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Kinship and Courage #1
All Together in One Place
One of the incidents that made a profound impression upon the minds of all: the meeting of eleven wagons returning and not a man left in the entire train; all had died, and been buried on the way, and the women returning alone.
-from the journals of Ezra Meeker, 1852
Their lives would be tempered by adversity, expanded by faith, polished by perseverance.
For Madison "Mazy" Bacon, a young wife living in southern Wisconsin, the future appears every bit as promising as it is reassuringly predictable. A loving marriage, a well-organized home, the pleasure of planting an early spring garden--these are the carefully-tended dreams that sustain her heart and nourish her soul.
But when her husband of two years sells the homestead and informs her that they are heading west, Mazy's life is ripped down the middle like a poorly mended sheet forgotten in a midwestern storm. Her love is tried, her boundaries stretched, and the fabric of her faith tested. At the same time, she and eleven extraordinary women are pulled toward an uncertain destiny--one that binds them together through reluctance and longing and into acceptance and renewal.
Based on an actual 1852 Oregon Trail incident, All Together in One Place, Book One in the Kinship and Courage series, speaks to the strength in every woman and celebrates the promise of hope that unfailingly blooms amidst tragedy and challenge.
-from the journals of Ezra Meeker, 1852
Their lives would be tempered by adversity, expanded by faith, polished by perseverance.
For Madison "Mazy" Bacon, a young wife living in southern Wisconsin, the future appears every bit as promising as it is reassuringly predictable. A loving marriage, a well-organized home, the pleasure of planting an early spring garden--these are the carefully-tended dreams that sustain her heart and nourish her soul.
But when her husband of two years sells the homestead and informs her that they are heading west, Mazy's life is ripped down the middle like a poorly mended sheet forgotten in a midwestern storm. Her love is tried, her boundaries stretched, and the fabric of her faith tested. At the same time, she and eleven extraordinary women are pulled toward an uncertain destiny--one that binds them together through reluctance and longing and into acceptance and renewal.
Based on an actual 1852 Oregon Trail incident, All Together in One Place, Book One in the Kinship and Courage series, speaks to the strength in every woman and celebrates the promise of hope that unfailingly blooms amidst tragedy and challenge.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2000
209 people are currently reading
1797 people want to read
About the author
Jane Kirkpatrick
68 books1,051 followersKirkpatrick brings us a story of one woman's restoration from personal grief to the meaning of community."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
June 16, 2018
Ever since I was nine years old and reading Laura Ingalls Wilder, I have never been able to resist "covered wagon/wagon train" stories. When author Jane Kirkpatrick stumbled upon a 19th century journal about a traveller coming upon eleven women leading wagons with not a single man, she felt that she had a story to tell. Who were those women? What had happened to their men? Where did they end up settling?
I struggled to get engaged with this text and its characters (Mazy and Tipton drove me mad) and for about the first 50% debated between DNF or slamming this book with a 2 star. However, I am glad that I persevered because the last few chapters really set up the growth and determination I would expect of women who have experienced great loss.
I struggled to get engaged with this text and its characters (Mazy and Tipton drove me mad) and for about the first 50% debated between DNF or slamming this book with a 2 star. However, I am glad that I persevered because the last few chapters really set up the growth and determination I would expect of women who have experienced great loss.
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February 18, 2009I wrote this book. I hope you like it!
February 26, 2019
I put off reading this for a long time afraid it would be too sad. It was sad in places but nothing so heavy. Not a light novel but sprinkled with wisdom and faith and hope enough to keep it from being depressing.
December 8, 2008
I feel like after reading "These is my words," no woman pioneer story is ever going to be as good, but this book had potential. It just frustrated me, because I felt like it was underdeveloped, slow moving, and didn't get good(in my opinion) till the very end!! Worst part is, my library doesn't cary the next 3 books!! Now that is frustrating!
February 21, 2014
I am surprised at the low reviews. This is one of my favorite books! I don't read many more than once but I will this one! I felt like it made me understand more of how things were back then. I figured everyone knew that going on a wagon trail and settling in the west was hard for everyone so I wasn't surprised about the hardships. I completely enjoyed this book
March 5, 2017
Jane Kirkpatrick's writing has a maturity about it that I appreciate. These wagon women coming together in a time of heartache and trial was just marvelous. A treacherous journey between grief and community will lead these new friends in an unexpected direction emotionally than they had anticipated. I was grateful for getting to know them. Not an easy light read but overall; so worthwhile.
March 13, 2013
Mazy's world is turned upside down when her husband, Jeremy, sells their land and decides, without talking to her first, that they are going to get West. Mazy hates change and she is reluctant at first but she took a vow to love and honor her husband and that is what she will do, but she's not opposed to telling him ever five minutes that she's not happy. We are taken through the journey of heading West and are introduced to numerous of characters, most of whom get on my last nerve.
I wanted to like this book so bad, but I just couldn't. I don't stop reading most books that I don’t like but I had to make myself pick it up and I had finally had enough. The story, much like their journey, dragged on and on. I felt like they were never going to get to their destination. I felt like I was walking along side the wagon, with dust in my face, sweat on my brow, the sun beating down and in desperate need of a shower and I was only on page 174! Once Jeremy, one of the last guys, died I called it quits. I get anxiety just thinking about this book. The characters were annoying. The plot was annoying. And the story line was annoying. I don’t recommend it.
I wanted to like this book so bad, but I just couldn't. I don't stop reading most books that I don’t like but I had to make myself pick it up and I had finally had enough. The story, much like their journey, dragged on and on. I felt like they were never going to get to their destination. I felt like I was walking along side the wagon, with dust in my face, sweat on my brow, the sun beating down and in desperate need of a shower and I was only on page 174! Once Jeremy, one of the last guys, died I called it quits. I get anxiety just thinking about this book. The characters were annoying. The plot was annoying. And the story line was annoying. I don’t recommend it.
