This Road We Traveled ~ Review

This Road We Traveled
By Jane Kirkpatrick

The Brown and Pringle families is about to experience an upheaval. The family has decided (some very reluctantly) to leave the life they know behind in Missouri and become part of the migration west.  The Oregon Territory is a land that those of an adventurous spirit are longing to be a part of, and Tabitha (Tabby) Brown longs for another adventure..

But Tabby's son Orus has declared that his mother can't join them on their move. Tabby would be a hindrance due to her age. But Tabby's indomitable spirit isn't about to be bossed around by her son when she is perfectly able to make her own decisions. And Tabby has decided she's going to Oregon.

The road isn't easy and they face obstacles that could cost them everything. Each choice must be carefully weighed, risks versus gains. But achieving the end of the journey - Oregon is just the beginning.

This is a story of family and a story of a nation.  The characters are ones one can connect with on different levels. I real liked Tabby's granddaughter Virgilia (yes, this is her name) and Nellie Louise Blodget (who is brought into the family). The historical aspects of this book make one more appreciative of what we have today.

Fans of Jane Kirkpatrick's previous works will enjoy this newest book.  The detail just brings this story to life.  The climatic elements can be felt - the endless days of rain, the burning heat of the desert, and cold of the trail.  There are moments of hopelessness and moments of joy.  This is life.

 I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:
Tabitha Brown refuses to be left behind in Missouri when her son makes the decision to strike out for Oregon--even if she has to hire her own wagon to join the party. After all, family ties are stronger than fear.

Along with her reluctant daughter and her ever-hopeful granddaughter, the intrepid Tabitha has her misgivings. The trials they face along the way will severely test her faith, courage, and ability to hope. With her family's survival on the line, she must make the ultimate sacrifice, plunging deeper into the wilderness to seek aid. What she couldn't know was how this frightening journey would impact how she understood her own life--and the greater part she had to play in history.

With her signature attention to detail and epic style, New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick invites you to travel the deadly and enticing Oregon Trail. Based on actual events, This Road We Traveled inspires the pioneer in all of us.