To Stay Alive: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party

by Skila Brown

Told in riveting, keenly observed poetry, a moving first-person narrative as experienced by a young survivor of the tragic Donner Party of 1846.

The journey west by wagon train promises to be long and arduous for nineteen-year-old Mary Ann Graves and her parents and eight siblings. Yet she is hopeful about their new life in freedom from the demands of family, maybe some romance, better opportunities for all. But when winter comes early to the Sierra Nevada and their group gets a late start, the Graves family, traveling alongside the Donner and Reed parties, must endure one of the most harrowing and storied journeys in American history. Amid the pain of loss and the constant threat of death from starvation or cold, Mary Ann’s is a narrative, told beautifully in verse, of a girl learning what it means to be part of a family, to make sacrifices for those we love, and above all to persevere.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Poetry, Novel In Verse, Historical, Survival, Middle Grade

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Skila Brown is the author of verse novels Caminar and To Stay Alive, as well as the picture book Slickety Quick: Poems About Sharks, all with Candlewick Press. She received an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She grew up in Kentucky and Tennessee and now lives in Indiana where she writes books for readers of all ages.

Reviews

[Rachael Fryman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six word summary: Do we eat him? We gotta.

Loved: The story through poems allowed for creative layouts in the text that really added to the emotional setting.

Recommend for: History fans who love interesting stories, preferably if you like poetic formatting.

Reminds me of: Milk and Honey meets the Oregon Trail game.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like her earlier novel in verse, Caminar, this book is about a true historical disaster, the Donner Party. Brown skillfully uses poetry, in different forms, to convey the range of emotions of one family, the Graves family, as they journey west with the Donner Party. What these people suffered before they ever reached Donner Pass was unbelievable. I don't know if I could have withstood the sore feet, exhaustion, hunger, thirst, sweating, freezing, never bathing, and fear that these people endured. But that was nothing compared to the unimaginable suffering at Donner Pass, as they were forced to winter there and, eventually, eat some of their own dead. Brown tells the story from the point of view of Mary Ann Graves, a teenager who was part of the first party that tried to make it out of the pass and find help. Brown includes a photo of the real Mary Ann Graves at the end of the book, and more about her life after surviving the Donner Party. Brown also includes a list of all those in the party, indicating who survived and who died. It's a disaster that should never have happened. As many times as I've read about this tragedy, I can never wrap my mind around how so many actually survived (half the party) those dreadful conditions. This novel would be a good introduction to the disaster for young adults, especially combined with George R. Stewart's Ordeal by Hunger. Highly recommended!!

[KJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely keep this historical fiction title in mind for displays and book lists related to the theme of "Nevertheless, she persisted." The desperation by the end made my teeth chatter. Wilderness survival adventure told in verse from the point of view of 19 year-old Mary Ann Graves who made the 1846-1847 journey west with the Donner Party. Everything about this feels more YA than middle grade to me: the narrative style, the cover, the age of the main character, the real life horror that led to cannibalism. Very quick to read - I couldn't put it down.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not always a fan of free verse poetry, but I thought this one was so well done. I could feel the shift in the main character’s mind as things became more and more desperate. The beginning of the book so clearly expresses her personality and describes the land where they’re traveling so beautiful. But by the time we get to the end, sentences are short and punctuated by foreboding and just trying to survive.

[RalleyRagnarok · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal time in history, beautiful prose, not recommended for young readers. Made me very greatful to my ancestors. I am not sure I could have survived those j harsh conditions.

[The Book Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful book. It was gritty, horrifying, real, and extremely deep. To Stay Alive is a story told in short poems that tell the fictionalized yet somewhat true story of Mary Ann Graves. Who was a member of the tragic Donner party.

The author tells the story straight up. She makes is engaging but honest. She tells the really gruesome parts without sensationalizing things. She really shares the horrible and bleak things that the pioneers faced. The boring parts, the dirty parts, and the sad and somber parts are all shown in great detail. This isn't an easy read, however, it is a good and important one.

