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Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail
At the sound of the bell on the last day of kindergarten, B.J. Hollars and his six-year-old son, Henry, hop in the car to strike out on a 2,500-mile road trip retracing the Oregon Trail. Their mission: to rediscover America, and Americans, along the way. Throughout their two-week adventure, they endure the usual setbacks (car trouble, inclement weather, and father-son fatigue), but their most compelling drama involves people, privilege, and their attempt to find common ground in an all-too-fractured country.
Writing in the footsteps of John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, Hollars picks up the trail with his son more than half a century later. Together they sidle up to a stool at every truck stop, camp by every creek, and roam the West. They encounter not only the beauty and heartbreak of America, but also the beauty and heartbreak of a father and son eager to make the most of their time together. From Chimney Rock to Independence Rock to the rocky coast of Oregon, they learn and relearn the devastating truth of America’s exploitative past, as well as their role within it.
Go West, Young Man recounts the author’s effort to teach his son the difficult realities of our nation’s founding while also reaffirming his faith in America today.
Writing in the footsteps of John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, Hollars picks up the trail with his son more than half a century later. Together they sidle up to a stool at every truck stop, camp by every creek, and roam the West. They encounter not only the beauty and heartbreak of America, but also the beauty and heartbreak of a father and son eager to make the most of their time together. From Chimney Rock to Independence Rock to the rocky coast of Oregon, they learn and relearn the devastating truth of America’s exploitative past, as well as their role within it.
Go West, Young Man recounts the author’s effort to teach his son the difficult realities of our nation’s founding while also reaffirming his faith in America today.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2021
5 people are currently reading
97 people want to read
About the author
B.J. Hollars
30 books72 followersB.J. Hollars is the author of several books, most recently Wisconsin for Kennedy: The Primary That Launched a President and Changed The Course of History, Year of Plenty: A Family's Season of Grief, Go West Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail, Midwestern Strange: Hunting Monsters, Martians and the Weird in Flyover Country, The Road South: Personal Stories of the Freedom Riders, Flock Together: A Love Affair With Extinct Birds, From the Mouths of Dogs: What Our Pets Teach Us About Life, Death, and Being Human, as well as a collection of essays, This Is Only A Test. Additionally, he has also written Thirteen Loops: Race, Violence and the Last Lynching in America, Opening the Doors: The Desegregation of the University of Alabama and the Fight for Civil Rights in Tuscaloosa, Dispatches from the Drownings, and Sightings. He and his film partner, Steve Dayton, have also completed a documentary When Rubber Hit The Road,
Hollars is the recipient of the Truman Capote Prize for Literary Nonfiction, the Anne B. and James B. McMillan Prize, the Council of Wisconsin Writers' Blei-Derleth Award, the Society of Midland Authors Award, and received a 2022 silver medal from the Midwest Book Awards.
He is the founder and executive director of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and the Midwest Artist Academy, as well as a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and a columnist for The Leader-Telegram. He lives a simple existence with his family.
Hollars is the recipient of the Truman Capote Prize for Literary Nonfiction, the Anne B. and James B. McMillan Prize, the Council of Wisconsin Writers' Blei-Derleth Award, the Society of Midland Authors Award, and received a 2022 silver medal from the Midwest Book Awards.
He is the founder and executive director of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and the Midwest Artist Academy, as well as a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and a columnist for The Leader-Telegram. He lives a simple existence with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 17, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the digital advanced readers copy of Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail by B. J. Hollars in exchange for my honest review.
Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail is B.J. Hollars account of his cross-country road trip with his 6-year-old son, Henry. They set off on a 2,500-mile journey along the Oregon Trail to "rediscover" America. They both learn a lot on this journey - both on how the country once was and how it is now, as well as their own relationship. As much as it is a story on their journey, it provides plenty of travel tips and ideas as well. I don't feel as if I connected with the author as much as I thought I would, but this was a good book, sometimes a bit heavy and sad, but nonetheless, good reading. Perfect for those cross-country road trips we all love.
Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail is B.J. Hollars account of his cross-country road trip with his 6-year-old son, Henry. They set off on a 2,500-mile journey along the Oregon Trail to "rediscover" America. They both learn a lot on this journey - both on how the country once was and how it is now, as well as their own relationship. As much as it is a story on their journey, it provides plenty of travel tips and ideas as well. I don't feel as if I connected with the author as much as I thought I would, but this was a good book, sometimes a bit heavy and sad, but nonetheless, good reading. Perfect for those cross-country road trips we all love.
September 11, 2021
Go West Young Man, by B.J. Hollars is an amiable enough non-fiction book about retracing by car the Oregon Trail with his six-year-old son Henry. It’s a two-week trip and Hollars hits all the expected highlights familiar to anyone who has done the same trip or read about the trail (or played the old computer game): Chimney Rock, Scott’s Bluff, Independence Rock, Fort Laramie, several of the Trail museums, etc. He also includes some lesser known spots, such as several grave sites that require someone who knows the location and has permission to be on the private land the grave sits on. Hollars intersperses their travels with some diary entries or letters by original emigrants, and also brings in the cost of this “Manifest Destiny” to the land’s original inhabitants.
As I said, it’s an amiable enough book, the voice pretty engaging, the enthusiasm and curiosity somewhat infectious, and his son adds some nice bits, even if some of the dialogue feels a little unusually precocious. There’s certainly nothing to dislike here, but there’s also nothing particularly striking or compelling. As noted, the sites are the well-known ones, and they’re mostly quickly glossed over. The stopoffs at KOAs don’t leave room for much to talk about beyond a round of miniature golf, nor is there anything new to say about fast food on the road, the “niceness” of strangers, the near-extinction of the bison, etc. If this is the first and stays the only book one reads on the trip, it’s a decently solid one, but it lacks any true keenness of insight or language, nothing stylistic stands out, nothing in the descriptions, and the few digressions into weightier topics are pretty predictable in tone and content and don’t offer up a lot of that “I didn’t know that about a well known event/place” moments that the best of these sorts of books do. Having done this trip on my own and with my son myself, it felt exactly like a book I could have written, or a book anyone could have. Props to Hollars for actually doing so, and doing so in decent fashion, but I was hoping for more. 2.5
As I said, it’s an amiable enough book, the voice pretty engaging, the enthusiasm and curiosity somewhat infectious, and his son adds some nice bits, even if some of the dialogue feels a little unusually precocious. There’s certainly nothing to dislike here, but there’s also nothing particularly striking or compelling. As noted, the sites are the well-known ones, and they’re mostly quickly glossed over. The stopoffs at KOAs don’t leave room for much to talk about beyond a round of miniature golf, nor is there anything new to say about fast food on the road, the “niceness” of strangers, the near-extinction of the bison, etc. If this is the first and stays the only book one reads on the trip, it’s a decently solid one, but it lacks any true keenness of insight or language, nothing stylistic stands out, nothing in the descriptions, and the few digressions into weightier topics are pretty predictable in tone and content and don’t offer up a lot of that “I didn’t know that about a well known event/place” moments that the best of these sorts of books do. Having done this trip on my own and with my son myself, it felt exactly like a book I could have written, or a book anyone could have. Props to Hollars for actually doing so, and doing so in decent fashion, but I was hoping for more. 2.5
August 15, 2021
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book.
I really enjoyed Hollars' account of his journey from Eau Claire to Oregon's Williamette Valley via Independence, Missouri and the famous Oregon trail with his six year old son. Hollars packed a lot into his two-week journey, and into this relatively short book. I loved how he included his interviews with rangers, museum directors and other experts, as well as "regular" people like Liz who came to his reading. Even with a journey as well mapped and scripted as the Oregon Trail, it's so often the unplanned elements that are the most memorable. Appreciated his attempt to look at the Trail and its stories through a DEI lens and his exploration of the Native people's stories, which could be another book in itself. A solid read.
