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The Tucket Adventures #5
Tucket's Home
Francis Tucket, Lottie and Billy have survived extraordinary, hair-raising adventures in their quest to find Francis's family, lost when he was kidnapped from a wagon train on the Oregon Trail. Now they meet up with a British explorer, bloodthirsty soldiers, and in a tragic, heroic encounter, with Jason Grimes, the mountain man. Their way is made more treacherous still by the secret they carry, the ancient gold they discovered in a Spanish grave. In this final adventure they head home at last, and an epilogue tells what happens to them on the Oregon frontier.
112 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 1998
34 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Gary Paulsen
408 books3,978 followersGary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 13, 2022
With less than a hundred pages separating fifteen-year-old Francis Tucket from the end of his odyssey, the invested reader must wonder: will his journey home turn out the way Francis has hoped? Will he survive to reunite with his family out west...and are they all alive? Having rescued now ten-year-old Lottie and seven-year old Billy from certain death in book two, Call Me Francis Tucket, Francis relies on his kid companions to hunt and to keep watch for danger, but he grows worried when a band of five rogue U.S. soldiers enters the region, committing acts of violence more heinous than even the Comanchero Indians. Francis is desperate to keep Lottie and Billy out of harm's way, but the crazed men are coming, and a unique sort of savior may be required.
Jason Grimes, the one-armed mountain man who has occasionally shown up to help Francis ever since book one. Grimes misdirected a pack of Comancheros so Francis, Lottie, and Billy could escape in Tucket's Ride, but did the mountain man live through the encounter? He did, but even Grimes may not be able to defeat these rogue soldiers without losing his own life. Would he sacrifice everything for Francis and the kids? Would Francis even want him to? As they travel further west with their sack of Spanish gold and silver found in Tucket's Gold, Francis, Lottie, and Billy meet a group of religious travelers led by a man named Orson. Joining the pilgrims as they head for Oregon is a smart move, but there's still no guarantee against calamity.
Such a brief distance separates Francis from where his long-lost parents intended to settle, but the frontier is fraught with hazard. Francis stews over what will happen if Orson discovers the gold Francis carries. These are moral, religious men, not likely thieves, but who knows what greed can do in the human heart? There is also the Columbia River to contend with, a wide, glistening band of death that threatens to kill any traveler who tries to ford it. Will Francis listen to the warnings of local Indians and not attempt the crossing, opting for a longer route? What a tragedy it would be to die so close to a potential reunion with his parents and younger sister, Rebecca...but has Francis been fated for such an ending all along?
Frontier life in 1800s America was savage. Being a child or teenager did not insulate you from nature or from evil men, and the five Tucket Adventures books don't sugarcoat the truth. The bleakness is captured in words spoken by Lottie after a devastating moment late in Tucket's Home. "Is it to be like this always?" she asks through tears of sorrow. "Just always so hard, so that it crushes people?" But the United States of a hundred years later and more would reveal the fruit of these pioneers' sacrifice. The West became easy to travel to and from, a place of innovation and prosperity completely different from the wasteland that killed many wagoneers in the 1800s. This could never have been were it not for those who took their lives in their hands to come out west before it was safe, blazing the trail for a future greater than they could imagine. It is this spirit of adventure and progress that these books celebrate.
There are a few memorable emotional encounters, but Tucket's Home feels rushed at the end, as though Gary Paulsen had a page limit he was not permitted to exceed. As a result the story climax feels muted, so I'll only rate the book two and a half stars. If I were to rank the five episodes of the Tucket Adventures series, this one might be at the top, with Mr. Tucket, Call Me Francis Tucket, and Tucket's Ride in a virtual tie among themselves. Perhaps I favor Call Me Francis Tucket, because of the gravitas added by the introduction of Lottie and Billy, whom I love. Tucket's Gold is the only book I consider somewhat lesser than the others, but not by much. This is a good series, if not as emotionally rewarding as it could have been, and Gary Paulsen deserves to be spoken more highly of as a writer of Westerns. He was a unique man.