August 15, 2009
This is a good story that could've been great. The concept of eleven women traveling west together is an intriguing one, especially since there's evidence that it may have really happened. My main argument with the book is that the women get pretty preachy at the end, speaking in pithy truisms about life and womanhood and family, and I found that hard to swallow. I'm gonna read the next two books, though, and see where some of the story lines go.
February 9, 2025
Wow! This is going on my re-read shelf. This book is a testament of faith and grit. What these women went through and learned along the way will prove to you that, with God, you're more than capable of handling whatever it is that you're going through. I loved this book!
September 24, 2010
For book club. The author of this book never met a platitude she didn't like. The plot and some of the characters do pull the reader through this unevenly paced story, but not without preaching the Biblical virtues of patience and acceptance and piety throughout, and if that is appealing to some, so be it; this book was written for those who enjoy the heavy-handed religious lessons. For this reader, however, some of the dialogue was so treacly that it had to be eye-skimmed.
A note of caution: the Kindle version of this book is full of typos. It might be a function of digitizing the original text without careful html editing, but it was completely distracting having to mentally edit the sentences to add periods and end-quote marks where they should have been.
Laura Ingalls Wilder books are still the preferred source for all things manifest destiny.
A note of caution: the Kindle version of this book is full of typos. It might be a function of digitizing the original text without careful html editing, but it was completely distracting having to mentally edit the sentences to add periods and end-quote marks where they should have been.
Laura Ingalls Wilder books are still the preferred source for all things manifest destiny.
March 6, 2017
A good historical portrait...but a few too many characters.
May 14, 2023
Theme: Grief
Stories born from reality conveys the truth of suffering to those who live in fantasy. Grief is hidden in the brightest places, for it is all around. Grief is love with nowhere to go and despite the sorrow and affliction that are its brothers, grief teaches the soul no other emotion can. The taste of grief grounds the highs, solidifying them as precious moments. To write pain, you must have experienced it and in All Together in One Place, young Mazy discovers her perfect world was a childish dream she made to close her eyes to reality. Barely over 20, she begins to learn about herself and the sadness that soaks behind every story, including her own. The story begins in Wisconsin when her husband decides for them to move west to Oregon. Although reluctant, Mazy follows. Joining in their pursuit Tipton, a girl about 15 years of age and her betrothed accompany them. Through 397 pages, the author reveals more and more about the character's past, and the shadows of sorrow concealed behind each pair of eyes. Each character struggles differently: some with past relationships, some with pain, and some with longings too thirsty to quench, but all struggle with grief.
Her perspective as an author is detailed but extends excessively and with unnecessary specifics seemingly detached from the original story. This novel might fall into a "found family" troupe; however, the main character resists through her stubborn nature and taints the words of the page with pessimistic views. As she states in a journal entry, "To be without a place of belonging is to starve the soul" (Kirkpatrick 121). Mazy never trusts anyone but herself, draining the comfort of an otherwise touching book. This story was aimed to warm hearts with friendship, courage, and faith but was left empty with expectation and disappointment. Despite its overwhelming length, one tone is consistently hit well: grief. After the last page is turned, a seed has been planted that something is now lost. This grief is a powerful factor throughout the story and Kirkpatrick expressed it well.
Each storyline shows a desire to belong but never nurses that need. They instead chase the comforts of something they have never truly experienced. "She yearned to run, to hide inside a limestone cave until this uprooting passed." (Kirkpatrick 35). This longing for the future to pass by is mimicked in the overall plot; hanging on to the past in a neverending torture of pain. However, this story takes a mournful turn as each of the characters faces this reality on their own. Nearing page 200, half of the characters and all of the men die or leave. Not only is this highly unrealistic for death to prefer a specific gender, but it also forces the characters left over to stand as female leaders. Instead of developing a solid character that the reader wishes to see overcome adversity and rise despite her gender stereotypes, Kirkpatrick shirks responsibility, deciding to force the main character into a foolish position. The suggestion of eternal unrest in the main character only discourages the reader from carrying on. The women pursue a life in California despite wagons smashed and many of their husbands, brothers, or fathers left on the side of the road. Their tenacity deserves applause and supports such a book with an emotionally immature and resistant leading role.
The character development ranges greatly. Mazy distrusts her husband, then her mother, and lastly, her friends. As the story progresses, she takes small steps forward, counteracting her dismissive and defensive tone, but in the end, she does as she pleases without regard to those around her. Mazy loses her husband and continues not only dismissing grief entirely as if she is inhuman but also resents him in death. She blames him for her disappointment in life and attention-seeking, validation-craving desires. This blame shift taints the whole perspective of the story especially as Mazy is the main character. Her own grief is not with the loss of her husband but rather the loss of herself. Mazy comes to the recognition that she has pleased everyone except herself and so she grieves the girl she might have been. She only gains selfishness as the story continues turning to anger in her grief. Although this arc is effective to show the light of the other characters, it hides a sour tone as Mazy was the first character to be introduced and the basis for the plot.
However, the light of proper development shines through for all that the main storyline injures. Two characters, Tipton and Ruth, battle for their independence as both lost men in their lives. Young Tipton initially leaves Wisconsin with her betrothed to build a life together that they own entirely. The relationship between herself and her lover Tyrell is precious and innocent. They search continually for the comfort of the other and sacrifice themselves selflessly. At one point, Tipton reveals her pure love for him. "She sensed the safety of him, in the size of his arms and the breadth of his heart. And he extended that strength to her. It was the only time she felt powerful and truly safe. Tyrell made her more than what she was." (Kirkpatrick 64) He gives her confidence and power, more than she could ever attain without him. Sorrowfully, his life cuts short as he dies tragically at the hand of his betrothed brother. Thrown into a fit of depression, Tipton learns to live with his absence and eventually copes with her grief by lending a helping hand and a listening ear to the women traveling with them that need her.