I really enjoyed Hollars' account of his journey from Eau Claire to Oregon's Williamette Valley via Independence, Missouri and the famous Oregon trail with his six year old son. Hollars packed a lot into his two-week journey, and into this relatively short book. I loved how he included his interviews with rangers, museum directors and other experts, as well as "regular" people like Liz who came to his reading. Even with a journey as well mapped and scripted as the Oregon Trail, it's so often the unplanned elements that are the most memorable. Appreciated his attempt to look at the Trail and its stories through a DEI lens and his exploration of the Native people's stories, which could be another book in itself. A solid read.
September 28, 2021
I mostly got this because I grew up in the 80s-90s and totally loved playing the Oregon Trail game. The highlights for me were seeing familiar names from the game--_oh right, it was a real thing!_
Highlights for me: the author's ongoing relationship development with his son. That was pretty special and had some great moments.
Lowlights for me: Some language and crude humor. Also, the relating of the author's reactions to white settlers' treatment of natives felt--to use another reviewer's word--heavy handed at times on the guilt front. That reviewer did a better job at articulating it than I would, so I'll leave it at that!
Highlights for me: the author's ongoing relationship development with his son. That was pretty special and had some great moments.
Lowlights for me: Some language and crude humor. Also, the relating of the author's reactions to white settlers' treatment of natives felt--to use another reviewer's word--heavy handed at times on the guilt front. That reviewer did a better job at articulating it than I would, so I'll leave it at that!
September 11, 2021
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Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail by B. J. Hollars is a travelogue of the author, retracing the Oregon Trail with his six-year-old son. Mr. Hollars is a writer, a teacher, and yes, a father.
The last several years I had developed an interest in travelogues. At first, I thought it was because my family and I were about to embark on our own mid-west, 3-week, adventure. But even though we came back a few months ago, the genre still fascinates me.
In Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail by B. J. Hollars we join a father and son retracing the path of the emigrants. Henry, the son, is only six, so burying his face in a cellphone for hours on end during the long rides is not an option.
I do commiserate with days of endless driving, and even if you plan stops every 100 miles or so.
Along the way, both father and son rediscover America, and find they American they didn’t know existed. Amazingly, the dynamic duo did this while camping most of the time. On our trip we at least had a hot shower waiting at the end of the day.
As in any trip, whether its 5,000 miles or to the local supermarket, the people you meet will always make or break the day. Much like our trip, the vast majority of people we met were kind, interesting, and helpful. The author pontificates of how his trip would have in any other skin is an interesting realization. This is especially true when the politics and destruction of the westward migration settles in. I’m not talking about the Donner Party specifically, but also about the way Native Americans were treated, and the ridiculousness of “Manifest Destiny”.
Even though there are some heavy parts, this is a fun book. The charm is, of course, the author and his son interacting on such a long trip, as well as learning a bit of history along the way.
Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail by B. J. Hollars is a travelogue of the author, retracing the Oregon Trail with his six-year-old son. Mr. Hollars is a writer, a teacher, and yes, a father.
The last several years I had developed an interest in travelogues. At first, I thought it was because my family and I were about to embark on our own mid-west, 3-week, adventure. But even though we came back a few months ago, the genre still fascinates me.
In Go West, Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail by B. J. Hollars we join a father and son retracing the path of the emigrants. Henry, the son, is only six, so burying his face in a cellphone for hours on end during the long rides is not an option.
I do commiserate with days of endless driving, and even if you plan stops every 100 miles or so.
Along the way, both father and son rediscover America, and find they American they didn’t know existed. Amazingly, the dynamic duo did this while camping most of the time. On our trip we at least had a hot shower waiting at the end of the day.
