West to a Land of Plenty: The Diary of Teresa Angelino Viscardi, New York to Idaho Territory, 1883 (Dear America) [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Jim Murphy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 4-8--Italian-American Teresa Viscardi and her family travel to the Idaho Territory along with a number of other Easterners to settle in a town aptly named Opportunity. Her diary begins on the train that will take them to the Dakota Territory where they must then buy wagons, oxen, and horses to transport them across the rugged landscape. Teresa struggles to understand her father's decision to move thousands of miles from the home she loves, admires her mother's strength and courage, and accepts her younger sister Netta's persistence in reading and writing in her diary. After suffering through sickness, the presence of Indians, her father's sudden silver fever, and Netta's subsequent death, Teresa finds solace and comfort in her family's ability to stay together. Reminiscent of a Willa Cather heroine, the girl is resourceful, strong-minded, and intelligent. Her coming-of-age is complete after she saves herself and her grandmother from thieves. Engaging, colorful characters abound. Teresa's last entry, in the epilogue dated 1952, speaks of the woman's contentment with her life and the peace she feels. It is addressed to Netta, Teresa's way of keeping her sister's memory alive. Excellent archival photos and notes enhance the presentation of this historical novel.

Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY

Copyright 1998 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
While traveling in 1883 with her Italian American family (including a meddlesome little sister) and other immigrant pioneers to a utopian community in Idaho, fourteen-year-old Teresa keeps a diary of her experiences along the way.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590738887
• ISBN-13: 978-0590738880
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #555,028 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This item is part of The Dear America Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A girl and her family head west in 1883., August 4, 2000

By	Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the spring of 1883, fourteen-year-old Teresa Viscardi and her large Italian-American family, which includes her, her younger brother and sister, her parents, her aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandmother, leave their home in New York City and decide to head west to Idaho to participate in the founding of a utopian community. The community is to be called Opportunity, but Teresa isn't of the feeling that the west is filled with opportunity. She wants to return to New York City, where her friends and home are. Instead, she's stuck, first on a crowded train, and then on a covered wagon caravan, with her annoying family, of which her grandmother and sister are the most annoying. Nanna is stubbornly traditional, and pesky Netta reads Teresa's private diary. But when tragedy strikes, Teresa realizes how much her family means to her, and she may be the only one who can save them from disaster. I highly reccomend this excellant addition to the Dear America series. It's a great read if you like historical fiction, stories about pioneer life, or the other books in the series.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Favorites, February 16, 1998

By A Customer

Though this wasn't really a historical event, something may of happened like this. The writer mentions that between 1870-1900 was when most communities were being born, so that's the main idea of the story. This is about Teresa Angelino Viscardi, a 14 year old Italian Immigrant. She travels with her large family on a train and by wagon all the way to Idaho territory. But the journey is not easy. It is FAR from easy. They cross a river and two girl's from another wagon drown. Then the saddest thing happens! But you have to read it of course. This diary was so well written I kept thinking that Teresa and Netta, her little sister, who you come to love, were real. This is another powerfully emotionaly and exciting, and truthful Dear America Diary. Keep up the good work Dear America writers! We can't wait for more. Even though this book is sad, you MUST READ IT! Sniffle, sniffle, sob, sob. :(But most of the journey was :)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting "Dear America" book!, December 6, 2000

By	Melanie (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews

"West to a Land of Plenty" was a great book, in an 1880's diary form, on a 14 year-old Italian American girl, Teresa.

Teresa lives in a crowded, New York neighborhood with her family, when her father suddenly decides to take the family west, to a new community called Opportunity. With that decision, Teresa's changes just begin!

Going west by train and wagon is exciting to Teresa, but she is also very sad to leave her school and friends. Her pesky little sister, Netta, also gets on her nerves, and Teresa constantly tries to hide her diary from her! When Teresa begins to make friends, however, she finds that things might not be so bad, but then disaster strikes...

This was a great book, and a must read for anyone aged 10 and up! Be sure to also read "Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie", and "The Great Railroad Race", two other "Dear America" novels.