Ruth, however, has an entirely different story with a very different loss. Her three-month baby dies, and she runs from her husband in shame. Turning her back on him, Ruth seeks comfort in her brother's family. She joins the group traveling west, hoping to escape her past husband forever but loses only more. Her brother dies, shortly followed by his wife. She remains the only living relative of their four children. Despite this tremendous weight, she stands up to the task, continuously choosing love instead of hatred. Ruth believes in herself and the women around her. She is a powerful character because she does not run from that which might cause others to flee. As the story progresses, it is revealed to the reader of Ruth's valid reasons for leaving her husband and justifies her behavior. She is not running away; she is changing her path. Both Tipton and Ruth show valorous and heroic traits that are more interesting and powerful to read about than Mazy’s. Though they have different challenges and different griefs they endure endlessly with brave faces and kind hearts deserving more admiration than the main character.
There is no true antagonist in this story. Trials come, tribulations pass, and the women fight for each other. Many die in different circumstances, and faith wavers but still holds firm. Suffering is in no shortage, especially on the Oregon Trail; however, facing those trials with jaws set and determination built from the scraps of their old lives, this group of women endures. The grief and loss are reflected in each character. They all lose something on this path west, but they learn that if they wish to start a new life they must leave the old life behind. One cannot live and look backward while attempting to walk forward. The taste of grief is evident and obvious, however, the interest is stricken in discovering how the characters will combat and cope with their own hardships. The author portrays this mental battle well, grinding down each character to their specific flaws before refining their traits. With the exception of Mazy, the main character, each arc is satisfying.
Hidden meanings can be discovered throughout many stories. Some may be hidden too well and can never be found. All Together in One Place pulls through into a jumble of different stories. Although not entertaining, this book confronts the emotional issue of grief and how different personalities cope. This book needed to be shorter and more cohesive to justify the failed arc of the main character. Individually, the supporting roles touched hearts and even brought tears. Jane Kirkpatrick wrote a story of heartache and agonized over every detail until it had almost been drained of its meaning. Her narration is consistent but boring and overall drawn-out. All Together in One Place is a conflicting read considering the characters, style, and plot. Redeemed through the faith that some of the characters share, the taste of grief still drips from the pages and lingers heavily on the words of this story.
Stories born from reality conveys the truth of suffering to those who live in fantasy. Grief is hidden in the brightest places, for it is all around. Grief is love with nowhere to go and despite the sorrow and affliction that are its brothers, grief teaches the soul no other emotion can. The taste of grief grounds the highs, solidifying them as precious moments. To write pain, you must have experienced it and in All Together in One Place, young Mazy discovers her perfect world was a childish dream she made to close her eyes to reality. Barely over 20, she begins to learn about herself and the sadness that soaks behind every story, including her own. The story begins in Wisconsin when her husband decides for them to move west to Oregon. Although reluctant, Mazy follows. Joining in their pursuit Tipton, a girl about 15 years of age and her betrothed accompany them. Through 397 pages, the author reveals more and more about the character's past, and the shadows of sorrow concealed behind each pair of eyes. Each character struggles differently: some with past relationships, some with pain, and some with longings too thirsty to quench, but all struggle with grief.
Her perspective as an author is detailed but extends excessively and with unnecessary specifics seemingly detached from the original story. This novel might fall into a "found family" troupe; however, the main character resists through her stubborn nature and taints the words of the page with pessimistic views. As she states in a journal entry, "To be without a place of belonging is to starve the soul" (Kirkpatrick 121). Mazy never trusts anyone but herself, draining the comfort of an otherwise touching book. This story was aimed to warm hearts with friendship, courage, and faith but was left empty with expectation and disappointment. Despite its overwhelming length, one tone is consistently hit well: grief. After the last page is turned, a seed has been planted that something is now lost. This grief is a powerful factor throughout the story and Kirkpatrick expressed it well.
Each storyline shows a desire to belong but never nurses that need. They instead chase the comforts of something they have never truly experienced. "She yearned to run, to hide inside a limestone cave until this uprooting passed." (Kirkpatrick 35). This longing for the future to pass by is mimicked in the overall plot; hanging on to the past in a neverending torture of pain. However, this story takes a mournful turn as each of the characters faces this reality on their own. Nearing page 200, half of the characters and all of the men die or leave. Not only is this highly unrealistic for death to prefer a specific gender, but it also forces the characters left over to stand as female leaders. Instead of developing a solid character that the reader wishes to see overcome adversity and rise despite her gender stereotypes, Kirkpatrick shirks responsibility, deciding to force the main character into a foolish position. The suggestion of eternal unrest in the main character only discourages the reader from carrying on. The women pursue a life in California despite wagons smashed and many of their husbands, brothers, or fathers left on the side of the road. Their tenacity deserves applause and supports such a book with an emotionally immature and resistant leading role.
The character development ranges greatly. Mazy distrusts her husband, then her mother, and lastly, her friends. As the story progresses, she takes small steps forward, counteracting her dismissive and defensive tone, but in the end, she does as she pleases without regard to those around her. Mazy loses her husband and continues not only dismissing grief entirely as if she is inhuman but also resents him in death. She blames him for her disappointment in life and attention-seeking, validation-craving desires. This blame shift taints the whole perspective of the story especially as Mazy is the main character. Her own grief is not with the loss of her husband but rather the loss of herself. Mazy comes to the recognition that she has pleased everyone except herself and so she grieves the girl she might have been. She only gains selfishness as the story continues turning to anger in her grief. Although this arc is effective to show the light of the other characters, it hides a sour tone as Mazy was the first character to be introduced and the basis for the plot.
However, the light of proper development shines through for all that the main storyline injures. Two characters, Tipton and Ruth, battle for their independence as both lost men in their lives. Young Tipton initially leaves Wisconsin with her betrothed to build a life together that they own entirely. The relationship between herself and her lover Tyrell is precious and innocent. They search continually for the comfort of the other and sacrifice themselves selflessly. At one point, Tipton reveals her pure love for him. "She sensed the safety of him, in the size of his arms and the breadth of his heart. And he extended that strength to her. It was the only time she felt powerful and truly safe. Tyrell made her more than what she was." (Kirkpatrick 64) He gives her confidence and power, more than she could ever attain without him. Sorrowfully, his life cuts short as he dies tragically at the hand of his betrothed brother. Thrown into a fit of depression, Tipton learns to live with his absence and eventually copes with her grief by lending a helping hand and a listening ear to the women traveling with them that need her.