I love the main character, Mary Ann. While her voice seems mature it was important to remember that she was a fairly young girl when everything happened. I loved how she was emotional and loveable. She cared for her family and was a great sister to her younger brother Frank, hold him when she was exhausted and tired. Her voice created a tone for the story. One of hunger, sadness, hope, horror, excitement. It was interesting watching her grow through out the story.

I love free verse poetry, it works so well for this story.

Overall it is a great story. It is a quick read but not a light read. There were parts of this book at the end that made me put the book down and think a lot. I feel like this book will stick with me for a while. I find myself wondering what I would have done on the trail. Would I have followed the same path? It would have been very difficult making some of those choices. It really was eye-opening. Glad I picked it up at the library will be buying it for sure.

[Cheryl Gladfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the most beautiful writing I've read this year, these poems tell the story of Mary Ann's family's journey west towards California and their fight for survival when the snow comes and they're trapped. Knowing what happens to the Donner party just makes the story fraught with tension as you start getting attached to the different people Mary Ann knows and you wonder who will survive and who won't.

Any book that can make me cry at work is legit.

[R. G. Nairam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once I found out this was about the Donner Party I SHOULD HAVE STOPPED

[em · Rating 5 out of 5]

***spoiler warning; please do not proceed if you wish to read this novel yourself***
The book “To Stay Alice: Mary Ann Graves and the Tragic Journey of the Donner Party,” by Skila Brown left a lasting impression on my own viewpoint of those who faced difficulties throughout history. The novel follows the tragic tale of the Donner Party, a group of American pioneers' unfortunate attempt to cross the Sierra Nevada in 1846, during the affluent gold rush period in California. Told from the perspective of Mary Ann Graves, the nineteen-year-old daughter of Franklin Ward Graves, and her family of nine as they began to travel west from Illinois. We meet John Snyder, who requests to assist with the animals in exchange for a place along the way; Charles Stanson, a lone bachelor; Amanda McCutchen, a young mother, and wife whose husband is hopeful for prosperity and others that similarly yearn for similar opportunities in the western states throughout the novels. The Grave family's own reasons are stated as “fertility of soil, infinity of spring, causing him to sell his land, herd his family though thousand miles of winds, deserts, mountains, storms, land unclaimed, wild with danger and game (Brown 5).” This idea of hope and a better life stays a persistent reality throughout the grueling journey, even when tragedy strikes.
Graves described the living as easygoing at the beginning even with the cramped sleeping conditions, constant traveling, and warnings of dangers. Along with this, the influences of John Snyder's pursuits of Mary Ann with his consistent stares and prideful actions towards her. We quickly learn that she has no interest in pursuing a relationship at this time, mostly through her rigid and outspoken attitude toward him. An attitude that stays consistent throughout the novel from her actions and words to others. The family arrives at the end of spring at St. Joseph, arriving and leaving quickly, joining groups of traveling pioneers. The beginning of summer starts through the departure from the town in a wagon line as “days pass by, fields pass by. When we can, we spread out, our wagon train, w i d e, w i d e, w i d e, moves in a line, stretched side to side, the length of a mile, so it looks like we’re all diving ahead in a race to see who gets there first (Brown 31).”
They travel like this for some time, the journey beginning to turn into a suffocating sameness by Mary Ann who spends days weaving, watching her younger siblings, and walking alongside the wagon. She desires for the journey to be over, and for the freshness of California to meet them. Yet, they only just caught up to the Donner Party, a group that left ahead of them. Mary Ann meets Amanda at this time, a married woman about her age whose husband has volunteered prior to finding Hastings, a man who would take the party the rest of the way to California. They appear the next day. The men invoke an argument that night, whether it is to turn back or face the overgrown path ahead. The group has decided to continue, with others such as the Donners, Amanda, and Charles Stanson. This time, Stanson seems to take the pursuit of Mary Ann who returns the feelings in the eleven days that It takes them to clear the path to California. They reach the Great Salt Lake at this time, only to find themselves frustrated and exhausted.
