This is by far my favorite book for this age level. It is a gripping story of survival and determination along with loyalties that are surprising.

this is a great book for grades 4-5 and for a history kind of reader. i recomend this book

Read Twice

This volume of five books, though fictional, depicts life as it might have been for a young man trying to get back to his wagon train on the Oregon trail. The adventures he has are pretty amazing, believable, exciting, sad, and fun to experience with him and his newfound family.

this is a good book. i read it about 5 years ago. it is a good book because it tells about how people lived back then.

This is the first book in a long time that Noble has kept coming back to. He had fallen into a "not reading" rut that I had to patiently wait out. He would read if I made him, but if he picked something up on his own he would only read for 20 minutes and be done for several days.

I hear Liam ask as soon as Noble finishes a chapter "what happened next!?" and I enjoy hearing them talking about what they would do if they were kidnapped by indians.

Grateful to have my reader back!

It was really good, only I wish the books were longer, or there were more books.

Very fun family read. The adventure of a 14 year old boy on the Oregon Trail who gets caught by Indians, a Mountain Man helps free him, finds two orphans, caught again, finds gold, and learns that you have to protect yourself.

YOu and your kids, especially boys, will enjoy this story. My girls like it just as much.

It's 5 short book bound into one.

Read this to my 9- and 11-year-old boys. They loved it. I wasn't reading fast enough for the 11-year-old so he finished it up one night after I read. It was a great story, but had mature themes in places. People die, children are sold into slavery, he saves a woman from a would be rapist. I did a little editing as I read it to the 9-year-old.

I thought this book was good. My mom read it to me when I had the sleepy sickness (home 3 days from school).

It is set in an interesting time for the United States of America. The idea of Manifest Destiny has entered the hearts of Americans, many wagon trains have set out to California so they can get gold. There are Native Americans, mountain men and all of the frontier wildlife on the trail. It's a pre-cowboy frontier. Harsh and unforgiving. The Mexican-American war is going on during the book which impacts the events. It has a good conclusion and exposition that just wouldn't work in other historical settings.
It’s a good book with plenty of thrilling action. All of the characters are unique while still fitting within the time period. Most of the characters are likeable or at least understandable. There are a few parts in the book where it gets a bit boring but they aren't common. Part of the time it's the classic Paulsen survival fiction and other times it's an action man vs world vs man book. It has a good ending about family and home. It is a child or youth book but it is still pretty gritty. Gary Paulsen does a good job on it.

wonderful and captivating..... ideal for teenagers

The relationship between Francis and Grimes is well drawn. The story touches on many different perils and hardships faced back then. As a result, Francis often witnesses some tragically violent scenes not overtly graphic, but certainly not suited for everyone.