Seven Alone

by Honoré Willsie Morrow

The epic journey of the Sager children by covered wagon from Missouri to Oregon in 1848. Oldest brother John is forced to maturity when tragedy strikes his family.
When his father and mother both die on the journey from their home in Missouri to a new home in Oregon, John Sager, only thirteen, continues as the leader of seven children. In spite of tremendous hardships they successfully complete the trek.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Adventure, Historical, Young Adult, Classics

240 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Born in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1880, Morrow went on to graduate with a history degree from the University of Wisconsin. She then married Henry Willsie and moved to Arizona, publishing her first novel, "Heart of the Desert", in 1913 and working as editor of women's magazine The Delineator from 1914-1919. She divorced Willsie in 1922 and remarried a year later to William Morrow, a publisher, who died in 1931. She continued writing throughout her life, with a number of books based on her in-depth research into Abraham Lincoln. Her last book was published 1939, and she died of influenza the following year.

Reviews

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

My fourth grade teacher read this enthralling story of the Oregon Trail to our class, and everyone listened attentively, some even crying at the sad bits. For me, it was also the first book that inspired research - I remember going to the well stocked school library immediately after Miss Barnes finished reading to find a book about Narcissa Whitman. Unfortunately, I was devastated when I found out what had happened to her, but there's biography for you - no guaranteed happy ending.

Honore Morrow was married to William Morrow the publisher but I think she would have gotten published even without a little help from him . . .

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: This is the story of a great boy pioneer. Perhaps there have been other boy pioneers, thirteen years of age, who were as great as John Sager, but, if so, I have not heard about them.

Premise/plot: Seven Alone is based on the true story of the Sager family. It was originally published as On to Oregon in 1926. It was retitled Seven Alone in the 1970s when a movie adaptation was made.

Henry and Naomi Sager had seven children: John, Francis, Catherine, Elizabeth, Matilda, Louisa, and Henrietta. Their seventh was born on the Oregon Trail. Both parents died on their way west; first the father and then the mother. Before she died she urged her oldest, John, to keep the family together no matter what.

The book chronicles their journey from start to finish. Even if the parents had not died, it would have been a difficult, near-impossible journey for a family to make. The trail was unkind to all alike--men, women, children, babies. There were many, many dangers. No day was without risks and dangers.

The last third of the book has John and his siblings essentially traveling the trail on their own as they seek--in vain, for the most part--to catch up with the wagon train. The wagon train, meanwhile, had broken up into different groups. It became obvious that the family's only hope was to reach the Whitman Mission.

The book--for better or worse--ends happily with the family reaching the Whitmans. (The Whitman Massacre was in November 1847. John and Francis were among those massacred. The other Sager children were among those held captive.)

My thoughts: I remember watching the movie as a child. I honestly can't remember if I read this one as a child. If I'd known--as a child--how the story really ended, I'm sure I would not have read it. If I didn't know, then there's a possibility I read it oblivious to the tragic ending. I did enjoy--then and now--a good pioneer story.

John's story is one of transformation. When the book opens he is a rebellious, selfish, irresponsible brat. But as the journey progresses as he comes to realize the life-and-death nature of the trail, he matures quickly. He becomes courageous, determined, resilient, responsible. His parents' God becomes his God as he comes to rely on Him. When the book opened, John almost rolled his eyes at the daily Bible reading and prayer. But that foundation was not built in vain as John came to see.

[plumcrazybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Diller read this to us and I thought it was wonderful. Now, after listening to it again after all of these years, I'm sure of it. It's a great read aloud and a nice tie-in to the history of the Oregon Trail.
A bit of trivia for you...Honore Morrow was wife to William Morrow (of the William Morrow Publishing House).
Oh, and a great narrator-Norman Dietz.

[Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

We'll Make it There--at all Costs!

This book reads easily as we focus on 13-year-old John Sager of Missouri, who comes of age with grim immediacy on the Oregon Trail. Tall for his age but disappointingly immature and bratty, John reacts with sulky silf-pity and arrogant defiance when desciplined by his father on the plains. After a fruitless and embarrassing attempt to run away ere boy (as if a mere boy could make it on his own), John is rescued by the legendary Kit Carson and restored to his frantic family.

