Willow Chase: Kansas Territory, 1847

American Diaries #5

by Kathleen Duey

This newest entry in the popular American Diaries series once again transports contemporary readers back to the American West in the 1800s. When Willow Chase's pioneer family crosses a flooding river in Kansas Territory, she is swept downstream. Given up for dead, Willow must make her way across hostile, unforgiving country to rejoin them.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Juvenile

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

Kathleen Duey grew up in Colorado. She loved riding her horses, hiking, being in the mountains. Reading was always important to her. Writing became a fascination early in her life. In the fourth grade, Kathleen began writing stories and told everyone who would listen that she was going to be an author. Then she did nothing about it until she was 35 years old. Writing was her passion and her dream-come-true.

from: fantasticfiction.co.uk

Kathleen died of cardiac arrest at her home in Fallbrook, California. She was 69. She had struggled with dementia in her latter years which prevented her from completing her Skin Hunger trilogy.

https://web.archive.org/web/202101052...

Reviews

[Autumn Maisy Raquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I like this author she's a good one to read and this book looks really good and she's a redhead she's pretty redheads are very feisty and very ornery and very testy anyway I would really love to read this book this looks really good hope it's a good one and hope it doesn't have diseases or sadness

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spy a book I loved in the past...I think I was 10 or 11 when I first read it and I really enjoyed the character of Willow and her wild adventure.

[Veronica]

Willow chase is a girl who is moving west with her family and other families. Many unfortunate events happen during the trip. First her father drowns while crossing a river, her sister Annie gets her foot ran over and his hurt, also she now has a stepfather whom doesn't seem to like her. Willow is always helping her mother and also takes care of her sister. One day an Indian comes to the wagons and asks for medicine for his son has a fever and the only who gives medicine to him is her mother. When it is time for willow to cross the river a huge rush of logs and sticks come rushing down the river and make her fall and drift away. She began to drown in till a log with an elbow branch came to her and she drifted on it till shore. When she got back to where the wagons were crossing everyone had already crossed. Then she saw the Indian whom her mom gave the medicine to and he gave her a horse as a sign of trade for the medicine. She than began to cross the river when she saw her stepdad come for her. She went back to the wagons with him and they continued on with the journey of moving west. I liked this book because it caught my attention by wanting to know if Willow ever got back with her family. I would recommend this book to people who like historical fiction.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since her father drowned crossing a river the first time her family attempted to head west, twelve-year-old Willow has been terrified of water. And ever since her mother remarried and and the family headed west again, she has resented her new stepfather, Mr. Hansen. But nothing can prepare Willow for the challenges she will face in one short day. Swept out of the wagon during a river crossing, Willow is left for dead. Now she must make her way through a harsh, merciless wilderness in an attempt to find her family before they get to far ahead for her to ever catch up. Another good book from the American Diaries middle grade historical fiction series.