Ruth, however, has an entirely different story with a very different loss. Her three-month baby dies, and she runs from her husband in shame. Turning her back on him, Ruth seeks comfort in her brother's family. She joins the group traveling west, hoping to escape her past husband forever but loses only more. Her brother dies, shortly followed by his wife. She remains the only living relative of their four children. Despite this tremendous weight, she stands up to the task, continuously choosing love instead of hatred. Ruth believes in herself and the women around her. She is a powerful character because she does not run from that which might cause others to flee. As the story progresses, it is revealed to the reader of Ruth's valid reasons for leaving her husband and justifies her behavior. She is not running away; she is changing her path. Both Tipton and Ruth show valorous and heroic traits that are more interesting and powerful to read about than Mazy’s. Though they have different challenges and different griefs they endure endlessly with brave faces and kind hearts deserving more admiration than the main character.
There is no true antagonist in this story. Trials come, tribulations pass, and the women fight for each other. Many die in different circumstances, and faith wavers but still holds firm. Suffering is in no shortage, especially on the Oregon Trail; however, facing those trials with jaws set and determination built from the scraps of their old lives, this group of women endures. The grief and loss are reflected in each character. They all lose something on this path west, but they learn that if they wish to start a new life they must leave the old life behind. One cannot live and look backward while attempting to walk forward. The taste of grief is evident and obvious, however, the interest is stricken in discovering how the characters will combat and cope with their own hardships. The author portrays this mental battle well, grinding down each character to their specific flaws before refining their traits. With the exception of Mazy, the main character, each arc is satisfying.
Hidden meanings can be discovered throughout many stories. Some may be hidden too well and can never be found. All Together in One Place pulls through into a jumble of different stories. Although not entertaining, this book confronts the emotional issue of grief and how different personalities cope. This book needed to be shorter and more cohesive to justify the failed arc of the main character. Individually, the supporting roles touched hearts and even brought tears. Jane Kirkpatrick wrote a story of heartache and agonized over every detail until it had almost been drained of its meaning. Her narration is consistent but boring and overall drawn-out. All Together in One Place is a conflicting read considering the characters, style, and plot. Redeemed through the faith that some of the characters share, the taste of grief still drips from the pages and lingers heavily on the words of this story.
June 17, 2009
Interesting, but not riveting....
I enjoyed this book. It was a slow read, because it contained a LOT of detail. Though it may not have been accurate in all repects, it gave me a feel for what if might have been like to strike out to the unknown and settle our land. Imagine....clean water is not always available....no shelter from the elements...either extreme heat OR wicked storms...no running to the store when the wagon breaks down....abandon some of your most prized possesions by the side of the road in order to survive. And of course, in the book as well as in our history of westward expansion, many did NOT survive! It gave me a new appreciation for my ancestors and the courage it must have taken to move from the known to the unfamiliar. Though I didn't find the book riveting, it was worth reading, and I look forward to continuing the saga.
I enjoyed this book. It was a slow read, because it contained a LOT of detail. Though it may not have been accurate in all repects, it gave me a feel for what if might have been like to strike out to the unknown and settle our land. Imagine....clean water is not always available....no shelter from the elements...either extreme heat OR wicked storms...no running to the store when the wagon breaks down....abandon some of your most prized possesions by the side of the road in order to survive. And of course, in the book as well as in our history of westward expansion, many did NOT survive! It gave me a new appreciation for my ancestors and the courage it must have taken to move from the known to the unfamiliar. Though I didn't find the book riveting, it was worth reading, and I look forward to continuing the saga.
February 26, 2017
Series Kinship and Courage, book #1 "All together in one Place" by Jane Kirkpatrick
I like reading the stories of wagon trains going west and the hardships that forges such friendships among the people.
This one had a lot of hardships and a disease the ravished the men til their were only women left to carry on. You will enjoy how these women share the responsibilities and take that wagon train "All the way to its destination".
I like reading the stories of wagon trains going west and the hardships that forges such friendships among the people.
This one had a lot of hardships and a disease the ravished the men til their were only women left to carry on. You will enjoy how these women share the responsibilities and take that wagon train "All the way to its destination".
July 29, 2016
Although it took a few chapters to actually get into the book, once I got there it was hard to put down!!! It was amazing to see the trials, tribulations & learning experiences that occurred during their rebels to the west coast!!! I enjoyed learning the secrets & hidden posts of each character who survived. Looking forward to the next one!!!
February 28, 2013
I have never read a Jane Kirkpatrick before, but I am sure I will be reading more of her books. The book made me feel as though I was part of the wagon train that carried eleven strong women. Through hardships, faith, and Perseverance, these women survived, bringing them closer together.
March 29, 2022
Loved this! Actually I finished this last year, but failed to mark it complete. This is a wonderful choice for people who grew up loving the Little House on the Prairie books, I hoped I'd love it and I truly did.
The wagon trail to the west was the adventure of a lifetime, but for many it lead only to hardship, devastation, and despair. In shocking proof of how demanding and dangerous it could be, a party travelling west encountered a band of wagons travelling in the reverse direction - back from whence they came - this second party were all women who had lost their men folk on the way towards the west. That real life event inspired this fictional series by Jane Kirkpatrick giving us a wonderful, inspiring collection of women each learning to cope with loss while having to work together as a team to survive.
The wagon trail to the west was the adventure of a lifetime, but for many it lead only to hardship, devastation, and despair. In shocking proof of how demanding and dangerous it could be, a party travelling west encountered a band of wagons travelling in the reverse direction - back from whence they came - this second party were all women who had lost their men folk on the way towards the west. That real life event inspired this fictional series by Jane Kirkpatrick giving us a wonderful, inspiring collection of women each learning to cope with loss while having to work together as a team to survive.