But wagon train life takes it pitiless toll on John's family of 7 children (a baby girl is born en route). First Father and then Mother succomb to wounds and disease. Suddenly John realizes that it is now up to Him to keep the family together (his mother's dying wish, as she entrusts the baby to his special care). Now the religious scoffer sets the standards (Bible reading on Sundays, entries of family data) as he realizes that he wants to honor his dead parents. He makes the commitment to fulfill his father's dream of farming in Oregon territory.

Before they were orphaned John shirked the chores of a Boy; now his siblings are amazed at the sudden appearance of their new brother who immediately assumes the responsibilities of an Adult. Facing incredible hardships and staggering odds, young John battles against weather, nature, Indians and well-meaning but interfering white adults who try to decide the fate of his siblings. To remain true to his father's dream of homesteading in Oregon, John must lie, cheat and deceive. But he will not permit anyone or anything to break up His family! The parents he disobeyed in life inspire him from the grave, as he attempts to atone for his selfish past.

This book is based on historical fact and only lacks a good map to help readers visualize the children's location, the geographic barriers and their destination. It reads well, since it is about 95% historical fiction with 5% non-fictional asides directed to the reader. This book inspired the movie ON TO OREGON. John trust! s God to lead him safely to the promised land of Oregon with all the children. An interesting and exciting story for a general audience.

(June 1f, 2010. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book under the title of "Seven Alone" around 1977 and it so captured my imagination that I felt compelled to read it again now, as an adult.

"On to Oregon" or "Seven Alone" is the fascinating true account of the 7 Sager children, orphaned on the Oregon Trail in 1844, who chose to continue the perilous journey without their parents. Led by the oldest brother, 13 yr old John Sager, the Sager children continued an additional 1000 miles of the trail, mostly alone and mostly on foot, after their parents deaths. Along the way, they encountered hostile Indians, illness, starvation, and bitter cold. This is a story that will fascinate and humble the heart of any pre-teen boy today.

While this book was written by Honore Morrow, wife of publisher William Morrow, in 1926, a short account written by Catherine Sager Pringle, one of the actual Sager orphans, can be found here...http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resou...

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is as gripping a pioneer story as I've ever read. It's based on the true story of the Sager family, who left Missouri for Oregon in the 1840s, decades before Laura Ingalls Wilder's family made their famous journey west. The Sagers weren't as lucky as the Wilders... both on the trail, and afterward. Having read the Wikipedia entry on the family, I'm now almost wishing I hadn't read the book.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for boys. It is a fictionalized version of the true story of the Sager children. The real life connection with the Whitmans is interesting. Written in the twenties, it's worth reading -even with the fiction parts-because of the strong message on becoming a man by assuming responsibility and for the historical interest it sparks. There's an original account online by Catherine Sager of what happened after the book.

[Julie Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mom read this to me as a child. Found it in a box and enjoyed fond memories while reading.

[Abigail Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book many times growing up and was glad to revisit it as a read aloud to my kids. It is written so well and kept my kids’ attention from the first few pages. I appreciate that it is closely based on the Sager family’s actual experiences, and it shows a realistic look at the extreme struggles that people faced on the Oregon trail - not only from weather and sickness and the roughness of the trail and the treachery of those around them, but also from within. John is a flawed young man in very relatable ways, and his growth in maturity and unselfishness and leadership is the real journey of this book. I found it challenging as a young teen myself, and again now as an adult.

[Ginny Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's list of favorite children's books, which he published earlier this year. I hadn't heard of it before that. Written in 1926, it tells the true story of seven children who make their way west in the 1940s after their parents have died. It wasn't clear from the jacket copy that this was based on fact, but it does become obvious as the story unfolds.

I visited the Whitman Mission near Walla Walla, WA just last year so it was fun to see the important role that it played in this story. And I really enjoyed this book.

[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have this book as "The Splendid Journey", picked it up in a jumble sale, hard cover. What a lovely surprise. A Children's book that is historical, full of adventure, and has many points to discuss or think about along the way. I loved it and look forward to reading it with my daughter - even though it is much more aimed at boys!

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reading this to the class, although the name of the book is different. On to Oregon is the story of the Sager family.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this true story of a 13-year-old boy whose parents both die on the Oregon Trail, and he gets his 6 younger siblings (including a newborn baby) safely to Oregon. Incredible story.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story about a family moving to Oregon. The family of nine start out and and only seven arrive. This is a great account of a real family, The Sager Family. A MUST READ!

