keep their wagon train together. Duck resents her older sisters, who resent her for being mischeivous. As the Scott family crosses mountains, plains, and deserts, and faces heat, hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, Duck doesn't realize just how close at hand her chance to prove herself to her family is.

The American Sisters series is a great series for those thirsty for more great historical fiction. Laurie Lawlor is a great author, and each book is another good portrayal of a teenage girl in real-life situations in different periods of time. Definately worth your money, if not your time. Fans of good historical novels - series such as Dear America, and authors like Kristiana Gregory and Elizabeth George Speare, or of previous Laurie Lawlor books - I recommend this!

This book is incredibly boring, and was probably just written to copy the other good series featuring girls from the past (like Dear America). There are a million kids in the Scott family that are gradually introduced through out the book and it's annoying to go, "Oh, so there is ANOTHER kid." The book is extremely boring, and I kept reading and reading thinking that the exciting part just had to come soon. It's disgusting- because they jump around on top of a dead ox. You don't feel for Duck missing her mother because she is dead right when the book starts, and you never get to meet her. Don't waste your money on this book.