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The Devil's Paintbox
Orphans Aiden and Maddy, 15 and 13, are starving on what's left of their parents' drought-devastated ranch in Kansas, 1866. When a gruff yet likable trail guide, Jefferson J. Jackson, shows up, Aiden indentures himself as a logger in exchange for their passage to a new life in the Pacific Northwest via wagon train.
368 pages, Library Binding
First published January 13, 2009
30 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Victoria McKernan
9 books13 followersVictoria McKernan started traveling at the age of eighteen and spent many years working her way around the world, hitchhiking and sailing. She graduated in 1982 from George Washington University with a BA in theatre. Since learning to scuba-dive on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, she has worked as a scuba instructor, underwater model, and divemaster on several ships. She lives in Washington D.C. with a dog, two cats, and a boa constrictor.
She has written four mystery/thrillers for adults, all of which feature underwater adventure. Her most recent adult novel, THE MOSQUITO WAR (under the name of V.A. MacAlister - Tor, 2001), deals with international conspiracies to control a cure for malaria that comes from an underwater plant.
The award-winning book, SHACKLETON’S STOWAWAY (Knopf, 2005), is her first young adult novel. Knopf will publish THE DEVIL’S PAINTBOX, her next young adult novel, in Spring 2009.
She has written four mystery/thrillers for adults, all of which feature underwater adventure. Her most recent adult novel, THE MOSQUITO WAR (under the name of V.A. MacAlister - Tor, 2001), deals with international conspiracies to control a cure for malaria that comes from an underwater plant.
The award-winning book, SHACKLETON’S STOWAWAY (Knopf, 2005), is her first young adult novel. Knopf will publish THE DEVIL’S PAINTBOX, her next young adult novel, in Spring 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
February 15, 2010
The stunning cover is what initially got me hooked. The guy is in the "in between" (being a man and boy) looking off to what we can't see but we get the feeling he's looking for something to solve all his worries. The backdrop is scenic and makes you feel like you can almost smell the air he's in.
Besides the wonderful cover we have a haunting story. Aiden and his sister Maddy are starved beyond belief (eating mud and grasshoppers) in a drought-ridden Kansas with no family left. It seems like life just won't ever change until Jackson comes along and gives them an opportunity for a new life in Seattle, but they have got to survive the Oregon Trail to get it.
This story covers the plight of the Indians and we see the lives of loggers and so much more. Aiden and his siter grow so much during the story and I was surprised to see how it ended. The plot is definitely not dry and we got plenty of emotion and action. Through it all we get a better appreciation of what it takes to be a person like Aiden. At the end I felt like we left him at mid-stride and that always bothers me, but this book was so well written I couldn't really lower my rating.
I never write spoiler reviews (that won't change) but I wish I could for this one. There is so much that happens you feel like Aiden goes through a lifetime, but the story only covers a year of his life. We see the hardships, loss, hardiness, ingenuity, but most of all the hope of people. Though not all of our ancestors went through the Oregon Trail, they all had to go through some predicaments we can't imagine. I admire them so much. They went through all that for something better, not just for themselves, but for their children and all the descendents that came afterwards. That includes all of us. This book is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction so much. It tends to be sad yes, but it's the truth and it honors what real people could or have done. Nothing is more interesting or more fulfilling to read.
Besides the wonderful cover we have a haunting story. Aiden and his sister Maddy are starved beyond belief (eating mud and grasshoppers) in a drought-ridden Kansas with no family left. It seems like life just won't ever change until Jackson comes along and gives them an opportunity for a new life in Seattle, but they have got to survive the Oregon Trail to get it.
This story covers the plight of the Indians and we see the lives of loggers and so much more. Aiden and his siter grow so much during the story and I was surprised to see how it ended. The plot is definitely not dry and we got plenty of emotion and action. Through it all we get a better appreciation of what it takes to be a person like Aiden. At the end I felt like we left him at mid-stride and that always bothers me, but this book was so well written I couldn't really lower my rating.