[Steph Lovelady · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's almost impossible to rate this book. It captivated me as a child, but it was written in the 1920s and as you'd expect of a fictionalized account of a pioneer journey written in this time period, it has Manifest Destiny written all over it. Worse still, the depiction of Native Americans is predictably problematic and without historical context for the conflicts between tribes and white settlers.

And yet... there's still something compelling about the against-all-odds story and the human drama of it. I learned that one of the Sager sisters wrote her own contemporary account of their journey and the tragic things that happened to the family afterward. I have ordered a copy because more than forty-five years after first encountering the Sager children, I realize I'm not finished with them.

SPOILER ALERT (not for this book, but for another one)

Update: Most of the way through Catherine Sager's book and past the point where Seven Alone ends, I can report that while I knew Seven Alone was fictionalized and assumed the whole Kit Carson subplot was invented, I was still surprised how little of what happens in it actually occurred, not even the basic premise of the title. There were seven children in the family, including one born on the Oregon Trail, and the parents did both die on the trail and where the children end up is the same, but not much that happens in between other than Catherine breaking her leg and becoming disabled seems based in fact. Most importantly, they were never alone. They stayed with the wagon train the whole time, except when most of them went ahead, accompanied by an adult, to travel a little further down the trail at the very end of their journey.

This makes the whole lesson of the story-- how John grows and learns how to take responsibility when it's thrust upon him- fall apart. My inner ten year old feels a little bamboozled.

[Melanie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, Seven Alone, by Honore Willsie Morrow, is about the trials and adventures the Sager family faced in traveling across the country, to Oregon. The family consists of the father, Henry Sager, the mother, Naomi Sager, and their 6, soon to be 7, children. Their oldest is John Sager, who is a typical 13-year-old boy. He rebels against his parents, and doesn’t have a very good sense of responsibility. At the beginning of the book, the Sagers are living in Missouri. After a lot of consideration, they decide to move to Oregon, to start a farm. On the way, the family runs into more trials than they had expected, which results with John, trying to continue to Oregon to accomplish his father’s wish, while caring for his younger 6 siblings.
The way that Morrow wrote Seven Alone, really helped me understand the things that John Sager and his family felt. The sorrow when loved ones passed, the anxiety, when they weren’t sure how long they had before they before they ran out of food, how many miles until they reached their destination, and the pure joy in their hearts when they finally did. It was also really cool to watch how John changed throughout the book. At the beginning of the story, he acts like most teenage boys act. He always disobeys his father, he doesn’t like responsibility, and thinks he know more than everyone. But with every trial he and his family faced, another adult trait is shown.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this when I was supposed to be reading a library book with a very close due date. I've always been fascinated by the accounts of the deadly Oregon trail. So many hopeful folks packed up, left all they knew and ventured out West for the wide open spaces, rich soil, and the chance to make their mark on the world. I strongly believe if I had lived during that era, the spirit of adventure, excitement and a new life would have tempted me to go. However, the dangers, peril and heartache are definitely something to consider before joining that wagon train.

The Sager children, John in particular, were made of something strong that is lacking these days. Their determination and drive was impressive. God really had His hand on them and protected them.

Overall, this was a great read and I highly recommend this if you enjoy this kind of history. I just wish there had been a satisfying epilogue.

[Anastasia Tuckness · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a gripping read about a family traveling to Oregon by covered wagon, but I don't know if I can really recommend it. The portrayal of Native Americans is nearly unrelentingly terrible, although some respect is shown toward the end. There's a few sentences about why the young girls shouldn't stay at the fort that made me very upset, although it would go over most kids' heads. It's pretty rough and tough with a fair amount of physical discipline. Lastly, it's a true story, but if you get curious and research what happened to the family after the ending of the book, you'll find a tangled tragedy. So--if someone were doing a unit on Westward Expansion and could do LOTS of framing and explanations, it could be a valuable addition in that it is super detailed about the route and historical events and people. Otherwise probably pass on this one.

