Gregory, Kristiana. Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell. Scholastic, 1997. ISBN 0-590-22651-7. $9.95. 164 pp. *3-8 FI Reviewed by Sandra L. Tidwell Encouraged by her Aunt Jane, thirteen-year-old Hattie Campbell keeps a diary of her family's six-month journey to the Oregon Territory. Booneville, Missouri, is the starting place for the 135 wagons. Their journey, begun in the spring of 1847, intersects the first Mormon wagon train en route to the Great Salt Lake Valley. Gregory's historical fiction is exceptionally well written, and the diary format clearly conveys the reality of pioneer life on the trail. I wept at the accidental death of children from water hemlock poisoning, wondered at the birth of a baby during a river crossing, imagined what skeeter cakes would look and taste like, and admired the faith of families who obeyed their wagon master's constant urging to lighten their scanty loads for the difficult terrain ahead. The following wisdom, tucked into Hattie's account is one of the central themes:”Our home is our family, not our pos-sessions”(p.109). This is a wonderful selection to incorporate into history/social studies units and read-aloud programs at home or school. This Dear America series book includes an epilogue that tells the reader what happened to Hattie and her family after they settled in the Oregon Territory. Also at the end of the book is an interesting collection of maps, drawings, and photographs of “Life in America in 1847.” You will also find the words and music to “Skip to My Lou,” a pioneer recipe for “Johnny Cake or Hoe Cake,” and an “About the Author” section.