Fall had just crept up on the party, only for their departure to be met with the chill of winter and the vast desert. We are conveyed with how the day becomes longer, the night colder, and the journey more rigorous on the Graves. They don’t reach water for days and pass the other traveling pioneers, the Reeds whose oxen have given out, William Eddy whose children have stopped crying, Keseberg who has gotten rid of an older gentleman named Hardcoop, who strides far behind, and others who look forward with hope for a glimpse of the end. The never-ending desert fades into a forest, and they pass the Humboldt River, continuing the demanding trip. “Everyone is frayed, frazzled like a rope that’s come apart, can’t be twined again (Brown 103),” the group becomes frantic, hurriedly looking for the mountain that promised a safer passage, the one that Hasting had promised to navigate.
They find it in late fall, with the help of two natives who promised to assist the party. The party splits in the morning, some setting up camp, others navigating the uneven terrain. The snow caught up with Mary Ann's party quickly, the terrain is covered in white with the only choice to fall back and wait for the weather to clear. The longest day, the start of winter is met with building camp at the base of the mountain. The days are followed with “only snow, more snow, more snow (Brown 155),” and the signs of the American pioneers have been covered. Franklin Ward Graves proposes taking a group over the mountain, to help the others. A group has now embarked to travel along the Sierra Nevada.
Graves have brought the groups over the mountain, and the slow descent brings less food, more snow, and staggering pioneers. Charles Stanson falls behind far often, but the group despite Mary Ann's efforts leaves to keep going, proving that those who are not strong enough are left behind. Much like those left at the camp, the opposite way. The snow continues to defuse the efforts, and half the party passes away overnight, including Frankin Ward Graves, leaving the rest cold and hungry. Everyone fills in what they can, the only meat left before the exhausting journey continues. We are met with descriptions of heavy emotions, forgiveness from god, the pursuit of land without snow, and slow travels into the wilderness. The snow has melted at this point, the meat has been devoured, and the natives are lagging behind as the group finds themselves in uncharted territory. Mary Ann finds the group noticed this, only to convey “Go. You need to go,” and “The others . . . they want . . .” (Brown 237) to the Indians one night. The two seemingly understand this and quickly disperse. The party continues the next day.
Eddy, a member of the Donner party, and Mary Ann find themselves alone navigating through white, trees, snow, and slopes. Searching for food, anything living among them that isn’t another human. Quickly, a deer is caught and brought back to the others. We quickly learn of another death among the pioneers, and that once again, those that are not strong enough must pay a price for the survival of the other. Now, “we are walking in circles, we turn left sometimes, we turn right sometimes, but there’s never any sign we’re ahead for anything, nothing to eat nothing to see, (Brown 259)” traveling in circles until finally laying against a tree in the dark, falling unconscious.
The Donner party was rescued and taken to Sutter’s Fort, California. Mary Ann stitches, stitches, and stitches a new quilt from clothing worn on the journey, colorful thread, and memories while those waiting behind the mountains are brought to safety, while others are already far gone. “I’m stitching a new quilt nothing like the other one, the red one, the journey one, that lies in the mountains, on the snow, the cold, the ground, wrapped around Frank’s body, inside Mother’s arms (Brown 270),” creating something new, and something that is made to endure much like the journey to California.
This entire novel conveyed a strong sense of daunting survival, that unfortunately came from the tale of the Donner Party. Across four seasons, Brown evokes a hopeful romanticism, of love, and terror toward death that the reader can feel along Mary Ann's story. There were numerous counts of repetition throughout the different poems, such as the constant snow, and the quilt that became ever-present throughout the story. However, the poems themselves were beautiful and intriguing. Brown's poetic style and use of key moments created a harrowing trek toward freedom. Along with, the careful research and preparation that was conveyed in order to tell the events that occurred. Especially because Mary Ann Graves was a real person, who had hopes of setting in California, and made these choices. I truly enjoyed this novel, regardless of the nature of the story. The first time I read it (this is the 3rd), I sympathized and expressed my own frustrations towards the events that took place. One could only imagine what had to be endured and what choices the pioneers had to make on the brink of death. Overall, I love this book and hope this review can influence others to embark on this horrifying bewitching journey.

