The Frozen Trail

by Lisa Dayley

THE FROZEN TRAIL is a novella set in the American West. It is written in a simple, clear style, making it suitable for younger readers as well as adults. In 1856 the Mormon pioneers trekked across the Great Plains in wagon trains and pulling handcarts to find a new home safe from persecution. This is the story of one 18-year-old young woman, Emma Girdlestone of the Willie Handcart Company, who faced starvation, frostbite, and death so she and her family could join their fellow Latter-day Saints in the Salt Lake Valley. This work of historical fiction is dedicated to the members of the Willie Handcart Company. These courageous pioneers displayed commitment and heroism in the face of unbelievably harsh and brutal conditions while en route to Zion. It is especially dedicated to Willie Handcart member, Emma Girdlestone, who left behind a legacy of bravery, fortitude, and faith; and who, 155 years later, managed to change the life of her great-great-granddaughter Lisa Dayley, the author of this book. "A thrill to read, Lisa Dayley crafts a genuine pioneer story with just the right mix of fact and fiction. You’ll find this book hard to put down." ~Jay Lenkersdorfer, newspaper publisher and columnist

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Mormonism, Historical, Christian, Lds

93 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lori Henrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't agree with some of what the Mormons believe, but I admire the spirits of those travelers that went through such an ordeal to get to "Zion". This fictional story is based on the Willie Handcart Company and the group of pioneers that traveled through the treacherous winter storms to reach the promised land they were promised by missionaries. One of the travelers in this courageous group is the great-great-granddaughter of the author.

What a hardship they went through, the loss and suffering was overwhelming at times.

[Evelyn M. Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories about our pioneer ancestors

Whether this story was based on the author's ancestors or not, she still told a wonderful story. I was glad she didn't elaborate on too many of the gruesome realities of what those handcart pioneers endured but told enough detail so the readers knew how hard it was for them. She also told of so many of the miracles they experienced, some of which I had not heard before.

I also had ancestors who were handcart pioneers but were in the Martin Company instead of the Willie Company, so I really loved her story!

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Needs revising!!

I would never have finished this if I had not been interested in the little bit of historical content. It's not well written and seems mostly to be a story for children of the Mormon Church. Having said that, i have to admit it did make me want to do a little more research into the movement of groups of "handcart" pioneers across the country.

[Lawrence Lymburner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought enjoyed a story about a part of history I knew very little about. The author made everyone very true to life.

Suitable for all Ages. Very easy reading and made the time past quickly. A interesting insight on life in times gone past.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of the Handcart pioneers before so this was very interesting to me. My son is a student at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, so I try to read books about Utah when possible.

[Anne Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Shows how faith and good works reward us
Was happy to read about the Willie handcart company. Makes my struggles insignificant

[E.A. Shanniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging

Interesting beginning. Slow then picked right up. One part brought me to tears. I enjoyed the read while my husband watched a show.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of 18 year old Emma Girdlestone as she and her family trek across the United States to Zion, the land of milk and honey, otherwise known as Salt Lake City, Utah in 1856. The Willie Handcart Company was reluctantly leading 500 people from Iowa City to Salt Lake, the people voted to go even though the Willie Handcart Company had no carts available and they were all out of supplies because it was too late in the year to leave. Carts were quickly built, minimal supplies collected and quilts, mittens, scarves, etc. were quickly made to supply the group that wanted to head out anyway.

Lisa does a great job of detailing the problems of the people, the deaths, amputations performed on the trail, running out of food, the strong determination and faith these people had. I remember when I was in high school my step-dad, my brother and I took off in a blizzard, you have to know that my step-dad always seemed to like to do that, I think it's a man thing, and we got stuck about a mile outside of a small town, we lived 15 miles from town. We had to get out of the car and try to get to town, I can still remember how cold I got and can only imagine how these people survived, it had to be their faith.

I had never read any books about Mormon's so I thought I'd give it a try, it isn't the story I expected but I did get into it wondering what was going to happen to them as they struggled through the snow, winds, blizzards, climbing mountains and many other complications. An interesting book indeed.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a special interest in the handcart companies, that left late in the season, to travel to Zion. Several of my relatives were in the rescue party. I have read several books about the handcart companies, that I enjoyed much more than this book. This one was very simple, and I'm sure it was meant for a younger aged reader. It's historical fiction, and tells about one family, who traveled from England, to join the Saints in Utah. It still brought me to tears in several places. One reader didn't care about the characters. Real people suffered without food, and had to push and pull handcarts, across mountains. They had to cross the ice cold Sweet Water river several times. I have been to this location in the summer, and it was too cold for me. It's hard to image being there in a blizard, with worn out clothing, and blankets.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heritage is also connected with the handcart companies. My father's great-great paternal grandfather was Edmund Ellsworth, captain of the first handcart company. My father's 4th-great maternal grandmother (Rebecca Langman) was in the Willie handcart company and I had at least four other ancestors in the Martin company. I love reading books that help me feel connected to these brave ancestors.

