Fortune's Journey

by Bruce Coville

Sixteen-year-old Fortune faces many challenges on an overland journey to California in 1853 with the acting company that she inherited from her father.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Romance, Fiction, Westerns, Childrens

255 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Bruce Coville was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1950. His family lived in farm territory, about twenty miles north of Syracuse. Bruce grew up around the corner from his grandparents' dairy farm, where he spent a great deal of time as a child, dodging cows and chores to the best of his ability. As a young reader he loved Mary Poppins and Dr. Dolittle, and still has fond memories of rising ahead of the rest of his family so he could huddle in a chair and read THE VOYAGES OF DR. DOLITTLE. He also read lots of things that people consider junk (Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift, and zillions of comic books). His only real regret is the time he spent watching television, when he could have been reading instead. (A mind is a terrible thing to waste!)

His first book, THE FOOLISH GIANT, was published in 1978. It was illustrated by his wife, Katherine, whom he had married in 1969. This was followed in 1979 by SARAH'S UNICORN, also illustrated by Katherine. After a long period of working separately, the Covilles began collaborating again with SPACE BRAT and GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE, both published in 1992.

Before getting published Bruce earned his living as a toymaker, a gravedigger, a cookware salesman, an assembly line worker, and finally as an elementary school teacher (second and fourth grades). He left teaching in 1981 to devote himself to becoming a full time writer - though it took another five years to achieve that goal!)

Bruce has published over 100 books, which have appeared in over a dozen countries around the world and sold more than sixteen million copies. Among his most popular titles are MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN, INTO THE LAND OF THE UNICORNS, and THE MONSTER'S RING. In 2001 he founded Full Cast Audio, an audiobook company dedicated to creating unabridged, full cast recordings of the best in children's and young adult literature.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 reread: this will always be one of my favorite books.
__________________________________

Words cannot express how much I LOVE this book! I read it as a kid, but it's still so enjoyable to read as an adult.

1) the COVER. I never really pay much attention to the cover of a book. However, this is probably my favorite cover because I love the girl's hair in the picture. I wish my hair looked like that!

2) it's set on the Oregon Trail. The Oregon Trail computer game is one of my favorite games ever so it was fun to see them travel in the book to places that I have visited in the game.

3) the character of Fortune. She's so likable and there's a lot of growth in her character. She really matures by the end of the book.

4) the love story. It's so cute! And the two of them have so many cute interactions. I was very satisfied with the romance.

5) the continuity. I was very impressed that the last line of the book echoed the first line. It tied the story up neatly and not many books manage to do that.

Honestly, I love this book so much. It was an absolute pleasure to reread it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister read this and recommended it to me years ago, in middle or high school. I remember liking it, and there being some sweet moments in it.
I remember there was a play or something in here, and the characters were preparing for it.
I also remember the main character looking at her feet in the water, and thinking they were pretty, along with the guy’s feet, I think. Crazy what you remember from books!

[Qt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good historical-romantic novel, with a really interesting aspect: touring actors in the "wild west" era. An enjoyable book, and I give it 3 stars only because it's less my thing than some of Bruce Coville's others.

[D.T. Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting combination of the Oregon Trail (well, more accurately the California Trail), theater, and Bruce Coville's bittersweet storytelling.

[Amy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute fun little read. I had never thought about entertainment on the Oregon Trail from this perspective before. Everything seems so tragic l guess is a very Shakespearean way. I am not sure what this book’s genre is but it felt YA to me.

[becka]

the guy who wrote 'my teacher fried my brains' decided to write a YA pioneer romance.

it would have been better with aliens.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good story. I can't believe a man wrote this, because there's romance and I love romance in my novels. Even though this is a YA novel and they're young, it had everything a reader could ask for. I love books that incorporate so much history and information into their novels, the setting is totally realistic and interesting. I liked that the guy blushed and got embarrassed from her attention, and I like the trials they went through to be together, the sickness and the journey, and having a member of the group sell the gold. The guy was able to get the piece of gold back in the shape of a heart that he had given her, and I was so glad because I was so upset when the older man in the group sold all the gold for alcohol I think. It's been a long time since I've read this, I was in middle school the first time I read it I think, and I think I've read it twice.