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realizing this book was about the Donner Party made me want to read this novel like you wouldn't believe.  I mean, winter, the Oregon Trail, cannibalism?  Sign me up.  What I already knew was a horrendous and terrible history in our journey west ended up giving me goosebumps, stomachaches, and lots and lots of moments where I just needed to take a minute and gather myself.  

Told from the point of view of Mary Ann Graves, we join her and her family as they begin to travel west and leave behind everything they knew.  I knew what was going to happen the whole time, and the more and more I flipped the pages, the less I wanted to continue.  Every time they took a day to stop and celebrate and gather their bearings, I wanted to yell at them to keep going, to not take their food and flour and water for granted.  And yet, how could they have possibly known what lay ahead for them?  

Reading this gave me a new perspective to this, a more personal look on a tragic history.  And I loved it and hated it.  This was more horrific than other horror books that I've read, from King to Koontz to even classic horror.  The dawning realization that it's too cold to move on, that there's no more food, that there's no more water, that there's no way to continue other than making bone broth over and over from the bone, no way to continue than eating the bone mush because there's nothing else to eat, the realization that there's a better shot living by freezing to death in the mountain pass as opposed to starving to death in the mountain cabin, the realization that your frozen friends and family is the only meat you've seen in weeks...

The epilogue is fantastic, it lets readers know the fate of the Donner Party, the fate of Mary Ann Graves and her family.  It briefly details the rest of her life, shows pictures, allows for an ending that is historic, factual, and whole.

I booktalked this to all of my friends, to all of my coworkers, to anybody who has an interest in history, in cannibalism, in horrific stories, in poetry (I mean, it is a book in verse, after all).  Skila Brown does a phenomenal job of describing the terrors the hunger the darkness.  This is probably one of the best books I've read all year, and will definitely go on my favorites list.  Even weeks later, I still think about this book, the kind of feeling that it gives me, the kind of questions it asks.  

If you had to, would you eat your friends and family to stay alive?  How can you possibly live with that decision?  How do you go the rest of your life knowing that you've eaten your friends and family?  Was it worth it?  

Review cross-listed here!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pasted right from the kids' books blog I share with my daughter: https://bookhogsbookblog.wordpress.com/

This is a novel told in verse. It takes a few pages to get used you to but then you don’t even realize except you are flying through the pages.

The subject of the story is a family’s journey across the America from Illinois to California in 1846. The main character is from the Graves family who was part of the wagon train of the famous Donner Party who tragically got stranded in the mountains during an early winter and had to struggle to survive.

If you know the story of The Donner Party, you know what comes next. But Brown treats it very well through the eyes of Mary Ann Graves.

Maya asked me why I wanted to read a story like this (and said ‘no way’ when I told her she should read it). Good question, one I had to think about before finally answering: I like to read about bravery, I like to read about average people who persevere and fight to survive. I like to read about how much the human body and spirit can endure and the strength of mind, the will it takes to survive.

This was a beautifully written story and one that I hope will inspire young people to look for more books on The Donner Party and their covered wagon migration across our country before the time of cars, electronics and microwaves, when books were prized possessions and when girls wore dresses and petticoats while fetching water from the well or river to help their mother cook.

Recommended for grades 6 to 9

[Eva Seyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because the cover was so beautiful that I had to look at it more closely, and when I saw it was about the Donner Party I didn't even hesitate. (I know, I'm so morbid. XD) When I finally got around to reading it, I was surprised that the story was written as a series of poems (a bit like Brown Girl Dreaming, which I also loved), and it was a pretty quick read because the poems generally don't fill a full page.