As in any trip, whether its 5,000 miles or to the local supermarket, the people you meet will always make or break the day. Much like our trip, the vast majority of people we met were kind, interesting, and helpful. The author pontificates of how his trip would have in any other skin is an interesting realization. This is especially true when the politics and destruction of the westward migration settles in. I’m not talking about the Donner Party specifically, but also about the way Native Americans were treated, and the ridiculousness of “Manifest Destiny”.
Even though there are some heavy parts, this is a fun book. The charm is, of course, the author and his son interacting on such a long trip, as well as learning a bit of history along the way.
January 28, 2023
B.J. Hollars' road trip memoir follows his journey across the length of the Oregon Trail with his young son in tow. Throughout, Hollars relays vignettes about notable locations along the trail and the varying fates of those who traveled it. The book is at its best when Hollars reflects on the deeper socioeconomic and racial issues--including genocide--that he explores as extensions of western expansion. As he progresses through his journey, he makes excellent comparisons to his stops with reflections of the same locations in archival diaries during the height of the mass migration over the trail.
The book sometimes stumbles as it conveys the inevitable mishaps and adjustments that take place during a long road trip. In several instances, the author acknowledges that he is betraying the confidence of a conversation. For instance, I found myself wondering if a generous mechanic in Boise may have faced unfortunate consequences after he was mentioned by name for providing free, secret service to the author's rental jeep.
The other highlights of the book relate to the father and son conversations relayed throughout the book. We see his six-year-old's drawings of various sites, we are able to observe how he processes the death of a child his own age, and we share in a stranger's admiration for a father/son pizza picnic on the beach. We feel the father and son grow closer--even as they increasing long for some time apart.
In all, the book takes the reader along as a passenger through this journey. It will likely inspire many of its readers to take on the Oregon Trail (or at least a part of it) for themselves.
The book sometimes stumbles as it conveys the inevitable mishaps and adjustments that take place during a long road trip. In several instances, the author acknowledges that he is betraying the confidence of a conversation. For instance, I found myself wondering if a generous mechanic in Boise may have faced unfortunate consequences after he was mentioned by name for providing free, secret service to the author's rental jeep.
The other highlights of the book relate to the father and son conversations relayed throughout the book. We see his six-year-old's drawings of various sites, we are able to observe how he processes the death of a child his own age, and we share in a stranger's admiration for a father/son pizza picnic on the beach. We feel the father and son grow closer--even as they increasing long for some time apart.
In all, the book takes the reader along as a passenger through this journey. It will likely inspire many of its readers to take on the Oregon Trail (or at least a part of it) for themselves.
December 21, 2021
4.5 adventurous stars, rounded up
B.J. Hollars and his 6-year-old son, Henry, set off on an adventure following the Oregon Trail. They’ve got much to learn… “about history. And geography. And art. And meteorology. And cooking. And tire changing. And oil changing. And the importance of staking down tents.” This funny travelogue is full of excellent writing and broad thoughts.
I love that the book included photos of the author and son along important way points, like their first McDonald’s, as well as historic paintings and Henry’s renderings (which unfortunately were not included in the ARC.) The personal touches, whether a father’s musings, or descriptions by pioneers make this book amusing and memorable.
Hollars takes a balanced approach in discussing Native American contributions. He tells his son that “westward expansion and its aftermath is really a story about power – who had it, who didn’t and the price that was paid as a result.” They seek out Native American sites, museums and guides and relay fresh perspectives on a part of the Oregon Trail that is too often overlooked.
Recommended for (as the dedication reads) “travelers- past, present, and future.“ Go West, Young Man is tender, informative and funny. It makes me want to hit the trail.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
B.J. Hollars and his 6-year-old son, Henry, set off on an adventure following the Oregon Trail. They’ve got much to learn… “about history. And geography. And art. And meteorology. And cooking. And tire changing. And oil changing. And the importance of staking down tents.” This funny travelogue is full of excellent writing and broad thoughts.