Jason Grimes, the one-armed mountain man who has occasionally shown up to help Francis ever since book one. Grimes misdirected a pack of Comancheros so Francis, Lottie, and Billy could escape in Tucket's Ride, but did the mountain man live through the encounter? He did, but even Grimes may not be able to defeat these rogue soldiers without losing his own life. Would he sacrifice everything for Francis and the kids? Would Francis even want him to? As they travel further west with their sack of Spanish gold and silver found in Tucket's Gold, Francis, Lottie, and Billy meet a group of religious travelers led by a man named Orson. Joining the pilgrims as they head for Oregon is a smart move, but there's still no guarantee against calamity.
Such a brief distance separates Francis from where his long-lost parents intended to settle, but the frontier is fraught with hazard. Francis stews over what will happen if Orson discovers the gold Francis carries. These are moral, religious men, not likely thieves, but who knows what greed can do in the human heart? There is also the Columbia River to contend with, a wide, glistening band of death that threatens to kill any traveler who tries to ford it. Will Francis listen to the warnings of local Indians and not attempt the crossing, opting for a longer route? What a tragedy it would be to die so close to a potential reunion with his parents and younger sister, Rebecca...but has Francis been fated for such an ending all along?
Frontier life in 1800s America was savage. Being a child or teenager did not insulate you from nature or from evil men, and the five Tucket Adventures books don't sugarcoat the truth. The bleakness is captured in words spoken by Lottie after a devastating moment late in Tucket's Home. "Is it to be like this always?" she asks through tears of sorrow. "Just always so hard, so that it crushes people?" But the United States of a hundred years later and more would reveal the fruit of these pioneers' sacrifice. The West became easy to travel to and from, a place of innovation and prosperity completely different from the wasteland that killed many wagoneers in the 1800s. This could never have been were it not for those who took their lives in their hands to come out west before it was safe, blazing the trail for a future greater than they could imagine. It is this spirit of adventure and progress that these books celebrate.
There are a few memorable emotional encounters, but Tucket's Home feels rushed at the end, as though Gary Paulsen had a page limit he was not permitted to exceed. As a result the story climax feels muted, so I'll only rate the book two and a half stars. If I were to rank the five episodes of the Tucket Adventures series, this one might be at the top, with Mr. Tucket, Call Me Francis Tucket, and Tucket's Ride in a virtual tie among themselves. Perhaps I favor Call Me Francis Tucket, because of the gravitas added by the introduction of Lottie and Billy, whom I love. Tucket's Gold is the only book I consider somewhat lesser than the others, but not by much. This is a good series, if not as emotionally rewarding as it could have been, and Gary Paulsen deserves to be spoken more highly of as a writer of Westerns. He was a unique man.
November 13, 2023
Finished listening to the last couple Tucket books while on a road trip with my ten year old this weekend. We both really enjoyed this series (and the Audible versions, which are included in Audible Plus as I write this, are excellently read). But there was a moment in this last one, as a group of innocent travelers was being torn (literally) apart by outlaw madmen, that made me think, “This is Cormac McCarthy for youth readers.” Just brutal.
July 25, 2024
Was a great little series and a must read.i love how Gary Paulsen gives so many accurate details on wildlife, Indian tribes, tools, travel and weather of the Oregon Trail time period. Great historical fiction series.
May 19, 2022
i really liked this book. It is a very interesting book. It takes you through a big story. I am very excited to read the other books. It is a very good book. Everyone should at least try reading it.
June 10, 2021
Francis finally makes it home with Lottie and Billy in tow...but it's not quite a straight line! There are still several cliffhangers and adventures on the way. The whole Tucket Series was enjoyable to read and perfect for teens and tweens who like adventure. I recorded my reading of this volume and the 4 before, and you can find them on my YouTube channel.
June 21, 2018
So great! My favorite part was the author׳s note at the end, where he summarizes this period of American western history in an easy to read 2-3 pages 🤓👍🏼
May 10, 2019
A moving finale to a thoroughly enjoyable series. My 9 year old daughter enjoyed it as much as I did and I am looking forward to reading it with my 6 year old son in a couple of years.