I never write spoiler reviews (that won't change) but I wish I could for this one. There is so much that happens you feel like Aiden goes through a lifetime, but the story only covers a year of his life. We see the hardships, loss, hardiness, ingenuity, but most of all the hope of people. Though not all of our ancestors went through the Oregon Trail, they all had to go through some predicaments we can't imagine. I admire them so much. They went through all that for something better, not just for themselves, but for their children and all the descendents that came afterwards. That includes all of us. This book is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction so much. It tends to be sad yes, but it's the truth and it honors what real people could or have done. Nothing is more interesting or more fulfilling to read.
December 4, 2018
The Devil's Paintbox is a young adult book about a man's adventure through America right after the civil war. It mostly talks about smallpox and the devastating affect it had on him. In many ways, this book is can be compared and contrasted with A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park. The most prevalent way is how the books talk about humanity. The books have in common a common moral belief that originally man is good, but is corrupted by power and greed. The disagreement stands in which one causes corruption more. In this book this is shown by the Native Americans, who are powerless show hospitality to the main character of the book when he tries to swim across a river and ends up not making it the full way. The native Americans decide to help him by dragging him to their side of the shore and saving him. Even with all the good things they had done the white people still treated them badly. For example a Native American named Tupic wants to get the vaccine for his tribe to help them from smallpox. Even though he goes to the doctor and asks for it the doctor refuses and sends him to jail because he is naive American. This is shown in ALWTW by the main character Salva's band of refugees getting robbed by men with guns from an opposing tribe. These tribes had already been at war, but they were much more savage in the way they attacked these men. The other book shows that both power and greed is needed to corrupt someone. Instead of killing the people he robbed for the vaccine for smallpox he lets them go. Incidentally, the people alert the police and they are found much faster. ALWTW believes that power is all that is needed to corrupt one's self. When liberated from one's moral responsibilities, people are nothing more than animals. This is shown by how the tradition in Sudan that killing is sacred devolves into savage warfare once people have the ability to kill other people almost instantly with guns. These books show the importance of morals and how people can be corrupted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
As the only surviving members of their family, 15-year-old Aiden Lynch and his sister, Maddy, have barely made it through the harsh winter alone. Not much remains in their part of Kansas after the flood and the fires, and the two are reduced to living off clay from the river and the occasional grasshopper.
It's been five months since they've seen another human being, so when Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on their land, looking for leftover sodbusters to work in the lumber camps of Seattle, Aiden can hardly believe it. With the news that the Civil War has ended, along with Aiden's only hope of joining the army to provide for himself and his sister, their lack of choice is clear, and the two manage to convince Jackson to take them along.
Brother and sister thrive and even make a few friends during their journey with Jackson's wagon train - Aiden with the Nez Pearce Indian, Tupic, and Maddy with the haunted doctor, Carlos. The two dare to dream of the lives they will create for themselves once Aiden's term of indenture is over, but there are many ways to die on the Oregon Trail, and hardship strikes the Jackson train many times over.
Once the train trail splits off and everyone goes their respective ways, Aiden loses himself in the mindless work of the lumber camps, cutting himself off from all emotion. When Tupic tells him of the horrible plague of small pox that has invaded the Indian community, Aiden must decide whether he will continue to hide from all responsibility, or if he will bother to fight for a cause that may already be lost.
This achingly emotional story explores some of the hardships that surrounded the travels of pioneers on the Oregon Trail and the myths that remain of the American government's approach toward Native Americans and small pox. Bittersweet and raw, this is one historical tale that will stay with the reader for a long time afterward.
As the only surviving members of their family, 15-year-old Aiden Lynch and his sister, Maddy, have barely made it through the harsh winter alone. Not much remains in their part of Kansas after the flood and the fires, and the two are reduced to living off clay from the river and the occasional grasshopper.
It's been five months since they've seen another human being, so when Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on their land, looking for leftover sodbusters to work in the lumber camps of Seattle, Aiden can hardly believe it. With the news that the Civil War has ended, along with Aiden's only hope of joining the army to provide for himself and his sister, their lack of choice is clear, and the two manage to convince Jackson to take them along.