December 8, 2025
This was probably a 3.5 or 3.8 for me. Mostly cuz it took me SO long to get through it. I feel like if the action was a little closer together I would have gotten through it faster. Definitely not a page turner but it had its exciting moments and twists and mysteries but the action was spread out in between lots of conversations and descriptions and inspirational monologues.
The last quarter definitely moved faster and had me reading all day to get the end. Sad the end didn’t get as in far in the story as I hoped but I guess there are more books in the series. That being said - I will probably give the next story a chance cuz I do want to find out what happens.
The last quarter definitely moved faster and had me reading all day to get the end. Sad the end didn’t get as in far in the story as I hoped but I guess there are more books in the series. That being said - I will probably give the next story a chance cuz I do want to find out what happens.
January 10, 2025
2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.
I feel like this had the potential to be an amazing book. It was really good in some parts. I just didn’t like the author’s style. Some places (most places?) seemed really choppy, others were way too vague, making it hard to follow.
I have the second book in the series… hope springs eternal that I’ll like it better.
I feel like this had the potential to be an amazing book. It was really good in some parts. I just didn’t like the author’s style. Some places (most places?) seemed really choppy, others were way too vague, making it hard to follow.
I have the second book in the series… hope springs eternal that I’ll like it better.
August 14, 2023
There is a lot I enjoyed about the book, I do enjoy books with a pioneer theme. I didn't come away loving it though. At times there were phrases I couldn't make sense of, and sometimes I didn't know which character was being referred to. So I kept having to reread sentences. I enjoyed the details of their travels and what they went through. Some of the characters' thoughts or remarks were so good, but it could it could get long-winded at times. I will read others by her.
August 11, 2025
First two-thirds fascinating and enjoyable. Last one-third a little preachy and felt like the story lost its center.
July 30, 2016
This is the 1st in the Kinship and Courage series of inspirational historical fiction by Jane Kirkpatrick. The idea for the story came from a copy of Ezra Meeker's "Ox Team Days on the Oregon Trail" and a short paragraph relates an encounter in 1852 of eleven wagons heading east, all driven by women, their men having died and been buried on the trail. The author, after much research, has fleshed out what might have happened.
The story begins in Wisconsin when Jeremy Bacon, without consulting with his wife Mazy, sells their farm and tells her they will join a wagon train destined for Oregon/California. Mazy is devastated, because she does not want to leave the home she has established. But, against her better judgement, she reluctantly agrees to go with him. Most of the men are pictured as controlling and egotistical. So when they all die, either from cholera or accident, Mazy persuades the women to turn around and head back east with the idea of visiting some of the graves that didn't get a proper burial. She's hoping to convince them to continue on back to Wisconsin. But she is the one that need convincing to continue on their journey to OR/CA. This little band of women include:
- Mazy Bacon - who becomes the unintended leader of the group and thru adversity shows the most growth. She likes to wear her red bloomers and takes along some Wisconsin soil.
- Elizabeth Mueller - Mazy's mother who provides the comic relief and wisdom. She befriends an Indian family during the trip.
- Ruth Martin - who dresses like a man (horrors), travels alone and is a horse woman. She is running from her husband who she sent to prison for killing their son & fearful he is following her.
- Tipton Wilson - who started out with the Bacons and is following her fiancé Tyrell, a farrier, so they can be married when she turns of age. She is very young, immature, self-centered and anorexic (implied).
- Adora Wilson - Tipton's mother who forces her husband and creepy son to belatedly join the wagon train. She is whiny, self-centered, and tends to smother her daughter.
- Lura Schmidtke - Wife of the former wagon train leader who was always under the thumb of her husband and can't think for herself. Her teenage daughter, Mariah, admires Ruth.
- Suzanne Cullver - is blind, bitter, and pregnant with her 2nd son. Mazy's dog, named Pig, becomes her security and companion. Her sons are Clayton and Sason.
- Sister Esther Maeves - who is a member of the Marriage Assn. and is chaperoning four celestials (Chinese women) with contracts to marry men in Sacramento. She is very religious. Her charges are: Cynthia who dies of cholera, Deborah with bound feet and traveling with 6 boxes of bees, Naomi, and Zilah who eventually watches out for Suzanne and her sons.
- Betha Bernard - Ruth's sister-in-law who is a good cook and who breathes tidiness and cleanliness. She has four children. She has the most grief over losing her husband.
Once the women decide to continue the trip west, they begin to bond with each other through grief, adversity, survival, companionship which turns into friendship, and their faith which leads to unity, leadership for each in different ways, empowerment, celebration, tradition making and decision making. Even though there is hardship and pain for these women, there are also heartwarming moments to cherish.
Most of the story centers on character development. We only see snippets of the trip along the way. But there is attention to detail - life on the trail taken from pioneer diaries written by women, information about bees, a farrier's life, the Marriage Assn. actually existed, blindness, clothing, food and tools, the fact that native people were less hostile in 1852, why such an interest in carpet tacks when they neared California, entrepreneurs wanting to provide relief on the trail, etc.
This story "celebrates the promise of hope", the challenges all women might face, and rising above an unknown and uncertain destiny. A very good read. Ready to read the next two books in the series.
The story begins in Wisconsin when Jeremy Bacon, without consulting with his wife Mazy, sells their farm and tells her they will join a wagon train destined for Oregon/California. Mazy is devastated, because she does not want to leave the home she has established. But, against her better judgement, she reluctantly agrees to go with him. Most of the men are pictured as controlling and egotistical. So when they all die, either from cholera or accident, Mazy persuades the women to turn around and head back east with the idea of visiting some of the graves that didn't get a proper burial. She's hoping to convince them to continue on back to Wisconsin. But she is the one that need convincing to continue on their journey to OR/CA. This little band of women include:
- Mazy Bacon - who becomes the unintended leader of the group and thru adversity shows the most growth. She likes to wear her red bloomers and takes along some Wisconsin soil.