I love that the book included photos of the author and son along important way points, like their first McDonald’s, as well as historic paintings and Henry’s renderings (which unfortunately were not included in the ARC.) The personal touches, whether a father’s musings, or descriptions by pioneers make this book amusing and memorable.
Hollars takes a balanced approach in discussing Native American contributions. He tells his son that “westward expansion and its aftermath is really a story about power – who had it, who didn’t and the price that was paid as a result.” They seek out Native American sites, museums and guides and relay fresh perspectives on a part of the Oregon Trail that is too often overlooked.
Recommended for (as the dedication reads) “travelers- past, present, and future.“ Go West, Young Man is tender, informative and funny. It makes me want to hit the trail.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2021
I had to request this book when I saw it was available and was pleased when I received an ARC. I just finished it and it is a pleasurable read. A father and son traverse the span of the Oregon trail, finding delights, adventure, and a sense of themselves along the way. I enjoyed the snippets of historical detail Hollars included and the snapshots of people they encountered. Henry did very well on the journey for just being 6 years old. I have made that same trek myself and enjoyed revisiting the sites through reading. My two favorites were the museums in Independence, MO and Baker City, OR. The End of the Oregon Trail Museum was closed when I tried to visit it and I totally missed the Bear Valley site. The author has a tendency to be a little preachy but it doesn’t detract from the writing. Thanks to Bison Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
June 2, 2021
What a great summer read! I really enjoyed this sweet story of a father/son road trip following the Oregon Trail!
I love a good travel story and this was really well done. The author did a great job weaving in historical narratives from Oregon Trail emigrates that I hadn’t heard before. And the story really got better and better with each chapter. I walked away with some big thoughts about white privilege (especially in how it relates to the stories we learn about our past) and about how precious our time is with our kids are when they young. Before reading this I would have thought age 6 was way too young for a summer road trip across the country, but now it seems like a great age for it.
I love a good travel story and this was really well done. The author did a great job weaving in historical narratives from Oregon Trail emigrates that I hadn’t heard before. And the story really got better and better with each chapter. I walked away with some big thoughts about white privilege (especially in how it relates to the stories we learn about our past) and about how precious our time is with our kids are when they young. Before reading this I would have thought age 6 was way too young for a summer road trip across the country, but now it seems like a great age for it.
October 8, 2021
I always love a good road-trip story. And since I was about to drive west on my own American continental adventure, finding this book felt like good timing. First off: the bravery of this person! To drive across the country and visit all these historical sites with a little kid! It's a no from me. But at the same time, they experienced some real father/son bonding, and it was sweet. I feel very happy to have been allowed to share in their journey together. While this isn't the best read for those more academically interested in the Oregon Trail, it's a great read for anyone interested in the pleasure of bonding with family, and heck, who might be considering a crazy road trip of their own.
September 30, 2022
I discovered this book at the Tucson International Book Festival this last March at the University of Nebraska Press booth. You cannot go wrong with a book that is published by the U of Nebraska Press but even more interesting is that the author is a professor of English at U of WI -Eau Claire campus which is very well known to my family.
B.J. Hollars takes his 6 year old son on a two week trip of exploration of the Oregon Trail. His research is excellent and he takes the reader to places the regular traveler would not have access to. The history, the journey and his interaction with his son makes this book so very good!
B.J. Hollars takes his 6 year old son on a two week trip of exploration of the Oregon Trail. His research is excellent and he takes the reader to places the regular traveler would not have access to. The history, the journey and his interaction with his son makes this book so very good!
May 12, 2023
This is a fell-good read retelling a father-son road trip on the Oregon Trail. I enjoyed getting to know author B.J. Hollars and his 6-year-old son Henry. It caused me to remember road trips with my own kids. It was a fun read and at times went a little deeper into attempts at meaningful insights, however these were often simplistic when opportunity clearly presented itself for more. I was happy for B.J. and Henry to reach their destination, to have the experience they will remember the rest of their lives, and to reunite with their family.
