Willow Chase (American Diaries) - Softcover

Duey, Kathleen

3.73

30 ratings by Goodreads

9780689813559: Willow Chase (American Diaries)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0689813554 ISBN 13: 9780689813559

Publisher: Aladdin, 1997

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In Kansas Territory in 1847, Willow Chase is swept away by the flooded river she and her pioneer family attempt to cross and is forced to struggle through difficult terrain to rejoin them once again. Original.

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-7. Two fictional diary entries frame the story of Willow's journey to California in 1847. The first entry finds her contemplating her wagon train's imminent crossing of the swollen South Platte river. A third-person narrative follows in which readers meet the girl's cheerful mother, good-natured sister, strong brothers, stern stepfather, and faithful dog. Willow faces the challenges of westward emigration?hard work, illness, fear of Indians. When an Indian approaches the wagon train and asks for medicine for his sick child, Mother gives him a bottle of quinine. Later, the same man helps Willow when she is swept downstream. The book ends with another diary entry in which Willow is safely across the river and looking forward to California. Similar in style to the "American Girl" series (Pleasant), but for older readers and without illustrations, this book's value as historical fiction is slight. Readers never learn why the family is moving, and the man who rescues Willow seems to be a generic Indian with no nation.?Rebecca O'Connell, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 4^-6. Willow Chase has been given up for dead after being swept into the Platte River while fording it with her family. Now she must cross the river on her own and make her way back to her family's wagon train. The story idea is exciting, but Duey doesn't make the most of it. The accident doesn't occur until nearly the end of the novel, and Willow has a relatively easy time of things: she comes out of the river with only a few minor bruises and soon encounters the very Indian her mother helped earlier in the story. The Indian shows his gratitude by giving Willow his horse to ride across the river, and Willow is soon reunited with her stepfather, who has returned to look for her again. Readers expecting a survival tale will be sorely disappointed, but middle-grade girls in search of a heartwarming family story with a likable protagonist will be pleased, especially if they enjoyed previous books in the American Diaries series. Lauren Peterson

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