- Elizabeth Mueller - Mazy's mother who provides the comic relief and wisdom. She befriends an Indian family during the trip.
- Ruth Martin - who dresses like a man (horrors), travels alone and is a horse woman. She is running from her husband who she sent to prison for killing their son & fearful he is following her.
- Tipton Wilson - who started out with the Bacons and is following her fiancé Tyrell, a farrier, so they can be married when she turns of age. She is very young, immature, self-centered and anorexic (implied).
- Adora Wilson - Tipton's mother who forces her husband and creepy son to belatedly join the wagon train. She is whiny, self-centered, and tends to smother her daughter.
- Lura Schmidtke - Wife of the former wagon train leader who was always under the thumb of her husband and can't think for herself. Her teenage daughter, Mariah, admires Ruth.
- Suzanne Cullver - is blind, bitter, and pregnant with her 2nd son. Mazy's dog, named Pig, becomes her security and companion. Her sons are Clayton and Sason.
- Sister Esther Maeves - who is a member of the Marriage Assn. and is chaperoning four celestials (Chinese women) with contracts to marry men in Sacramento. She is very religious. Her charges are: Cynthia who dies of cholera, Deborah with bound feet and traveling with 6 boxes of bees, Naomi, and Zilah who eventually watches out for Suzanne and her sons.
- Betha Bernard - Ruth's sister-in-law who is a good cook and who breathes tidiness and cleanliness. She has four children. She has the most grief over losing her husband.
Once the women decide to continue the trip west, they begin to bond with each other through grief, adversity, survival, companionship which turns into friendship, and their faith which leads to unity, leadership for each in different ways, empowerment, celebration, tradition making and decision making. Even though there is hardship and pain for these women, there are also heartwarming moments to cherish.
Most of the story centers on character development. We only see snippets of the trip along the way. But there is attention to detail - life on the trail taken from pioneer diaries written by women, information about bees, a farrier's life, the Marriage Assn. actually existed, blindness, clothing, food and tools, the fact that native people were less hostile in 1852, why such an interest in carpet tacks when they neared California, entrepreneurs wanting to provide relief on the trail, etc.
This story "celebrates the promise of hope", the challenges all women might face, and rising above an unknown and uncertain destiny. A very good read. Ready to read the next two books in the series.
January 28, 2020
The Kinship and Courage Trilogy: Book 1 is All Together in One Place, Book 2 is No Eye Can See; Book 3 is What Once We Knew. I was captivated during each one, hardly able to put them down. I awoke early, stayed up late. (Six years later, I am equally enthusiastic about this series).
Historically accurate, with vivid details, dynamic characters, deep themes, real conflict! Because I read them one after another, what I've written below applies to the trilogy, thus the length.
Kirkpatrick seems to say, “Let me tell you about a woman who . . . . She finds a secret place in me and brings it to the surface. I saw myself over and over—and wondered how I would have faced the challenges of this westward journey. But in truth, my own journey has borne challenges of unwanted change, loss, betrayal, fear, and self-discovery, all of which have involved a testing of my faith.”
From the journals of Ezra Meeker, 1852--“One of the incidents that made a profound impression upon the minds of all: The meeting of eleven wagons returning and not a man left in the entire train; all had died, and been buried on the way, and the women returning alone.” This entry serves as the seminal idea for Kirkpatrick’s trilogy. On a wagon train going from Wisconsin to Oregon/California, the men die from cholera. Women and children must decide what to do—they turn back, but change their minds and head to new lives.
Madison “Mazy” Bacon, wife of Jeremy, is the central character, a young wife living in Southern Wisconsin, with a future which appears promising and predictable (Mazy likes routine). A loving marriage, a well-organized home, the pleasures of planting an early spring garden—these are the carefully cherished dreams that sustain her heart and nourish her soul. But all that changes when her husband sells the homestead and informs her that they are heading west. Mazy’s life is ripped apart—her love for Jeremy is tested, her boundaries are stretched, and her faith is challenged.
At the same time, her life and the lives of eleven other women are melded together as they face themselves, their fears, their hopes, their strengths and weaknesses, their personal likes and dislikes, their habits of thought and action, their dreams, their abilities, their losses and grief. The journey west binds them together through reluctance and longing into acceptance and renewal. They learn to accommodate, to give one another space, to accept and love. They share life—and each of them discovers things about herself that she never would have known otherwise. Each of them faces her motivations, her faith or lack thereof—and grows.
Elizabeth Mueller, Mazy’s mother
Adora Wilson, indulgent and needy mother of Charles (a snake of a man, evil) and Tipton, an immature flirt, manipulative and self-centered
Lura Schmidtke, somewhat mousy
Suzanne Cullver, blind mother of two boys (Clayton and Sason)
Sister Esther Maeves, who is taking four Celestials—Cynthia, Mei-Ling/Deborah, Naomi, Zilah—Chinese girls who are contracted to wed
Betha Barnard, Mazy’s sister-in-law, who is mother to Jason, Ned, Sarah, and Jessie (Ruth’s daughter)
Ruth Martin, separated from her husband who has been in prison for five years for the death of their son
This trilogy explores human character, reveals the value of community, and speaks to the significance of women and their relationships to themselves, one another, and to God. “Koinonia”—shared life—is the result of shared suffering and celebration.
Historically accurate, with vivid details, dynamic characters, deep themes, real conflict! Because I read them one after another, what I've written below applies to the trilogy, thus the length.
Kirkpatrick seems to say, “Let me tell you about a woman who . . . . She finds a secret place in me and brings it to the surface. I saw myself over and over—and wondered how I would have faced the challenges of this westward journey. But in truth, my own journey has borne challenges of unwanted change, loss, betrayal, fear, and self-discovery, all of which have involved a testing of my faith.”