Brother and sister thrive and even make a few friends during their journey with Jackson's wagon train - Aiden with the Nez Pearce Indian, Tupic, and Maddy with the haunted doctor, Carlos. The two dare to dream of the lives they will create for themselves once Aiden's term of indenture is over, but there are many ways to die on the Oregon Trail, and hardship strikes the Jackson train many times over.
Once the train trail splits off and everyone goes their respective ways, Aiden loses himself in the mindless work of the lumber camps, cutting himself off from all emotion. When Tupic tells him of the horrible plague of small pox that has invaded the Indian community, Aiden must decide whether he will continue to hide from all responsibility, or if he will bother to fight for a cause that may already be lost.
This achingly emotional story explores some of the hardships that surrounded the travels of pioneers on the Oregon Trail and the myths that remain of the American government's approach toward Native Americans and small pox. Bittersweet and raw, this is one historical tale that will stay with the reader for a long time afterward.
March 30, 2009
Once again, Victoria McKernan has written a gripping historical novel. The Devil's Paintbox tells the story of Aidan and Maddy, two orphans who are on the verge of starvation out on the Kansas prairie when a wagon train comes by and rescues them. Off on the adventure of the Oregon Trail, Aidan and Maddy actually have an easier life than they have ever known before. They have indentured themselves to a logging camp near Seattle to pay their way west. But, of course, the westward journey is fraught with danger, hardship, and relationships and events catch up with the kids. Aidan befriends some Native Americans who saved his life and in the last third of the novel, the title earns its place. The "devil's paintbox" is another name for smallpox and it is illegal for Indians to get vaccinated. Aidan's new friends beg him to help get them the vaccine. The policies and prejudice of our past are once again shocking as this true practice is explored and Aidan weighs his sense of justice and his desire keep to himself.
Well-written, well-researched, this is the historical novel for any reader to dig into before winter is over for the year.
Well-written, well-researched, this is the historical novel for any reader to dig into before winter is over for the year.
June 20, 2012
Given that this is a young adult novel, I was a little surprised at how bleak and depressing it was at times. I thought it was an excellent book and extremely evocative.
When Aiden's decides to follow a man named Jefferson Jackson across America to work for a Seattle lumber camp, his life is changed forever and so is his sister Maddy's. As well as recounting what life was like for those who travelled along the Oregon trail, it also describes Aiden's tentative friendship with Tupic, a young boy of the Nez Perce tribe and his struggles just to survive life during such precarious times.
The book gets its title from the words of a doctor describing small pox:
"This death is a devil child playing with a paintbox, just spattering all over. You reach out to grab its hand and make it stop, but you find this devil child is made of smoke."
I wouldn't say I enjoyed this book - it's very bleak. There's a lot of death, disease and suffering although described in a very matter-of-fact and non-melodramatic fashion. The author touches on topics ranging from small pox, small pox vaccination among the Native Americans, prostitution, morphine addiction and all number of "tough" topics.
When Aiden's decides to follow a man named Jefferson Jackson across America to work for a Seattle lumber camp, his life is changed forever and so is his sister Maddy's. As well as recounting what life was like for those who travelled along the Oregon trail, it also describes Aiden's tentative friendship with Tupic, a young boy of the Nez Perce tribe and his struggles just to survive life during such precarious times.
The book gets its title from the words of a doctor describing small pox:
"This death is a devil child playing with a paintbox, just spattering all over. You reach out to grab its hand and make it stop, but you find this devil child is made of smoke."
I wouldn't say I enjoyed this book - it's very bleak. There's a lot of death, disease and suffering although described in a very matter-of-fact and non-melodramatic fashion. The author touches on topics ranging from small pox, small pox vaccination among the Native Americans, prostitution, morphine addiction and all number of "tough" topics.
May 13, 2009
Bleak, epic and heartbreaking, McKernan's novel is excellent historical fiction. After living on grasshoppers in rural Kansas for too long, Aiden and Maddy are brother and sister just hoping to survive. When Jefferson J. Jackson stumbles upon them and invites them to join the wagon train to Oregon, they hop at the chance.