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February 14, 2020Personal Response
Tucket’s Home is the final book to The Tucket Series. I am very satisfied with the ending of the series. Knowing that Francis finally found his family makes me happy. I like how descriptive the book is. It makes me feel like I am truly in the story.
Plot
Francis, Lottie, and Billy are on their way to find the Oregon Trail in order to find Francis’s family. One night the kids are making camp for the night. Francis is telling Lottie to make it a cold camp. While Lottie and Billy are asleep, Francis spots a fire in the distance. He is walking towards the fire and he sees people. Francis is watching the men by the fire for a while. Francis then sees the men get attacked by savages. Francis is shocked at the sight of the men being slaughtered. Francis is running towards the children to warn them about these men. Francis, Lottie, and Billy all start running away. After 50 miles of traveling, Francis decides to rest the horses. At the place they are staying at, Francis notices a trap set in the river. It is a beaver trap that is set by someone with one arm. From the darkness, Mr. Grimes comes out and greets him. Francis notices that Mr. Grimes is not breathing very well and he is dying. Mr. Grimes tells Francis to leave because the savages are coming. Mr. Grimes stays to fight them off. After the fight, Francis, Lottie, and Billy set off again to look for the Oregon Trail. The children meet up with a group of men who are also traveling to Oregon. After a while, the children separate from the group to head on their own. Francis finds his family. Lottie and Billy are adopted by another family who lost their children to cholera.
Characterization
Francis is the main character of this book. He is separated from his family at the beginning of the series. He is taught by Mr. Grimes. Everything Francis knows comes from Mr. Grimes. Francis does not know how to load and shoot a gun properly. Mr. Grimes teaches Francis how to shoot a gun. Francis learns how to hunt. During some time, Francis is separated from Mr. Grimes. Francis then comes across Lottie and Billy. Francis is the leader of the children. He tells Lottie and Billy what to do. Francis is more responsible for himself and for the children.
Mr. Grimes does not really change during the series. In the first book, he is a man who knows his way in the wild. He is Francis’s role model. Mr. Grimes trades with Indians, but he does not always get along with them. Mr. Grimes keeps to himself most of the time. The only other person who Mr. Grimes can trust is Francis. Mr. Grimes is a tough man. He claims that it will take five men to kill him.
Impact of Setting
The setting takes place in the year 1849 in the western United States. The environment is dry. After they move out of the dry area, they walk on grass with streams and springs. There is plenty of buffalo to hunt. Since there is more food and water to go around this time, the children are not suffering as much.
Theme
The theme that best fits this book is man vs nature. The theme is present throughout the whole book in many places. For example, the children need to hunt in order to get food. They need to be aware of any predators at night when they are asleep. They look for water to drink. They sleep outside, because they do not have a place to spend the night.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to students ages 11 and up. I recommend this book to them because it is a nice story for young adults. This book is for people who like mystery and adventure. Boys and girls can read this book, because the main characters are a boy and a girl.
Tucket’s Home is the final book to The Tucket Series. I am very satisfied with the ending of the series. Knowing that Francis finally found his family makes me happy. I like how descriptive the book is. It makes me feel like I am truly in the story.
Plot
Francis, Lottie, and Billy are on their way to find the Oregon Trail in order to find Francis’s family. One night the kids are making camp for the night. Francis is telling Lottie to make it a cold camp. While Lottie and Billy are asleep, Francis spots a fire in the distance. He is walking towards the fire and he sees people. Francis is watching the men by the fire for a while. Francis then sees the men get attacked by savages. Francis is shocked at the sight of the men being slaughtered. Francis is running towards the children to warn them about these men. Francis, Lottie, and Billy all start running away. After 50 miles of traveling, Francis decides to rest the horses. At the place they are staying at, Francis notices a trap set in the river. It is a beaver trap that is set by someone with one arm. From the darkness, Mr. Grimes comes out and greets him. Francis notices that Mr. Grimes is not breathing very well and he is dying. Mr. Grimes tells Francis to leave because the savages are coming. Mr. Grimes stays to fight them off. After the fight, Francis, Lottie, and Billy set off again to look for the Oregon Trail. The children meet up with a group of men who are also traveling to Oregon. After a while, the children separate from the group to head on their own. Francis finds his family. Lottie and Billy are adopted by another family who lost their children to cholera.
