In Kansas Territory in 1847, Willow Chase is swept away by the flooded river she and her pioneer family attempt to cross and is forced to struggle through difficult terrain to rejoin them once again.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7. Two fictional diary entries frame the story of Willow's journey to California in 1847. The first entry finds her contemplating her wagon train's imminent crossing of the swollen South Platte river. A third-person narrative follows in which readers meet the girl's cheerful mother, good-natured sister, strong brothers, stern stepfather, and faithful dog. Willow faces the challenges of westward emigration?hard work, illness, fear of Indians. When an Indian approaches the wagon train and asks for medicine for his sick child, Mother gives him a bottle of quinine. Later, the same man helps Willow when she is swept downstream. The book ends with another diary entry in which Willow is safely across the river and looking forward to California. Similar in style to the "American Girl" series (Pleasant), but for older readers and without illustrations, this book's value as historical fiction is slight. Readers never learn why the family is moving, and the man who rescues Willow seems to be a generic Indian with no nation.?Rebecca O'Connell, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. Willow Chase has been given up for dead after being swept into the Platte River while fording it with her family. Now she must cross the river on her own and make her way back to her family's wagon train. The story idea is exciting, but Duey doesn't make the most of it. The accident doesn't occur until nearly the end of the novel, and Willow has a relatively easy time of things: she comes out of the river with only a few minor bruises and soon encounters the very Indian her mother helped earlier in the story. The Indian shows his gratitude by giving Willow his horse to ride across the river, and Willow is soon reunited with her stepfather, who has returned to look for her again. Readers expecting a survival tale will be sorely disappointed, but middle-grade girls in search of a heartwarming family story with a likable protagonist will be pleased, especially if they enjoyed previous books in the American Diaries series. Lauren Peterson
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More About the Author
I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.
Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,
I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me
(writer's name)
Dear Ms. Duey,
I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.
LOVE , (writer's name)
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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:
I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!
I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.
If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.
I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!
Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com
YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net
The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.
You have no idea how happy that makes me.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another good American Diaries,
By A Customer
This review is from: Willow Chase (American Diaries) (Paperback)
This was another great book in the American Diaries series. Willow's father was drowned the first time her family tried to head west. Now, Willow's mother has remarried, and once again the family is headed west. But when the wagon train crosses a river, Willow falls out of the wagon and must survive and search for her family. Read this book!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Separated from her family, a pioneer girl must survive.,
This review is from: Willow Chase (American Diaries) (Paperback)
Ever since her father drowned crossing a river the first time her family attempted to head west, twelve-year-old Willow has been terrified of water. And ever since her mother remarried and and the family headed west again, she has resented her new stepfather, Mr. Hansen. But nothing can prepare Willow for the challenges she will face in one short day. Swept out of the wagon during a river crossing, Willow is left for dead. Now she must make her way through a harsh, merciless wilderness in an attempt to find her family before they get to far ahead for her to ever catch up. This was an excellant survival story, and Willow was a well-developed character, especially considering how short this book was.
5 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Could it get anymore DISCRIPTIVE?,
By A Customer
This review is from: Willow Chase (American Diaries) (Paperback)
It was sickening, the amount of details used in this short book. I have three words that explain my opinion on all of that unnecessary junk... I DON'T CARE! I don't care how exactly their water looked or how exactly the pioneers stored their food. I just want to know about Willow and her quest to survive. That's why I bought the book for goodness sakes! Not to read a textbook on pioneer life! If the author is so obsessed with putting those details in, the least she could do is put them in in an interesting way. I know these books are supposed to take place in just one day, but one day just doens't work for the Oregon Trail. The only thing I liked was that Willow was a pretty good character in that she was terrified of the river for a reason and in her feelings about her stepfather. But, I mean, where was the stinking survival in the book? WHERE?
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