November 14, 2023
I'll admit, I picked this book up because I know the author and his son. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I truly enjoyed the stories and art submitted by BJ and Henry as they took this adventure together. I now followed along on social media, as he took a similar trip with his daughter, I cannot wait to read the next one. Perhaps, this inspired me to consider traveling one on one with one of my children.
October 29, 2021
I love BJ Hollars’ writing. He is incredibly reflective, honest, and humble. He has done his research and thoughtfully considered his place as a white, middle-class man of the 21st century, perfectly juxtaposing that with the harsh realities of those who followed the trails before him. This book includes awesome illustrations from his son, too. I highly recommend!
November 21, 2021
B.J.Hollars and his young son fly out west, rent a vehicle, and do a two-week road trip. The book is a pleasant read about a father and son spending time together exploring new places and seeing each other in a new light. The writing is usually upbeat and informative. This is a book that could motivate other families to take a road trip and to write about it as you travel.
March 29, 2022
An unexpectedly charming father-son road trip also provides a fascinating look at the historical monuments of the Oregon Trail. Peppered with pictures and drawings, their personal adventures are juxtaposed with just the right amount of historical research to bring relevance and weight to their experience.
April 11, 2022
The author explores the Oregon Trail with his six year old son. Some history interspersed with cutesy kid stories. I would have preferred one or the other. Also, the author seemed a little obsessed with the amount of dead on the trail, especially children. I would have liked more stories about the pioneers that made it.
September 22, 2021
A beautifully written biography, chronicling the travels of a father and son, while also sharing the history of the Oregon Trail. I found myself captured completely by Hollars' writing, feeling as though I was an old friend hearing the story over a beer one night. Perfection!
August 31, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced readers copy! Enjoyed the journey with father and son as they conquered the path of the Oregon trail ….really enjoyed learning some of the history!
January 30, 2022
Loved everything about the book! Makes me want to set out on the road with my kiddos in search of history and meaning.
February 21, 2023
Found it hard to connect with the book.
January 7, 2022
I loved the premise of B. J. Hollars' book, Go West, Young Man. I have long been a fan of the Oregon trail (thanks to the epic computer game!) and exploring the history of the trail across the country was fantastic. I also adored that the author shared this journey with his six year old son. Hollars is a great writer and his humor/wit was apparent throughout the book. Sometimes (and I'm sure this was a bit of creative license), Henry seemed quite a bit older than six in his comments, attitude, and abilities. But all in all that is not a huge complaint. Much respect to the author for his work and research throughout the trail while parenting!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ebook copy. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ebook copy. All opinions are my own.
March 22, 2022
When I began Go West, Young Man, I was initially most excited to learn more about the Oregon Trail. However, as I continued to read about B.J. Hollars’ road trip to retrace the Oregon Trail with his six-year-old son, Henry, I found myself enjoying their journey just as much as the history of the Oregon Trail. Maybe even more! Though they had a strong connection prior to their journey, B.J. and Henry’s relationship flourishes, and it’s a joy to watch them make memories together.
Go West, Young Man is the quiet kind of adventure book I most enjoy with lots of humor, interesting stories and encounters with people B.J and Henry meet along the way, and captivating and detailed drawings courtesy of Henry. B.J. and Henry have a few bumps along the way – a rainstorm that almost carries their tent away, a little bit of car trouble, Henry reaching his “swale quota,” and trying to pack in too many miles each day – but these troubles are nothing compared to the difficulties the pioneers faced. While writing about the Mormon emigrants, B.J. states, “I’m ashamed to admit that this far into our journey, our idea of ‘prayers being answered’ has generally involved gas stations with slushy machines. Yet for God-fearing emigrants, unanswered prayers could mean a death sentence.”