Characterization
Francis is the main character of this book. He is separated from his family at the beginning of the series. He is taught by Mr. Grimes. Everything Francis knows comes from Mr. Grimes. Francis does not know how to load and shoot a gun properly. Mr. Grimes teaches Francis how to shoot a gun. Francis learns how to hunt. During some time, Francis is separated from Mr. Grimes. Francis then comes across Lottie and Billy. Francis is the leader of the children. He tells Lottie and Billy what to do. Francis is more responsible for himself and for the children.
Mr. Grimes does not really change during the series. In the first book, he is a man who knows his way in the wild. He is Francis’s role model. Mr. Grimes trades with Indians, but he does not always get along with them. Mr. Grimes keeps to himself most of the time. The only other person who Mr. Grimes can trust is Francis. Mr. Grimes is a tough man. He claims that it will take five men to kill him.
Impact of Setting
The setting takes place in the year 1849 in the western United States. The environment is dry. After they move out of the dry area, they walk on grass with streams and springs. There is plenty of buffalo to hunt. Since there is more food and water to go around this time, the children are not suffering as much.
Theme
The theme that best fits this book is man vs nature. The theme is present throughout the whole book in many places. For example, the children need to hunt in order to get food. They need to be aware of any predators at night when they are asleep. They look for water to drink. They sleep outside, because they do not have a place to spend the night.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to students ages 11 and up. I recommend this book to them because it is a nice story for young adults. This book is for people who like mystery and adventure. Boys and girls can read this book, because the main characters are a boy and a girl.
March 29, 2019
TUCKETS HOME by Gary Paulson, set in the 1800s in the old western territories. The main characters in this story are Francis, Lottie, and Billy. When I had found this series I had been searching high and low for a good western adventure.
As the book goes along in the plot they are still trying to find Francis’s parents. Francis lost his parents when they were taken by a group of Indians on there wagon train. Francis is the main leader of the group he cares and protects young Lottie and Billy. In the book this small group meets up with some crazy people like Spanish explorers, hunters, trappers and much more.
The book could have indeed better to me but I still think it was good. What I mean by that is that going through all the stuff they went through it still did’t end well for them. My favorite part of the book is when they meet the mountain man James Grimes who leads them through some of there mighty adventures.
In my opinion this was a great book. There are many more books just like this in the Tucket series. If your are into old wester adventure this book would be perfect for you.
As the book goes along in the plot they are still trying to find Francis’s parents. Francis lost his parents when they were taken by a group of Indians on there wagon train. Francis is the main leader of the group he cares and protects young Lottie and Billy. In the book this small group meets up with some crazy people like Spanish explorers, hunters, trappers and much more.
The book could have indeed better to me but I still think it was good. What I mean by that is that going through all the stuff they went through it still did’t end well for them. My favorite part of the book is when they meet the mountain man James Grimes who leads them through some of there mighty adventures.
In my opinion this was a great book. There are many more books just like this in the Tucket series. If your are into old wester adventure this book would be perfect for you.
May 8, 2019
Gary Paulson is a wonderful storyteller, and this book is the conclusion of his five-volume saga covering the 14th and 15th years of Francis Tucket's young life. Francis is an amazing youth and has tons of character and more adventures/experiences than most people enjoy over an entire lifetime! As is typical of many Paulson books, Tucket's life is filled with hard challenges, all of which he meets head-on, never giving up, and always moving towards a better destiny in which family and friends are most important.
December 2, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this series.
I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the Oregon Trail and have read the original Mr. Tucket many times through and finally read the remaining books in the series. I found the ending to be a nice final touch and depict the hardships faced with good detail especially considering the age group this book is designed for.
Excited to revisit this series again in the future someday.
I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the Oregon Trail and have read the original Mr. Tucket many times through and finally read the remaining books in the series. I found the ending to be a nice final touch and depict the hardships faced with good detail especially considering the age group this book is designed for.
Excited to revisit this series again in the future someday.
February 3, 2023
Paulsen hits the mark again as a masterful story-teller in this final book about Francis Tucket. True to the time period, with an explanation of historical context, Paulsen brings the West to life -far differently than it is depicted in the movies.