[Karalyn Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this in middle school and it always left an impression on me throughout my reading life. It was fun reliving and remembering everything that happened in this story. I remember when Jamie and Fortune were the first couple I read about that I shipped and it became true and I remember how full my heart felt after it happened. Fortune was such a strong, yet sweet character, her troupe was a hoot and a holler and the hardships they had to go through to get to California were insane and dangerous. I love this book and it will always hold a special place in my heart!!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light-weight and tidy but will appeal to 4th-6th grade girls interested in theater and wagon trains west. If you follow this with The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman, you will be rewarded with better understanding of the personal tribulations of young people caught up in the western migration.

[Jess-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an Accelerated Reader option in the 8th grade. While I don't remember much about the plot itself, I remember really enjoying it and flying through it fairly quickly. I definitely recommend for a quick and entertaining read.

[Ophelia Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember this book very clearly from my childhood, I just bought it and re read it as an adult and honestly I still liked it a lot! Plus I got it right from the author’s website so I got a signed copy

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me and my daughter sobbed. It might end up being my new favorite Bruce Coville book, beating out the Nina Tanleven books!

[Sarah Woodall · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Synopsis:
Fortunes Journey is the tale of Fortune Plunkett a newly orphaned 16 year old actor, and her band of players journey west. After her mothers death, her father uprooted Fortune from the charms of Charleston to take them and Plunkett's Players on the road. Now with her fathers passing, Fortune is left in charge of the band of thespians. The tales and rumors of the California gold rush has convinced Fortune that that is where they are meant to be. However, heading west is not as easy as the players thought it would be. By chance they meet the handsome Jamie Halleck who has all the know how for a wagon train. The trail west is littered with disaster, death, and small victories for Plunkett's Players.

My Thoughts:
This was a cute book. Not in my usual cup of tea as far as historical books go, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The characters were very real and getting to read Fortune's perspective really handed you the girl who had to quickly transition from teen to adult. It gave great historical insight to what taking the wagon train west would be like and I can honestly say I wouldn't have made it. All in all not a bad read.

Contents Warning:
Death

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister loaned me this. As an old fan of Bruce Coville's magic/alien/ghost books I wasn't sure if I'd love this one nearly as much. I went into it with a sort of "well, Beth liked it so I'll give it a try" kind of attitude.

I was frustrated every time I had to put it down. I was frustrated when it was over. I'd like a sequel.

I can't wait to share this with Sam in a few years.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining story. It took a while to get going and the development of romance was really short lived the way it was described. I think the author still has some things to learn about looking through the eyes of a teenage girl..but that's just my opinion. I have yet to read some of his other books.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was beautiful. I remember it was one of the first love stories I ever read, and it remains to this day, one of the few I actually ever enjoyed. My favourite little thing in this book was probably the heart-shaped nugget. It's a light, heart warming read with a touch of the hardships faced by Americans in the mid 19th century.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 2 out of 5]

16-year-old Fortune Plunkett faces many challenges on an overland journey to California in 1853 with the acting copmany she inherited from her father. Sappy romantic plot lessens the otherwise good historical fiction.

[Alia DiDonato]

I love this book it is my favorite of all time.I love the theatrical elements in it, I also love how its shows how you don't need to be related by blood to be a family. It a beautiful stories of adventure, culture and just a hint of romance just to add the icing to the cake.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child and just re-read it lately!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My aunt gave me this book and its actually pretty good.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first love stories I can really remember reading! Loved it, but haven't read it in a really long time. Got me hooked into reading and "living through the pages of a book."

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite book as a child/teenager. My copy is pretty worn out from being read over and over again.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Bruce Coville's best efforts, but enjoyable enough if you're a fan.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too exciting, but would be a good read for 5th or 6th grade girls. Cute and clean, with a little cussing.

[Kristen Erickson-Corn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay - very light read, some interesting twists, but not very deep.

[Sadie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took a while; I almost thought I'd give up on it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was fond of this, though in retrospect I'm sure it was cheesy.