It was very thought-provoking and moving and well-done. I highly recommend it.

[Rachel Vivio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually the second time I've read a book that is both written in verse and about the Donner party. I'm trying to not compare this one to the first one, but it's hard because they are so similar!

I think that being written in verse makes the story so much more beautiful and tragic and heartbreaking, which is great because overall, the story of the Donner party is a hard one to relate to or even wrap ones mind around. I'd say it's suitable for both middle and high schoolers, though there are a few scenes towards the end that are quite gruesome.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a weird fascination with the Donner party. I read an adult supernatural thriller based on Mary Ann Graves' journals this winter (The Hunger by Alma Katsu), but I liked this book even better. This meticulously researched #novelinverse is an awesome addition to our middle school library. The verse format is perfect for at conveying the horror of the situation! Grades 5+. 4.5/5

[Lorelei · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

I am on a roll with verse books and I didn't even do it on purpose. ♥

The verse really helped set up the world physically, mentally, and emotionally.
While I didn't feel too indebted to any one character (except maybe Charlie), the perils that these families faced were bleak, yet true examples of humanity's will to survive. We are animals after all.

[Liam Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most emotionally demanding books I've ever read. The poetry is anguished, committed, harrowing, brave, but ultimately stunning. Mary Ann is a perfect narrator, but other characters are strongly fleshed out as well. In short, I highly recommend this to anyone with a strong interest in historical fiction, novels-in-verse, or intimate stories of survival.

[Terry Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a carefully researched and powerful retelling of the tragedy of the Donner Party, told from the point-of-view of 19-yr-old Mary Ann Graves (the real Mary Ann Graves would have been 16 at the time of the mountain crossing). I've recommended this book to students who had never read novels-in-verse and they loved it. Beautiful writing & deals with the events in a way that is not too graphic for middle grade readers.

[Meliss · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 50%

This was underwhelming--which surprised me because of the subject matter. But it literally put me to sleep. And when I woke up and continued listening, I realized why I fell asleep in the first place.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and jaw dropping. Amazing story of sheer will to survive.

[Jamie Mirano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely want to use this or part of it for a class read aloud during our Gold Rush unit- but I will need to cut some of it for being too depressing/gruesome.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written novel in verse about Mary Ann Graves, who was a real-life member of the Donner Party. I read this in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. Definitely inspired strong feelings of horror and awe.

[Kristina Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author was able to give a ton of historically accurate information about the Donner Party dotted throughout the verses. It was concise and I liked that. It’s a good first introduction to the story for youth. It was emotional and made me shiver (from cold and shock). The poems themselves were lacking, but the the story is so chilling that I overlooked the style.

[Serina · Rating 1 out of 5]

A historic western was nice change of pace, but I would have preferred it in regular story mode. Books written in poetry really need to flow in order for me to enjoy. This one was a little too disjointed. It did have an afterward that I always think are interesting..... DNF @30 of 275

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars-Haunting and with truth. A sad story told with tons of emotion that at times made me feel right there with them, trenching through the snow and not looking back.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: It is finished.

Premise/plot: I've got two sets of 'two words' that will either compel you to pick this one up or to avoid it. For better or worse. First: DONNER PARTY. Second: VERSE NOVEL.

Mary Ann Graves is the narrator of this historical verse novel. She was nineteen at the start of the journey in the spring of 1846. This one is divided into seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter. Almost all of the poems involve the traveling west and surviving aspect of the pioneer spirit. The landscape and environment do feature in quite a bit. Especially the SNOW.

What this book is not is Little House On the Prairie. This isn't even THE LONG WINTER. People do have tendencies to group books together. That is why I think it is important that DONNER PARTY leap out at you first before you hear of wagon trains, prairies, pioneers, homesteaders, or going west.

My thoughts: There is a bareness to the poems that oddly enough works for me. The narrator does not wear her heart on her sleeve. She's not overly dramatic and sensitive. She doesn't speak of her dreams and feelings and there is absolutely no gushing. (She's no Ann-with-an-e Shirley.)

