Independence Rock

by Debra Terry Hulet

Abused and abandoned, Katie McBride hasn't had the easiest life, but when she's sentenced to participate in a two-week handcart trek, she discovers a mysterious journal from her family's past that holds the key to her true identity. This heartfelt tale of adventure is the perfect reminder that it's never too late to have faith in yourself.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2011

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant little read that just tried to do a little too much in too short a story.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going on trek next year and this book made me realize exactly how excited I was. It was an amazing book about faith and it had appropriate romance.

[Aryanna 1 Sasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Independence Rock by Debra Hulet is an amazing book that smoothly switches between modern day life of Katie and her pioneer ancestor. Katie is forced to go on a two week trek with people that she barely knows. But everyday that Katie continues to go on the trek she grows closer to her trek family and finds a piece of herself. I loved this book it had a great amount of religion. And it always had me tied up in its words. I loved the pioneers story and was able to relate to the modern day problems that Katie went through. This book really makes you thinks and want to learn more about your family's past and learn things so that someday you would want to pass stories down to your children. This is a nice well written book that is hard to put down and a quick read. One of the many life lesson that a person can take from the book is to keep going even, when it feels like the whole world is against you and what you believe in. I do wish the chapters were more even page wise but the stories in the pages were still amazing. This book is incredible for when you're feeling low about yourself and need some picking up! Because of its amazing stories.

[Jaycee Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book independence rock is out two different girls both name Katie. The first katie that we are introduced to is a teenage girl. Katies mom i a huge aloholic and her dad is out of the picture. One night katie and her mom get in a physical fight where her mom calls the cops. Katie is sentenced to go on a two week pioneer trek. Upon the night she is leaving she finds this journal in her room, it is over a hundred years old. Katie decides to take it on the trek and read it. The other katie was a pioneer. Each chapter switches off between katie, and katie.
I really liked this book, you did not know what to expect. I loved that they had the Kaite's linked in the way that they did. Because you kinda saw it coming but then it had a little twist.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book, though obviously geared at young adults, was a surprisingly good read for me. Perhaps it is my newfound love of the stories of the lives of the Mormon pioneers and the impact they can have on young and old alike, but I found this story touching and delightful. I especially liked the parallel between the modern-day trek and the one from the 1840's, both undertakings by young women with the name of Katherine McBride, one the ancestor of the other. If anyone thinks that their actions of today will not influence those in the generations to come, think again. It can make all the difference!

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story that says "You are not alone." to many teenagers. It is also a story about how pedigree does not make the person. I really enjoyed following Katie through her journey. I liked that the change is slow and doesn't come just cause she's on a trek. Her personality is a little shallow at points but she deepens out as the story progresses, which I think was intended. The story over all was interesting simply because the two girl's lives were parallel in their way. I liked that the journal gave Katie a look at who and what she could be.

Language- None
Sex- None
Drugs- Scene in the beginning which serves to contrast the other friends.
violence- Abuse at the beginning.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Independence Rock is two stories in one. The chapters jump from a present day pioneer trek reenactment back to the real Trek from the 1800s. The stories are link through a journal that was kept by Katherine McBride as she journeyed west. Her descendant Katie McBride is part of the reenactment and is unknowingly traveling the same road as her ancestor. Through the journey both work to overcome the challenges their lives have brought them.

This was a good read that was worth my time. Recommended to those who enjoy LDS young adult fiction or stories of pioneers.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm only a few chapters into it and it's clearly YA. The contemporary chapters are good, but the pioneer ones seem a little off.
The book got better as I read further and I quite enjoyed it, though I found shuffling between two time periods a little awkward. It is YA so I won't be reviewing it, but I won't hesitate to reccommend it to young readers. Quite a few older readers will probably enjoy it too.

[Pam Akina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I read Independence Rock a few months ago, I still find myself opening its pages to remind myself of a favorite passage. I greatly enjoyed following the story, and I was very impressed by the eloquence of writing. I could identify with Katherine as she reached across time to help someone she did not know. And many descriptive passages have left an imprint in my mind and heart that I'm drawn to reflect on again and again.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. A young woman gets arrested and is given two choices. She can either go to jail or go on Trek. She decides to go on Trek and while there learns a lot about herself and others.

I just read this book again. What this girl learns about herself and one of her ancestors, and how they are connected, is a great story.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Katherine's story a lot.