B.J. and Henry have different perspectives of their experiences, and I think this is what really makes Go West, Young Man stand out. While Henry isn’t the history buff his dad is, Henry’s wonder shines a light on their journey and illuminates details his father may have missed without him. B.J.’s observations of Henry’s wonder add another layer to their journey. At one point, B.J. makes a snarky comment about the beautiful view, which is really just a parking lot filled with truckers, and Henry replies, “’you know…it really is.’” B.J. writes, “How desperately I wish I could still see the world as he does. And how embarrassed I am that I can’t.”
B.J. and Henry meet lots of interesting people along the way who take them down backroads and trails and share Oregon Trail stories. One of my favorite moments happens when B.J. and Henry accidentally stumble upon the descendants of Rebecca Winters while visiting her grave. Go West, Young Man includes a little bit of the most famous Oregon Trail stories, but it’s a lot of history for one book, and B.J. barely dips a toe in each significant historical moment he writes about (Trail of Tears, the Donner Party, and The Wounded Knee Massacre to name a few), but he provides an abundance of resources in his extensive bibliography for those wanting a deeper dive.
Near the beginning of their journey, B.J. writes that the Oregon Trail was a wound that is now a scar. I think books like Go West, Young Man are like the swales along the trail. By tracing the scar with Henry, B.J. is helping to keep the Oregon Trail a visible reminder of our past.
Go West, Young Man is the quiet kind of adventure book I most enjoy with lots of humor, interesting stories and encounters with people B.J and Henry meet along the way, and captivating and detailed drawings courtesy of Henry. B.J. and Henry have a few bumps along the way – a rainstorm that almost carries their tent away, a little bit of car trouble, Henry reaching his “swale quota,” and trying to pack in too many miles each day – but these troubles are nothing compared to the difficulties the pioneers faced. While writing about the Mormon emigrants, B.J. states, “I’m ashamed to admit that this far into our journey, our idea of ‘prayers being answered’ has generally involved gas stations with slushy machines. Yet for God-fearing emigrants, unanswered prayers could mean a death sentence.”
B.J. and Henry have different perspectives of their experiences, and I think this is what really makes Go West, Young Man stand out. While Henry isn’t the history buff his dad is, Henry’s wonder shines a light on their journey and illuminates details his father may have missed without him. B.J.’s observations of Henry’s wonder add another layer to their journey. At one point, B.J. makes a snarky comment about the beautiful view, which is really just a parking lot filled with truckers, and Henry replies, “’you know…it really is.’” B.J. writes, “How desperately I wish I could still see the world as he does. And how embarrassed I am that I can’t.”
B.J. and Henry meet lots of interesting people along the way who take them down backroads and trails and share Oregon Trail stories. One of my favorite moments happens when B.J. and Henry accidentally stumble upon the descendants of Rebecca Winters while visiting her grave. Go West, Young Man includes a little bit of the most famous Oregon Trail stories, but it’s a lot of history for one book, and B.J. barely dips a toe in each significant historical moment he writes about (Trail of Tears, the Donner Party, and The Wounded Knee Massacre to name a few), but he provides an abundance of resources in his extensive bibliography for those wanting a deeper dive.
Near the beginning of their journey, B.J. writes that the Oregon Trail was a wound that is now a scar. I think books like Go West, Young Man are like the swales along the trail. By tracing the scar with Henry, B.J. is helping to keep the Oregon Trail a visible reminder of our past.
February 21, 2023
Read for Colloquium, so not my first choice in book.
I learned some new things about the Oregon Trail. I didn’t love the writing style and found some parts to be rather boring, even with the author’s attempt to make them more exciting. He tends to over exaggerate things, especially when discussing the road trip aspects like stopping at a McDonald’s or getting an oil change for their rental car - and I grew bored of it rather quickly.
I learned some new things about the Oregon Trail. I didn’t love the writing style and found some parts to be rather boring, even with the author’s attempt to make them more exciting. He tends to over exaggerate things, especially when discussing the road trip aspects like stopping at a McDonald’s or getting an oil change for their rental car - and I grew bored of it rather quickly.
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