After befriending some Native Americans on the trail, Aidan suffers devastating personal hardships which lead him to become a logger, fighter and drinker.
This well-researched novel has the standard Western hero - an aloof loner of little words. Although I had a couple of problems with the dialogue (one character lapses into 1990s speak for an instant) and didn't enjoy the one-note bad guy, this book will tug at your heart strings. A possible Printz contender for 2010.
After befriending some Native Americans on the trail, Aidan suffers devastating personal hardships which lead him to become a logger, fighter and drinker.
This well-researched novel has the standard Western hero - an aloof loner of little words. Although I had a couple of problems with the dialogue (one character lapses into 1990s speak for an instant) and didn't enjoy the one-note bad guy, this book will tug at your heart strings. A possible Printz contender for 2010.
January 11, 2010
All that is left of Aiden’s family is his 13-year-old sister Maddy. Alone on the drought stricken Kansas prairie Aiden commits to work one year logging for his passage and an additional year for his sisters on wagon train heading to Seattle. During the journey the teen overcomes dangers and befriends an Indian youth. The story takes an unusual turn when Aiden nears the end of his journey and begins working out his time at the logging camp. There is an underlying account of the terrible toll that small pox inflicted on the Native Americans. The author left Aiden’s story unfinished leaving her options open for another book. I enjoyed the book but found the last quarter of the story dark and depressing. That's the Pollyanna in me, I want a happy ending.
July 23, 2010
I'm not much for heavy narration and setting details sometimes, even as important as they are in historical fiction, but even though I brushed over some of those chapters, I was drawn to the high-action of other chapters. This story has many layers-- a boy at sixteen, orphaned and caring for his younger sister post-Civil War as pioneers pioneered west. Aidan gets into fights, meets hookers, works for a logging company, aids and abeds Native Americans at a time when they were scum during a time when smallpox was killing many people.
Strangely enjoyable but could definitely use a better cover and shorter narrative passages (but hey, that's just me!)
Strangely enjoyable but could definitely use a better cover and shorter narrative passages (but hey, that's just me!)
February 18, 2010
Not a book for everyone, this book contained a historical "real life" style plot without a very conclusisve ending. Even though it just dropped off, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. It was fascinating to watch Aiden transform from an innocent farmboy to an irresponsible, hardworking adult. It made me sad but this is a true coming-of-age story.
December 21, 2009
I'd actually give this one a 3.5 and maybe a 4. I tend to shy away from historical fiction, especially those set in the west. This was a quick and interesting read. I think the kids who like the game Oregon Trail will like a story about a brother and sister traveling the trail.
January 20, 2009
4 1/2 stars. What an engrossing story to read on a snowy day, or any other day. I didn't want it to end. The devil takes many forms in this novel, not just smallpox. Great cover.
Read
March 7, 2018Evocative of hardships and desperation as well as of incongruous beauty and friendship experienced on the Oregon Trail.
I was a little concerned that the author's note made no indication that she consulted with people of indigenous background around the significant plotlines involving American Indians. Although the story was well-written, I think that kind of cross-checking would have made it stronger.
I was a little concerned that the author's note made no indication that she consulted with people of indigenous background around the significant plotlines involving American Indians. Although the story was well-written, I think that kind of cross-checking would have made it stronger.
January 30, 2015
"'Stop—' Maddy grabbed his arm. Her blue eyes searched his face. We're all right now,' she said quietly. 'We're going to be all right.'"
Well, I do love a great historical story!
The Devil's Paintbox was a great story, about two starved orphaned siblings, Aiden and Maddy, that take the most exciting journey they ever had in their lives.
It all starts when a man by the name of Jefferson J. Jackson picks up starving and orphaned Aiden and Maddy Lynch from their poor home, where they live off of eating mud, clay, and grasshoppers. Jackson says that there's a timber company out west that will pay him a hundred dollars for every man he brings in. Jackson is taking a wagon train out west, and has offered to take them along. Reluctantly, the two of them agree, and then they set off, out on the Oregon Trail.
