West Against the Wind

Griswold Quartet

by Liza Ketchum Murrow

For fourteen-year-old Abby, the arduous wagon train journey from America's heartland to the Pacific is rendered endurable by her dreams of seeing her father and eventually buying land, and her attempts to befriend the handsome but mysterious Matthew Reed

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Romance, 19th Century, Childrens

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Liza Ketchum is the author of fifteen books for young readers, including Newsgirl, an adventure story set in San Francisco during the gold rush. Her previous novel, Where the Great Hawk Flies, won the Massachusetts Book Award for Children’s Literature and the Boston Author’s Club Young Readers Award. Other titles about the American pioneer experience are the serialized adventure novel, Orphan Journey Home, and the nonfiction titles Into a New Country: Eight Remarkable Women of the West and The Gold Rush, a companion to the PBS series “The West.” Blue Coyote, the final title in her quartet of young adult novels, was nominated for a Lambda Literary award. Her books have appeared on the ALA’s “Best Book lists,” numerous state award lists, Bank Street College’s “Best Book List,” and on the NY Public Library’s “List for the Teenage.”

Liza has always been a teacher; she has taught writing to students of all ages. She is currently on the faculty of the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Hamline University and teaches at the ASTAL Summer Institute at Rhode Island College. About her teaching, Liza says: “I believe that everyone has a story to tell. I feel privileged to work with my students on the stories they bring to light—and life.”

Liza’s passions—besides reading and writing—include gardening, canoeing, music, art, and theater. She is devoted to a number of environmental causes and enjoys exploring the natural world. The mother of two grown sons and “Nana” to two grandchildren, Liza and her husband divide their time between the Boston area and a cabin in Vermont’s Green Mountains.

Reviews

[Ashley Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great coming of age story and I wish it were more widely available. I found an old beat up copy from when I was in late elementary- early middle school (in now solidly in my 30s). This is the book that hooked me on romance novels for life but specifically historical romance. I also majored in history. All because of this book? Maybe not. But it was one of, if not THE, first books that made me into the voracious reader I am today.

This books deals with things that every young girl goes through: first menstruation, first crush, wanting to both be taken seriously as an adult and remain a kid and have fun too. All in an unfamiliar historical backdrop of the Oregon trail.

The hardships are not glossed over but the book is very safe for young readers and the romance bit is very sweet.

[Jessy Brainerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books I read over and over and over again when I was in my late single and early double digit years. As a future history degree holder, I was captivated by the story of a family facing the hardships of the move west. I loved the innocent romance between characters, and the drama of Abigail, the protagonist, having to move outside her comfort zone in many ways - from the difficulty of life on the move, to needing to help her sister-in-law give birth. This book is perfectly safe for younger folks, but manages to not gloss over the reality of the situation too much.

[Sandybear76]

In 1850, Abby has traveled from Ohio to Independence, MO with her mom, brother, uncle and aunt. They joined a wagon train going west to CA to find her Pa. The trail is hard and long. No water. No food. The wagon train breaks up. A baby is born on the trail.

Interesting tidbits to me:
author lived in Marlboro, VT where my sister now lives
this is author's first book (1987)
this book was an old library book from a middle school in Illnois, where another brother lives.
family started from Ohio, although the town is not identified
family travels near Salt Lake, where I spent Spring Break this year (2018)
family ended travels in Yuba City, where my brother used to live.
I read this book at my other sister's house in IN

[Willow Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. I've read it so many times, and each time it somehow gets even better. It's about a girl travelling west with her family and some others in a wagon train and the trials they go through on the way. The romance is beautifully weaved throughout the story, and I really like how it doesn't overpower the actual events; it's not really the main focus. I'm not really into overly romantic novels, so this book was perfect for me. It's very realistic to the time period but is also written in a way that keeps you engaged in their story. Definitely one of my favorite novels!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-researched young adult historical fiction novel about a young woman who comes of age doing the California overland passage in the 1800s. It thought it was engaging and well-written, with lovely descriptions of places and experiences. Definitely a good read, but geared very much to a teen audience.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

I’m a sucker for anything that takes place on the Oregon Trail. All those hours playing that game as a kid made a definite impression I guess! Anyway, I especially enjoy YA stories on the Oregon Trail and there aren’t many of them so I was excited to find this one. It follows a character named Abby who is traveling with her mother, brother, uncle and the uncle’s new wife. They are headed to California to meet up with Abby’s father, who has gone west to look for gold.

I loved following all the stops that the wagon train made. I was familiar with all of their stops from the game and it was exciting to retrace their trip.

The only reason I can’t give a full four stars is there were some animal death scenes that were a little too detailed for me. But overall this read was a lot of fun.

[Kate Kuecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this book to see if my daughter would enjoy it and now I remember why I kept it all these years. (Since middle school) It’s a very well told story with plenty of things happening along the way. It tells about the journey without rose colored glasses and still at an appropriate level for younger readers.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pretty good - a nice gritty look at life on the Oregon Trail.

[Candice Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I read this. But I did. And I really enjoyed it.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread this one, it was a favorite from childhood. It did a fair job of standing the test of time. It's not insulting.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Young Adult novel, and really I can see it having more appeal to young girls pre-teen to maybe 14. It gave a good sense of what it might have been like to travel west during the gold rush, and what life might have been like on the trail. The prose was good enough to keep me reading to the end, but some of the descriptions were a little off and the plot was pretty predictable. Still, I enjoyed the characters and as a debut novel, Murrow did a pretty good job.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid coming-of-age novel in which our heroine joins America's western migration in an attempt to find her father. According to my reading journals, I first read this book a decade ago. It must have made an impact, because once I got started, I remembered specific events and scenes clearly. Although there aren't any truly standout areas, the plotting, characterizations, dialogue, and development are all well-done. This is a good read.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me of another favorite book of mine, The Singing Boones. However, there was a little bit more fighting and less camaraderie in it. It is likely much more accurate, but included slight references to how they might treat a single young women on their own during the gold rush. Pregnancy was not supposed to be mentioned, but it seemed death was around the corner at every turn. This would be a good book to read for a high schooler, studying the Western expansion and the Gold Rush.

[Lovely Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another older book found on my shelves that I reread. I actually enjoyed it though if I had any desire to travel west in a covered wagon, it's definitely gone. There's a sequel, Fire in the Heart, so if you liked this one, check out the sequel.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another older book found on my shelves that I reread. I actually enjoyed it though if I had any desire to travel west in a covered wagon, it's definitely gone. There's a sequel, Fire in the Heart, so if you liked this one, check out the sequel.

[Kayli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, for sure I can see why I loved this book when I was 10 or so, but it didn't do it for me now. It's not terrible, but it's not one of the kid's books that are just as good for adults. But hey, it was a good primer for me until I was old enough to appreciate These Is My Words.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this book in middle school and loving it. Wanted to revisit it. Pretty good YA novel of a family's trip west during the Gold Rush. Grim occasionally, but realistic.

[Afsa Yusuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has very beautifully described the life changing journey of a family.

[Mara Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great, but I feel like the ending could have been better. The way Liza left it was not that great, and she could have gone on for a few more pages.