From the journals of Ezra Meeker, 1852--“One of the incidents that made a profound impression upon the minds of all: The meeting of eleven wagons returning and not a man left in the entire train; all had died, and been buried on the way, and the women returning alone.” This entry serves as the seminal idea for Kirkpatrick’s trilogy. On a wagon train going from Wisconsin to Oregon/California, the men die from cholera. Women and children must decide what to do—they turn back, but change their minds and head to new lives.
Madison “Mazy” Bacon, wife of Jeremy, is the central character, a young wife living in Southern Wisconsin, with a future which appears promising and predictable (Mazy likes routine). A loving marriage, a well-organized home, the pleasures of planting an early spring garden—these are the carefully cherished dreams that sustain her heart and nourish her soul. But all that changes when her husband sells the homestead and informs her that they are heading west. Mazy’s life is ripped apart—her love for Jeremy is tested, her boundaries are stretched, and her faith is challenged.
At the same time, her life and the lives of eleven other women are melded together as they face themselves, their fears, their hopes, their strengths and weaknesses, their personal likes and dislikes, their habits of thought and action, their dreams, their abilities, their losses and grief. The journey west binds them together through reluctance and longing into acceptance and renewal. They learn to accommodate, to give one another space, to accept and love. They share life—and each of them discovers things about herself that she never would have known otherwise. Each of them faces her motivations, her faith or lack thereof—and grows.
Elizabeth Mueller, Mazy’s mother
Adora Wilson, indulgent and needy mother of Charles (a snake of a man, evil) and Tipton, an immature flirt, manipulative and self-centered
Lura Schmidtke, somewhat mousy
Suzanne Cullver, blind mother of two boys (Clayton and Sason)
Sister Esther Maeves, who is taking four Celestials—Cynthia, Mei-Ling/Deborah, Naomi, Zilah—Chinese girls who are contracted to wed
Betha Barnard, Mazy’s sister-in-law, who is mother to Jason, Ned, Sarah, and Jessie (Ruth’s daughter)
Ruth Martin, separated from her husband who has been in prison for five years for the death of their son
This trilogy explores human character, reveals the value of community, and speaks to the significance of women and their relationships to themselves, one another, and to God. “Koinonia”—shared life—is the result of shared suffering and celebration.
August 11, 2011
Whew! I finally finished this, and it was a chore! I found I often got distracted from the story by the author's style. For example, sometimes the author uses unusual metaphors, but uses them in ways that draw your attention to them: "I'd give almost anything to burn the thorns between us." "You'll be able to go on without . . . holding the hammer over my head?" IDK why they strike me as weird but they do.
Then sometimes I just don't get a comment at all, like on p. 88 when Jeremy says, "We haven't been beyond this much." I keep rereading it, but just don't understand it. Also I'm bugged by the names. The main character's name is Mazy and she named her cow Mavis. A loving young couple is Tyrell and Tipton - OK but who's the girl and who's the guy? Another lady is named Betha. Betha? Why not Bertha? I can handle Adora. Still though that's quite a lot of rather unusual names that all sort of clash as I'm reading.
I wonder if the author did some research on colloquial expressions from the frontier because several of her word choices are unusual such as calling a bull a "cow brute." The following sentence sounds as if it could have been written by one of my students: "Still these western expanses made her eyes sparkle with wonder beneath white clouds that fluffed against the sky like fresh feathers." Arggh! This quote just annoyed me: "I don't ever want to fear the face of tomorrow . . . or put features there that ache away the hope."
Sometimes she seemed to leave off important information that you're just supposed to gather on your own, I guess, like when Clayton is kicked by a mule. It's not until pages later that you find out what really happened. Another time a mother dies and there is no mention at all to her children's reactions. A couple pages later another woman reacts more deeply when her ox collapses. Annoying. The characters are always standing around spouting aphorisms at each other, and the point is driven home ad nauseum that they need each other and are growing as they depend upon each other.
I know they're all picky little details, but put all together they're very distracting. I am actually interested in some of the characters; they have quirks and foibles which help make them real and some of them touch your heart with their situations and you wonder what will happen to them. (BTW, Elizabeth is a bit TOO perky and whimsical for me to stomach.) This author's style is just not my cup of tea.
(Unanswered question: are the Celestials going to marry other Asians or Caucasians? If the former, were there Christian mission organizations involved in helping arrange Asian marriages? If the latter, were "mixed race" marriages at all common at this time period?)
Then sometimes I just don't get a comment at all, like on p. 88 when Jeremy says, "We haven't been beyond this much." I keep rereading it, but just don't understand it. Also I'm bugged by the names. The main character's name is Mazy and she named her cow Mavis. A loving young couple is Tyrell and Tipton - OK but who's the girl and who's the guy? Another lady is named Betha. Betha? Why not Bertha? I can handle Adora. Still though that's quite a lot of rather unusual names that all sort of clash as I'm reading.
I wonder if the author did some research on colloquial expressions from the frontier because several of her word choices are unusual such as calling a bull a "cow brute." The following sentence sounds as if it could have been written by one of my students: "Still these western expanses made her eyes sparkle with wonder beneath white clouds that fluffed against the sky like fresh feathers." Arggh! This quote just annoyed me: "I don't ever want to fear the face of tomorrow . . . or put features there that ache away the hope."
Sometimes she seemed to leave off important information that you're just supposed to gather on your own, I guess, like when Clayton is kicked by a mule. It's not until pages later that you find out what really happened. Another time a mother dies and there is no mention at all to her children's reactions. A couple pages later another woman reacts more deeply when her ox collapses. Annoying. The characters are always standing around spouting aphorisms at each other, and the point is driven home ad nauseum that they need each other and are growing as they depend upon each other.
I know they're all picky little details, but put all together they're very distracting. I am actually interested in some of the characters; they have quirks and foibles which help make them real and some of them touch your heart with their situations and you wonder what will happen to them. (BTW, Elizabeth is a bit TOO perky and whimsical for me to stomach.) This author's style is just not my cup of tea.
(Unanswered question: are the Celestials going to marry other Asians or Caucasians? If the former, were there Christian mission organizations involved in helping arrange Asian marriages? If the latter, were "mixed race" marriages at all common at this time period?)