This is one of my favorite series for upper elementary/middle school boys. Note that there is hunting, violence, death, and beauty!
This is one of my favorite series for upper elementary/middle school boys. Note that there is hunting, violence, death, and beauty!
May 27, 2023
This book was the most gruesome of all the books in the series. Despite a gruesome attack scene, this book was our favorite. We closed the chapter on varying characters and Paulson did it with such art. We were all saddened when the book series ended since many characters feel like a good friend. The way he wrote this book makes you think it’s not historical fiction but a true story.
August 22, 2023
Middle-Grade
Historical Fiction
Francis Tucket and his two young companions attempt to get themselves and their gold to their final destination.
Last book in the Tucket Adventures, about a boy who is kidnapped from his family's Oregon-bound wagon and must learn to survive.
Gary Paulsen's first book series. FINISHED!
Historical Fiction
Francis Tucket and his two young companions attempt to get themselves and their gold to their final destination.
Last book in the Tucket Adventures, about a boy who is kidnapped from his family's Oregon-bound wagon and must learn to survive.
Gary Paulsen's first book series. FINISHED!
January 8, 2019
I truly love the authors way of writing, it is a style that very little authors have. after reading the first few pages, I knew that I would never be able to put it down! and when I finished this book, I was really disappointed because it was so amazing!!! I would recommend this book to everyone.
July 28, 2018
This is by far the best of the series. It is a very good read but highly violent. Meant for older kids.
September 21, 2018
My favorite book out of the Tucket series.
October 30, 2019
Great reading all of Parkinson's books are excellent!!
Great 👍all of Paulson's books are excellent!! I have a great respect.for his style of storytelling. Thank you Gary Paulson!
Great 👍all of Paulson's books are excellent!! I have a great respect.for his style of storytelling. Thank you Gary Paulson!
July 23, 2020
Tucket and his tag along children are still trying to find the Oregon trail and the Tucket family. They run into many more adventures, danger, and heartbreak before the story concludes very nicely.
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January 21, 2022it is about a boy that is on the Oregon trail and is chased by madman, kills them then finds his family and lives there till he dies
March 27, 2022
A satisfying conclusion to a great story.
January 22, 2023
A great end to the thrilling story
March 7, 2023
Although a bit sad in some parts, I loved the conclusion! I'd highly recommend reading this series.
July 2, 2023
Audio books on a family vacation. The kids enjoyed them.
October 18, 2023
Not as gripping as a couple of the others, but still so good. Besides, you have to hear the end of the story!
April 13, 2024
I’m rating this one 5 stars, because it was an excellent wrap up to the saga. Gary’s historical note was also a great way to end the story, giving better context to multiple things in the series.
August 15, 2024
Even though this is for younger readers it still was an enjoyable tale
January 26, 2024
Great ending to a series I started when I was younger.
June 24, 2018
A nice closing to this series of books. Al the characters of the series gain a resolution, and we even get a peek into the future of their lives. Since these books are nice and short anyway, it serves as the climax and denouement of the entire series.
***OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SERIES***
This is as good a place as any to share thoughts on the series as a whole. Since my other favorite series from Gary Paulsen is the Brian Saga that started with Hatchet, I can't help but compare the two.
Both series center on a teenage boy who is challenged to survive, and grows in ability and confidence as the books progress. The hero of this series is Francis Tucket, who begins as an inexperienced 14 year old boy kidnapped by Indians and ends as weary protector of two young children. Hatchet starts the series of books about Brian Robeson, a modern-day teenager who crash lands in the North Woods and finds a way to survive.
The plots different greatly, and not only because Tucket is a character in the 1850/1860s (the dates are a little sketchy in their reference to the Mexican War and U.S. Civil War). Probably a bigger difference is that the Brian books relate to multiple trips back and forth from the city into the backwoods. But the Tucket books really all make up a single storyline of Francis trying to return to his family.
Though I suspect both these characters have some autobiographical bits from the author, they really are strikingly different in many essential ways. The author avoided the trap of creating a Brian character in buckskins (the Brian Saga started a decade before the Hatchet series).
