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Desperate Crossing: The Jenny Sanders Pryor Story
Jenny Sanders Pryor, brash, impetuous, optimistic, nineteen, and married only seven months, embarked with her husband John, and their adopted seven-year-old child on what they thought would be a wonderful joining a wagon train along the Oregon Trail. Jenny and John were young and in love and eager to begin their new life together.
And then it happened.
The massacre lasted only a few minutes. Nearly all of the wagon train's men were out cutting wood, many of them without weapons, and suddenly, two hundred brutal Oglala warriors thundered into the camp. The men were forced to watch the rape and murder of their women and children. Captured, nearly beaten to death, and forced to succumb to slavery, Jenny Sanders Pryor endures a "marriage" to one of the Oglala's savage chieftains.
But every minute of her captivity, she plans her escape, while John does everything in his power to find her.
Even though there is precious little chance they'll ever see each other alive again. . .
And then it happened.
The massacre lasted only a few minutes. Nearly all of the wagon train's men were out cutting wood, many of them without weapons, and suddenly, two hundred brutal Oglala warriors thundered into the camp. The men were forced to watch the rape and murder of their women and children. Captured, nearly beaten to death, and forced to succumb to slavery, Jenny Sanders Pryor endures a "marriage" to one of the Oglala's savage chieftains.
But every minute of her captivity, she plans her escape, while John does everything in his power to find her.
Even though there is precious little chance they'll ever see each other alive again. . .
- GenresHistorical Fiction
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 1997
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 8, 2012
There were so many reasons why this books was awful.
1. There were historical inaccuracies.
2. The language used wasn't even appropriate to the time period. The main character, Jenny (who was a huge feminist, which isn't very likely especially back in those days), said several things which sounded like modern times not Oregon Trail era. Idioms that wouldn't have been used then as well as common language such as "Oh My God," really Jenny OMG? Anyway, this was a BIG pet peeve of mine. The story would have been more intereseting, if someone had time traveled to Oregon Trail... it would've made sense but as it is, not really.
3. Boring.I felt that this book was very painfully dragged out and ill-written.
4. The way the book switched point of view was distracting and not done in a cohesive way.
Of a note, I didn't really like the character Jenny. I seriously don't believe that she could've said all the stuff she did and that they DIDN'T kill her. She kept badmouthing and saying "that's not fair." No, it's not, but when captors have you and talk freely about killing you; you don't try to hasten the process. In actuality, I don't care if she had the prettiest "scalp" as much stuff as she said it was driving me crazy.
The most interesting part was the end when the author wrote about the real incidents that she "based" this book on. Those stories were MUCH more interesting and it was only 3 pages. The author exclusively mentioned how the Native Americans DID NOT sexually abuse or take advantage of the female hostages, however this was not the case in the story. This didn't correlate to how the entire book was written as the actuality of abuse was mentioned numrous times. She even gave statistics about how it DID NOT happen, but was played up in the media of the day.
If you are interested in wasting a few hours of your life, by all means, go ahead and read this book. But it isn't as exciting as other books on the Oregon Trail are.
1. There were historical inaccuracies.
2. The language used wasn't even appropriate to the time period. The main character, Jenny (who was a huge feminist, which isn't very likely especially back in those days), said several things which sounded like modern times not Oregon Trail era. Idioms that wouldn't have been used then as well as common language such as "Oh My God," really Jenny OMG? Anyway, this was a BIG pet peeve of mine. The story would have been more intereseting, if someone had time traveled to Oregon Trail... it would've made sense but as it is, not really.
3. Boring.I felt that this book was very painfully dragged out and ill-written.
4. The way the book switched point of view was distracting and not done in a cohesive way.
Of a note, I didn't really like the character Jenny. I seriously don't believe that she could've said all the stuff she did and that they DIDN'T kill her. She kept badmouthing and saying "that's not fair." No, it's not, but when captors have you and talk freely about killing you; you don't try to hasten the process. In actuality, I don't care if she had the prettiest "scalp" as much stuff as she said it was driving me crazy.
The most interesting part was the end when the author wrote about the real incidents that she "based" this book on. Those stories were MUCH more interesting and it was only 3 pages. The author exclusively mentioned how the Native Americans DID NOT sexually abuse or take advantage of the female hostages, however this was not the case in the story. This didn't correlate to how the entire book was written as the actuality of abuse was mentioned numrous times. She even gave statistics about how it DID NOT happen, but was played up in the media of the day.
If you are interested in wasting a few hours of your life, by all means, go ahead and read this book. But it isn't as exciting as other books on the Oregon Trail are.
January 11, 2012
This book was listed under Adult Fiction,which was a misplacement to say the least.
Unless you are a juvenile, this book will bore you to tears!
Main female character is portrayed in a silly, immature and unbelievable way.
Unless you are a juvenile, this book will bore you to tears!
Main female character is portrayed in a silly, immature and unbelievable way.
February 17, 2015
The true life story of Jenny Sanders Pryor, who survived being kidnapped by a band of Oglala Sioux.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews