The Singing Boones

by Dale White

Ellen Boone was sixteen, a grown woman by the standards of 1852. On her family's long trek in the wagon train from the Missouri River country to California, she did a woman's work and took a woman's responsibilities.

But she still was not allowed to wear her hair pinned up in puffs and coils like the other girls of her age. Especially when Jed, the handsome South Pass Scout, showed signs of interest in her. Ellen chafed against her parents' unwillingness to have her grow up.

But grow up she did--in character as well as appearance--during the long, exhausting, exciting journey across the continent. She learned the value of patience, gentleness, and good temper as she cared for her five brothers and sisters when their father and mother were both ill. Courage and endurance became her dependable supports through days of fatigue and nights of anxiety. And best of all, she found at the end of the great adventure that true love is worth earning and worth waiting for.

Here is a story of covered wagons-days so vividly told that every detail of event and character is a living experience to the reader. The Boones are a family who will remain long in the memory, every one of them a real individual, and all united in purpose and affection. How they turned a favorite family pastime into a solid means of livelihood when their hope failed of "striking it rich" in the California gold mines makes an original and delightful climax to a fine, robust book.

Genres: Historical, Young Adult, Historical Fiction

285 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked it up and I bought this five years ago because I just HAD to have it RIGHT THAT SECOND. (I am much better at impulse buys now. Or is that much worse?)

Anyway, I think I would've ADORED this as a kid. I still liked it quite a bit as an adult, but it also struck me as just a trifle unrealistic. The hardness of the trail wasn't ignored, but it rarely felt like they were in that much danger. Could've used more from the love story, though that, too, I probably woud've loved as a kid.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I read as a child about pioneers moving west to California in the Gold Rush period. I loved this book, it's about a family that wagon trained west and ended up earning a living as a singing family, entertaining in the gold camps.

2-8-14
Just re-read this and loved it as an adult. I now live close to, and have been to many of the sights and places that they traveled through on the way to "Californy". This book was published in 1957 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and it is quite startling to read a book that has so many references to God, the Bible and singing as a family, Hymns and otherwise. I still really love this book after 40+ years of not being able to get a copy to read. VERY glad I now own it.

[Robin Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read and reread this book in the early 1970s. I was heartbroken when somebody didn’t return it to the library and I couldn’t check it out again.
A few months ago I put an alert for it on eBay and shortly thereafter a copy appeared! I’ve just finished reading and love the life it portrays. The descriptions of the countryside are beautiful and the family’s story is interesting and sympathetic.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds a lot of nostalgia. A quick easy read, it is fascinating to recognize the change of culture that were not offensive then, but are now.

[Lisbeth Solberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gold rush doesn't pan out (oops, pardon the low pun) as expected, but pie-baking family makes good anyway. I read this after Emily did, because it was one she read and reread.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my daughter. We took turns reading it allowed. One of our favorites.