When I say the poems avoid gushing, I don't mean they are void of description and detail.

The men think they're/ following a trail, a road/ well marked by wheels/ and feet, like a street,/ pointing you/ in the direction you need/ to go. But I know./ We follow a trail of broken things/ tossed from wagons--family heirlooms/ so heavy with memories/ the oxen couldn't pull--/ quilts, spinning wheels, dishes (too much/ dust to see the pattern), wooden bits,/ once part of something rich,/ portraits of great-grandmothers/ who'll spend eternity in the desert,/ watching beasts pull treasures/ while dirty people trail behind.

Some poems are long, descriptive. Others are very short and bare.

this land/ has eaten/ my feet/ chewed them/ ripped them/ cut them/ they bleed/ into land/ that drinks/ them up/ but it is never full

I am so glad I did not read anything about the Donner party as a child when I was obsessed with Laura Ingalls!!!

[Kelly]

A compelling historical novel in verse about the famed (and tragic) Donner party. The focus, though, is on Mary Ann Graves, one of the younger women in the group traveling from Lacon, IL, to California. This is the kind of book that will have big appeal to those who like stories of the west, of historical travel, and fans of books like Little House on the Prairie (with quite a bit less racism, though in the context of this book specifically, it's a historically accurate portrayal of settlers meeting Native Americans).

On the verse level, much of it worked, though I found some of the stylization to be a little distracting. It worked especially well near the end with how exhausted and scared and emaciated and mind-sick Mary Ann was, but sometimes in the middle, the way the poem was laid on the page didn't necessarily add much.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Gritty, real, horrifying, hopeful. These are the words that can be used to describe To Stay Alive , which tells in short poems the fictionalized yet true story of Mary Ann Graves, a member of the tragic Donner Party.

Brown tells the story as it is. While she manages to keep it engaging, she never sensationalizes, which really draws out the bleakness and monotony that these pioneers faced. It doesn't make the story dull. In fact, it manages to maintain the integrity of the nonfiction aspects of the story. This isn't a fun, light read. However, it's certainly a good one.

While free verse poetry is not my ideal way to tell a story, it really works well here. While Mary Ann is a fairly young character, her voice remains mature. You can sense her emotions, feel her love for her brother Frank; she creates the tone, one I loved, one of horror and hunger and hope.

To Stay Alive is a quick read, but definitely not a light one. Though it's short, it sticks, and still now I find myself wondering what I would have done if I had been fated to follow in Mary Ann's footsteps.

[Jennifer Y. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars....

Told in verse and from the point of view of a young survivor, To Stay Alive provides readers with the story of the ill-fated Donner party who met a gruesome and terrible fate as their wagon train made its journey west in the 1800s. The unique and beautiful way Skila Brown chose to tell this familiar and heartbreaking story was an interesting choice and one I enjoyed as each verse gave us snippets of what our main character was experiencing. I cannot even imagine how horrible it must have been. Overall, I thought it was a fascinating and emotional look at an infamous historical event told in a refreshing way.

*ARC courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for honest review.*

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well excecuted and incredibly compelling (thanks to the writing and the format of the book). The author did a marvelous job conveying the despair of Mary Ann and her traveling companions. Good for reluctant readers, but only ones who can handle the cannibalism towards the end (a very small portion of the book, though there is foreshadowing and prior knowledge to elude to where the story is going). The author's handling of cannibalism was so well done--readers will understand it was a heart-wrenching and difficult decision the party had to make if they wanted to survive.

[kimberly (kimberlee reads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was pretty well done for what it was. I am just not personally a fan of historical fiction or poetry. I read this because my students were interested in reading it for my book club elective.

Personally, what fascinates me the most about the Donner party is what led them to cannibalism, so I was a little disappointed that it’s such a small part of the story. It appears for only maybe 10-15 pages very late in the book. Most of it is about their travels before the snow hits.