November 23, 2009
The central character, in love with her husband and their life on their farm, is suddenly confronted with the fact that he has sold the farm without consulting her and has committed them to going west in a covered wagon. So, starting from the powerlessness of woman under the legal and social systems of the time, the story moves to a treacherous trip west in which women prove themselves to be resourceful and resilient. Their ability to survive the dangers they encounter is largely through the sense of community they build. The fact that the book imagines the circumstances which led up to a similar historical event makes the challenges and tragedies faced by this group of women more poignant and their response more admirable. It is a tribute to the strength of women, to their ability to build connection, and to faith. I was left feeling a sense of love and reverence for these women ( characters always seem like real people to me), confirmed in my sense that I would never have voluntarily left a secure home to journey across a dangerous wilderness to an unknown destination.
Pg. 383 " They resided in that place of friendship fired by difficulty, in the shelter of faith and each other. But to be physically near each other, to share the work of washing or the chatter of their days, where they could continue to nourish the broken clods of each other's spirits into ready soil, that would be a miracle."
Pg. 388 "The best we have is the present, what happens right now, with all these women given to each other to help us survive, keep going. It was almost worshipful, watching their thin calicos move across the desert.
....What had she learned so far? To make the best of the moment with people she'd come to care for was willing to change for; and to thank God for the choice, and trust him for the rest."
Pg. 383 " They resided in that place of friendship fired by difficulty, in the shelter of faith and each other. But to be physically near each other, to share the work of washing or the chatter of their days, where they could continue to nourish the broken clods of each other's spirits into ready soil, that would be a miracle."
Pg. 388 "The best we have is the present, what happens right now, with all these women given to each other to help us survive, keep going. It was almost worshipful, watching their thin calicos move across the desert.
....What had she learned so far? To make the best of the moment with people she'd come to care for was willing to change for; and to thank God for the choice, and trust him for the rest."
August 30, 2013
After perusing through some of the other reviews, I kind of questioned my 5 Star rating. But I really liked it and can't wait to read the other books in the series - I think there are two more. I also loved the Sarah Prine series, the first book is "These Is My Words" which is similar but set in the Southwest. As far as reviewers complaining about detail and constant sorrow etc., I think that's what I expected from a story about travelling to the West in a covered wagon. If you read the Author's notes at the end of the book, she did base this book on some fact. It's rather interesting what she could corroborate and what was missing. As for the heavy religious tone of the book (someone said she is a Christian author, whatever that means), I would expect a great deal of religious references for this time period. That's what kept these people going, faith in their God! So, if you like detail (or you can skim those parts), if you like stories about women's contribution to the settling of the Wild West, and if you enjoy pioneer stories, I think you will enjoy this book. On a side note, I was reading this on my Kindle so when the word "sutler" came up I did my dictionary thing. It means, "a person who followed an army or maintained a store on an army post to sell provisions to the soldiers". After all these years of watching old Western movies, I think when I thought the actor was calling these people "settlers" they were actually saying "sutlers"! Really, if you pronounce it with a southern drawl that's what it comes out as...a SUUUUTLER! Ha! You learn something new every day!
January 17, 2009
I enjoyed this book. At first all of the characters are hard to straighten out (especially if you leave the book for a week like I did) but just keep reading and it becomes easy to remember who is who. The book is FULL of heartache. It is unbelievable what these women go through. Many of the people die, but the message of the book is great. I really enjoyed the answers to their trials being from God. The story is about a wagon caravan headed over the Oregon Trail in 1852. The stories behind the characters are interesting, as are the events unfolding. I like how the author does not come right out and tell you why certain events are happening (ex: one character has all the symptoms of anorexia, people die obviously from drinking unpure water) but lets you come to the conclusions on your own. The writing itself is average, but does not distract from the reading. I liked this book, and am really happy I purchased the second in the series when I got the first. I definately want to start it right away. I am wondering if I will feel the same from the second to the third, as I have not purchased that one yet.
August 11, 2014
In All Together in One Place, this book launched the Kinship and Courage trilogy series. Based on factual events on the Oregon Trail, this one is focused on Madison "Mazy" Bacon and her journey. After two years of marriage, her husband informed her on their move to head west. Along the way, she bonded with 11 other women who took the same journey from various states to head to California. During their way, they each deal with loss and heartache in their own way, when their husbands or fiancés die from cholera. Suzanne Culver learned the hard way, when she ended up blind and needed help to make her own way. Ruth Martin sent her husband to prison for killing their son and keeping a secret from her own children. This is a beautiful and heartfelt moving inspirational historical romance about life, love, loss and friendship that bound them together on the Oregon Trail with the hope and guidance from God.
August 8, 2016
When i first started reading this book a while back, I found it to be very slow moving and put it back down. I decided to pick it up again a couple of weeks ago; I was up to page 100 when i stopped. It turned out it did engage me this time, and I became very interested in this true story of a group of women traveling west on their own after losing their husbands, brothers, etc. to illness on the way. They were true survivors. The author painted a very vivid picture of the women and their journey and how it impacted their lives and made them realize they could do things which they would not have considered had they not taken the journey. It also taught them the value of friends, the importance of sticking together and how a family could be formed whether or not it is bound by blood. Their story is very inspirational and transcends time. I'm glad I decided to start reading it again. Great historical fiction piece.
January 14, 2008
I guess you could call this historical fiction. The author does a lot of research on the locations and what people wore, how they crossed the plains and tried to make it as real as possible. The book has a strong Christian ideal of overcoming trials. It will definately make you proud to be a woman and make you wonder how strong you could be under similar circumstances. I will definately read the rest of the Kinship and Courage books to see what happens to the characters. I like a particular part where the main character, Mazy, is talking about how stubborn she had been in the past and how she felt she limited herself and those around her from achieving their real potential. So it's a lot about growing up, toughening up, and having the advantage of looking back and seeing how far you've come. Literally and figuratively.
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