Snowbound: The Tragic Story of the Donner Party
Grade 5-7?Except for the interest generated by the reports of cannibalism, it is unlikely that this tragic story would have gained or sustained much attention. Yet there was much more to it than the gruesome details, and the inherent drama carries readers along. Lavender avoids the sensational (as much as that is possible) and provides a clear and concise account in which cannibalism is just one more detail. Readers will come away with a much clearer understanding of the hardships and dangers of crossing the continent by wagon train?any wagon train?in the mid-19th century. The black-and-white photographs and prints used to illustrate the text are accompanied by informative captions. Neither of maps has a legend to explain the potentially confusing routes and short cuts discussed in the text. The author concentrates on the portion of the group who wintered by the lake; it was from these people that attempts to go for help originated. Less attention is given to the Donners themselves, who were trapped in the meadow camp along Alder Creek, but the basic facts are here. This is an excellent addition to existing materials on the westward movement, providing a solid treatment of an event not covered at length in other books for this age group.?Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MACopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.