A My America: A Perfect Place, Joshua's Oregon Trail Diary, Book Two
Grade 3-6-A continuation of the story begun in Westward to Home (Scholastic, 2001). Hermes catches readers up to date as the McCulloughs begins their life in Oregon, deftly introducing Joshua's family and selected members of the wagon train. Details of the life in Oregon Country, where families live in tent cities while facing torrential rains and flooding and work their homesteads when the weather permits, are vividly integrated. Stark realities, such as death from sickness, injury, etc., are included as well. Joshua is a typical nine-year-old boy, wanting to be treated like a man. His beloved grandfather understands him and helps him, but is killed helping others in the floods. Readers of the first book will want to follow up on Joshua's adventures, and those who start with this one will want to go back to find out how it all began.Sally Bates Goodroe, formerly at Harris County Public Library, Houston, TXCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.