(purchased on Kindle for $1-2)

[Sean Elliot Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Seven Alone" is a well-written story in a similar vein to Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" books. Based on actual events, one of the children as an adult recounts their journey through dangerous Indian territory and the untamed wilderness via the Oregon Trail in pursuit of the promises that filled so many Americans at the time. It's considered a rare work for being an actual first person account of a family traversing the Oregon Trail. It's adventure with heartbreak and struggle and tenderness--with descriptions of characters that will be hard to forget. The book is a good read that I highly recommend.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great living book for studying about the Oregon Trail. Especially good because it showed the journey of children which is always a great way to keep children interested in what is happening because they think of themselves in that same position. Also provided good discussion of the character that is formed by responsibility. Will read again the next time we visit this chapter of American history.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that straddles the 4/5 star line for me, partly because it straddles the nonfiction/historical fiction line. Very well told with lots of true elements. But there is conflicting information about the Sager children in the historic record. This book doesn't tell what is true and what is authorial license. Still, a terrific story and well worth reading!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of a 13-year old John Sager, who after the death of both his parents, leads all his brother and five sisters (including a baby) on the 1000 mile journey to Oregon. Hunger, thirst, and many unknown dangers face them on their journey through the wilderness, forcing John to quickly mature and become the leader of his family.

[Leatha A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. Your typical story of trying to go out west, people die, super hard life, but happy ending.

Funny how raising teens now vs way back then, same principles still apply. Teens don’t listen to their parents and they think they know nothing!

Parenting advice: unwritten rule with mother: she was patient and kind and they didn’t obey her rules unless she asked it at least twice. This rule didn’t apply to father. He was stern and had no patience towards naughtiness, despite his genial wit and affectionate nature. He didn’t try to make friends with the boy…only knowing his attempts would only add to John’s belief in his own righteousness and importance. He allowed him to keep to himself all he wished only insisting that he appeared properly at meals and at morning prayers.

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about family and how to stick together as they cross to the west in a covered wagon

[Jada D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book years ago. Just happen to see it is a movie and plan to get at my library. Hope it is as good

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fascinated by this book as a child. Unusually gritty and realistic, compelling reading.

[Holly Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of sibling love, survival and resilience.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom always told me to read this book, but I thought it looked boring and sad. After finally reading it, it most certainly was sad, but more exciting than 10-year-old me would have thought! An incredible story of endurance and the importance of family. Well-worth the read.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This novel is based on actual historical events. In 1844, the Sager family sets off for Oregon with a wagon train. The family is composed of father and mother Henry and Naomi, 13 year old John, his brother Francis, sisters Catherine, Elizabeth, Louisa and Matilda. On route, Naomi gives birth to her 7th child and Catherine breaks her leg. Shortly after that, Henry dies of dysentery and Naomi dies as well.

At that point in the story, young John, who has been a rebellious and lazy boy, often talking back to his mother and shirking chores, becomes the head of the family. He takes his mother's dying request to protect his brother and sisters to heart and is determined to keep them together. In the story, the adults of the caravan want to separate the family among the other caravan members so John concocts a ruse where he pretends to have headed back to civilization, but in reality follows behind the main caravan. Through many adventures (including meeting Kit Carson) and some setbacks like being robbed by Indians he keeps them all alive, including the baby. (They have a cow with them, which provides milk for the baby.)

When he finally reaches the rest of the caravan, he finds some have split off for California, and the adults he was depending on in his mind are ill with dysentery. He pushes his family on to the mission in Walla Walla led by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. Cue the triumphant music, John has saved them all and persuades the Whitmans to adopt them (after finding out he is too young to stake a homestead claim in the Willamette Valley as his father planned to do).

But, Wikipedia tells you what the novel does not. Three years later, the Whitman Mission is wiped out by angry Cayuse tribes, partly because Whitman had promised to pay for the land he was claiming, and also because of diseases brought to the tribe that they blamed them for. Both John and Francis are killed at that time. The girls survive, and Catherine eventually writes a memoir of their journey which historians contend is one of the best contemporary accounts of the Oregon Trail. There is a photo of three of the sisters from a 50 year commemoration of the Whitman Massacre (as it was known)

This novel was written in the 1920s and suffers from many of the cultural blind spots of that era. Numerous negative references are made to indigenous peoples, including John Sager's repulsion at the idea that a native woman might breastfeed his infant sister. Negative stereotypes are also in evidence for a young woman of hispanic descent. Corporal punishment is the primary discipline (although some readers might feel that John didn't get his deserved share of beatings based on his behavior to his parents) and John frequently beats his siblings to get them to comply with his plans.