All the Stars in the Sky: the Santa Fe Trail Diary of Florrie Mack Ryder
Grade 4-7-Florrie, 12; her pregnant mother; a younger, sometimes troublesome brother; and Mr. Ryder, her new stepfather, set out in 1848 from Arrow Rock, MO, on an arduous journey of several months to Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory. Florrie's diary entries believably record her varied experiences-from mired-down and broken wagons and standoffs with badgers to the death of a friend in the wagon train. Children will identify with the girl's sadness as she leaves her best friend and rejoice as she finds new acquaintances along the seemingly endless trip. The writing is excellent, developing a compelling narrative and revealing the character of Florrie and the people she describes. As with a real diary, some entries are short, others more detailed, and there are gaps of time between them. The concluding "Historical Note" includes photographs, a map, and other information to place the story more firmly in the context of its time. A solid purchase for most collections, especially those with avid "Dear America" readers.Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.