(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Perhaps it's my own pioneer ancestry or the fact that I grew up along The Oregon Trail, but I love me a good wagon trail story. Where the Lost Wander (available April 28, 2020) by Amy Harmon certainly fits the bill. It's an epic, expansive road trip novel that offers adventure, excitement, romance, heartbreak, and joy. Harmon's vivid prose helped me put myself in my ancestors' place and really feel these characters' emotions—everything from boredom with the monotony of walking the trail to frustration with slow wagons and nasty weather to fear of attack by man and beast to the excitement and wonder of first love and childbirth to the sorrow of loss and grief. Harmon doesn't romanticize the pioneer experience, but she does capture it in all its glorious triumph and agony. I loved Naomi and John, with their respective family and friends. While none of them gets an entirely happy ending, our leading lad and lady do receive a satisfying and hopeful one. If you can't tell, I loved this book, which swept me away, making me laugh, cry, and celebrate the indomitable strength and spirit of my own ancestors, who—like the May Family—risked their lives to find a place of safety and refuge far away, in the West.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder; Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee; Heart's Journey by Kristen McKendry; The Gold Seer trilogy [Walk On Earth a Stranger; Like a River Glorious; and Into the Bright Unknown] by Rae Carson; and The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Where the Lost Wander from the generous folks at Lake Union Publishing via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This is a gritty read! Loved the characters and great sense of place!
ReplyDeleteThis would be a different setting for me.Thanks for the rec!
ReplyDeleteI haven’t read a book like this for a long time. And I need to change that. Thanks! I’ll put this one on my list.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely, thanks for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDeleteI love a good pioneer/wagon/homesteading book, too. Must be in our blood. :D
ReplyDeleteI am not really into these books, but I love that you loved this novel. I do think there aren't enough well written novels about this time history so am glad this one is so good. I'll recommend it to friends who would be interested.
ReplyDeleteI have this as one of my books for the Popsugar challenge and your review has made me happy with that decision. I really want to read this one. Great review Susan. I do love Historical fiction.
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