The differences are myriad:
- Francis never becomes "wild" and in the end returns to a farming life. But Brian leaves "civilization" to roam the woods.
- Francis experiences much more death and tragedy, and is hardened and wearied by it.
- Brian faces great risk from the wild and from nature, but never from other people. Francis is constantly facing cruel killers and surviving somehow.
- Brian becomes quiet and speaks inward to his own thoughts. Francis maintains relationships with the people around him.
I would say the most significant difference between the two is in the form of Tucket's difficult friendship with Mr. Jason Grimes. Mr. Grimes is a one-of-a-kind character, and almost a force of nature. As much as I like this character, the number of times Francis runs across him are probably the most unrealistic part of the story, to the point of deus-ex-machina status by the end. This is different from Brian's Saga in two major ways: Tucket is dependent on Grimes in a way that Brian was never dependent on anyone. And Brian's Saga strove to be close to reality (though an extreme reality), where the character of Mr. Grimes pushes the Tucket books into obvious fiction.
Final analysis:
So having ready both series back to back for the second time recently in quick succession, I have been able to decide which I like better. The answer comes out to be Brian's Saga for me. Though I like Mr. Tucket and Mr. Grimes a great deal, I think the prevalence of cruel men in Tucket's world leans me Brian's way. And for the setting: I would rather spend a fall day eating fish from a Northwoods pond than tramping the dusty Oregon trail chewing Buffalo Jerky.
***OVERALL REVIEW OF THE SERIES***
This is as good a place as any to share thoughts on the series as a whole. Since my other favorite series from Gary Paulsen is the Brian Saga that started with Hatchet, I can't help but compare the two.
Both series center on a teenage boy who is challenged to survive, and grows in ability and confidence as the books progress. The hero of this series is Francis Tucket, who begins as an inexperienced 14 year old boy kidnapped by Indians and ends as weary protector of two young children. Hatchet starts the series of books about Brian Robeson, a modern-day teenager who crash lands in the North Woods and finds a way to survive.
The plots different greatly, and not only because Tucket is a character in the 1850/1860s (the dates are a little sketchy in their reference to the Mexican War and U.S. Civil War). Probably a bigger difference is that the Brian books relate to multiple trips back and forth from the city into the backwoods. But the Tucket books really all make up a single storyline of Francis trying to return to his family.
Though I suspect both these characters have some autobiographical bits from the author, they really are strikingly different in many essential ways. The author avoided the trap of creating a Brian character in buckskins (the Brian Saga started a decade before the Hatchet series).
The differences are myriad:
- Francis never becomes "wild" and in the end returns to a farming life. But Brian leaves "civilization" to roam the woods.
- Francis experiences much more death and tragedy, and is hardened and wearied by it.
- Brian faces great risk from the wild and from nature, but never from other people. Francis is constantly facing cruel killers and surviving somehow.
- Brian becomes quiet and speaks inward to his own thoughts. Francis maintains relationships with the people around him.
I would say the most significant difference between the two is in the form of Tucket's difficult friendship with Mr. Jason Grimes. Mr. Grimes is a one-of-a-kind character, and almost a force of nature. As much as I like this character, the number of times Francis runs across him are probably the most unrealistic part of the story, to the point of deus-ex-machina status by the end. This is different from Brian's Saga in two major ways: Tucket is dependent on Grimes in a way that Brian was never dependent on anyone. And Brian's Saga strove to be close to reality (though an extreme reality), where the character of Mr. Grimes pushes the Tucket books into obvious fiction.
Final analysis:
So having ready both series back to back for the second time recently in quick succession, I have been able to decide which I like better. The answer comes out to be Brian's Saga for me. Though I like Mr. Tucket and Mr. Grimes a great deal, I think the prevalence of cruel men in Tucket's world leans me Brian's way. And for the setting: I would rather spend a fall day eating fish from a Northwoods pond than tramping the dusty Oregon trail chewing Buffalo Jerky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2025
I love a satisfying and happy conclusion to a series, and this delivered. Gary Paulsen is so fun to re-read he was my favorite author in elementary.
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