Reading this book was a great experience for me. Something I enjoyed the most was viewing a perspective of how they kept their spirits up during their trials. They would speak and dream of home and the good memories they've had. They would tease that "it's the Welsh in ye" that helped them bear any ordeal they faced. It is proof that positive thinking is a great motivator and survival tactic.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably more of a young adult book but adults could enjoy it also. It's about a large family who came over from England to follow fellow Morman's to Salt Lake City. They were called the Willie Handcart Company as they only had the Willie Handcarts to put their meager possessions in.

There were about 400 people in the group. They had been warned that they were leaving too late in the season but they chose to do it anyway. By the time the snowstorms came, their clothes were already worn and they were out of food. They had lost a number of people already and others had frostbite and were sick. They were praying for the rescue party to come save them as they had been promised.

This was an interesting historical fiction book based on fact, told by the great great granddaughter of the main protagonist.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an advance review copy of this little book and was so moved by it. It is written simply enough for middle grade readers, but will certainly appeal to adults as well. When an author tells a story of so much heartache and tragedy as this, understatement is the most effective writing style, and that is how the author writes it. It is historical fiction, about the travails of The Willie Handcart Company, and especially Emma Girdlestone, an 18 year old immigrant from England traveling West with her family. I have heard the story of these Mormon pioneers for many years but seeing it through the eyes of Emma Girdlestone made it come alive.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so much more. What a story: the cross country journey, in 1865, many families of Mormons, in winter, walking with hand carts, across the Great Plains, eventually being rescued. See? Could have been so much more than it was a recitation of the facts based on the authors great great grandmothers diary. There was nothing in the writing style that grabbed me, compelled me to hang on, and get involved in this family's tragedy. I did finish it, I needed to know if they made it, many did make it alive the rest were buried along the route across the US.

[Amy Nielsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Willie Handcart Company is a hard one to read. And this book did a good job of minimizing how bad it really was but I suspect the suffering far exceeded anything my inept imagination can contrive. Having said that, I think this book would be a good introduction for young readers into the awful journey of the members of that Company. I think the story of the pioneers in general has a way of invoking a feeling of overall gratitude for our comfortable existence. Children in particular are good candidates for a blast of reality about how bad things could really be.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was bland and boring. I didn't care if the characters lived or died. The writing was fine, and I'm sure it was fun for the author to write. (I think it is her first book.) But I wasn't drawn into the story. The only good thing about the book was that it was short so I didn't waste too much time on it. I would only recommend this book to a ten or twelve year old interested in learning a little about the story...but even then I would feel like I was doing them a disservice.

[Alyssa White · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was...
I am not really sure of the terms I am trying to come up with when it comes to describe this book in one word. This book is about a family that travels across the USA to get to Zion, Utah. It is based on Mormon families and their travels through the snow, ice aka The Frozen Trail. This book did not really give you time to get attached to the characters, which is what I really miss. It is written well though.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author just did not have the ability to real have you in the palms of her hands. The story fascinates me but it felt like a short story a junior high student would have written about the events. I had to go purchase the fire and the covenant to get the better story of the two. This was a very quick read finish in one day.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everytime I read something to do with the pioneer trek to Utah, I am in awe of all the suffering and hardships they endured. I'm thankful they sacrificed all they had to start fresh in the Salt Lake Valley. Once again I am left shaking my head and praying that I didn't have to do what they did. They were tough physically and spiritually and had many miracles along the way.

[Jennifer Dowdle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book mostly due to my family connection to the Willie handcart party. I think this storey would make a great full length novel if it had given more details of the beginning and more detail in the daily struggles. otherwise the story seems rushed to brush on a detail or two here and there.

[Dan Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Latter-day Saint I'm fairly familiar with the story of the Willey handcart company and the difficulties, challenges, and hardships they endured. Although I had a fairly good idea how this story would come out in the end, I still found it hard to read, just having to endure (through the author's words) the daily trials and tribulations of so many.

[Chris Meikle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. They walked, they froze, they died and there really wasn't much of a story. If you like to feel depressed this is the book for you. I have read other books about the Willie, Martin handcart company and this was just flat for me.

[June Sanderson saxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is about the Willie Handcart company & provides a brief look at some of the hardships they faced on their ill-fated trek to the Salt Lake Valley. It was well written and a quick read.

[Kandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

What courage and stamina these people had to make this long journey. In most cases watching loved ones die and having to leave them behind. The kindness they showed to one another is touching. Well worth the read no matter what age.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mormon pioneers that crossed the ocean and then the plains to reach Zion were an amazing people. I cannot imagine the faith, devotion, heartache, and commitment. This story is the tale of a family seeking Zion. It is both inspiring and saddening.

[Zelda Allad · Rating 5 out of 5]

What brave pioneers

I have a hard time holding onto my emotions when I read these accounts of the brave pioneers. I am grateful to them and to this author, Lisa Daley, for being able to bring to them to life. I felt I was there with them in their experiences. Very well written.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay read. It was quick and of course the topic is interesting, but I felt like the author was a bit of a novice and it showed through in the writing.

[Alison]

kindle 115 YA

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book, but a great story!

[Sidney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fiction about the Wille handcart company. Not always historically correct.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had a slow start, but I got into it after a few chapters and enjoyed it. The last few chapters brought tears to my eyes.