FINISHED: Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell ➜ Kristiana Gregory.

Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Hattie Campbell records the details of her family’s harrowing migration to Oregon in a covered wagon and describes the many challenges, both joyful and tragic, that mark the journey.

A fast read, as expected!

And just as interesting as all the Dear Americas are.

There were a few messages in it that I couldn’t really let go, though. I know the setting is in 1847, and this book was written in 1997, and knowing that is exactly why I could let go of Hattie’s ultimate end goal of getting married, Pepper’s marriage and pregnancy at age 14, and another 13-year-old girl who married a 30-year-old widower and immediately became a mother of three – and all of this being painted in a positive light. Same with strict gender roles, and the boys all being terrible and getting away with it. 1800’s. Historical accuracy and all that.

But what I couldn’t let go of was the message of forgiveness, regardless of whether or not the person deserves it or will ever apologize. I feel very, very strongly about not EVER forgiving if you choose not to, know you can live perfectly healthily without forgiving, and believe “forgiving” or “being the better person” or “not stooping to their level” just allows people to get away with shitty actions without consequences.

Nah. Fuck that.

So that message concerning Mrs. Kenker at the end really sat wrong with me. So did Native Americans still being referred to as “Indians” in the historical note (I know, I know, written in 1997, but, eh).

I am glad for the explicit mentioning of how Native Americans “are just as varied amongst themselves as white folk” though. That the author made a specific point of mentioning this and having it be a running theme for Hattie to learn this throughout the book was very pleasing.

Also, history is just cool and I like reading about it. :]

Fuck that forgiveness shit in the butt, though. And gender roles too, tbh, and racism, and “manifest destiny”, but, history. And all that.

The rest of it was enjoyable though!

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