Aiden and the rest travel the Oregon Trail, struggling to survive disease, Indians, accidents, wild animals, and so much more. It will be a great challenge when they will work in the west, but it will be a greater challenge to even get there alive.
Then, Aiden becomes friends with three friendly Indians along the way, named Tupic, Silent Wolf, and Clever Crow. Soon after, the train, Aiden, and the Indians run into a group of soldiers, some soldiers infected with the very deadly disease, smallpox.
The devil's paint.
Aiden and the wagon train are likely to not catch the smallpox. The Indians, however, is a whole different story. Indians catch disease much more easy than anybody else. Being around smallpox could mean serious trouble.
Things just got a lot more complicated.
I really enjoyed The Devil's Paintbox! The Oregon Trail is one of my absolute favorite things in history, ever! I am in love with stories about the Oregon Trail, even if they are fictional. At the mention of things such as Fort Laramie, the Whitman Massacre, and other things associated with the Oregon Trail, I perk up and feel happy inside that these things were mentioned and that I know what they are.
I fell slowly in love with the characters, especially Aiden, Maddy, Carlos, Joby —especially Joby!— Tupic, Silent Wolf, and Clever Crow. Others, like William Buck were complete idiots, and I hated their guts. For the most part, the characters were lovable, and I enjoyed them a lot. I especially liked the part about Aiden, Tupic, Silent Wolf, and Clever Crow doing things together, playing their Indian games, wrestling, and having a good time.
This quote that Tupic said really stuck to me:
"'Ah!' Tupic sucked noisily on a piece of peppermint, pursed his lips and drew a breath in. 'If a man could eat the stars and breathe the snow, they would taste like this!'"
and then later...
"'Yes.' Tupic tossed the cleaned fish into a basket. 'You people.' He spat out the last bit of peppermint candy. 'All you bring with you are bad things.'"
Hmm. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? This novel gave me a detailed perspective of how the Native Americans must have felt as the whites took over their beautiful land. It's quite sad, if you ask me.
I have to say however, as much as I enjoyed this book, the ending hit me very, very quickly, almost as if it had been rushed. Things happened, people left, others died, and people carried on. So much happened and it became confusing to me, and then I wanted there to be more at the end. I guess I had been carrying false hope with me that some people would come back, but I guess like in real life, some things just don't come back, and you've got to move on.
Despite this, I would recommend this book to anybody who likes a good historical tale, action, and a great soft story for the most part. I know that I enjoyed it a lot, from the magnificent cover to the beautiful writing inside! The Devil's Paintbox was great! I sure fell in love with it!
"'Have you actually seen it?' Aiden asked Carlos. 'The smallpox?'
'Yes. Twice during the war.'
'Is it bad as they say?'
'No.' Carlos gazed into the fire and sipped the tea. 'It's worse. Whatever anyone says, it's worse.' He leaned back on his elbows and stared at the fire. His dark eyes were glassy and blank. 'I've seen death in a hundred disguises,' he said. 'Sometimes she dresses in lace and waltzes in on a summer night, sometimes she hides beneath a hood and scratches through the frost of winter. Sometimes she wears brass and braid, sometimes wearing velvet slippers.' He tipped his head and looked up at the stars. Aiden had never heard Carlos talk this way.
"But this death is the worst.' he went on quietly. 'This death is a devil child playing with a paintbox, just spattering all over. You reach to grab its hand and make it stop, but you find this devil child is made of smoke.'"
Well, I do love a great historical story!
The Devil's Paintbox was a great story, about two starved orphaned siblings, Aiden and Maddy, that take the most exciting journey they ever had in their lives.
It all starts when a man by the name of Jefferson J. Jackson picks up starving and orphaned Aiden and Maddy Lynch from their poor home, where they live off of eating mud, clay, and grasshoppers. Jackson says that there's a timber company out west that will pay him a hundred dollars for every man he brings in. Jackson is taking a wagon train out west, and has offered to take them along. Reluctantly, the two of them agree, and then they set off, out on the Oregon Trail.
Aiden and the rest travel the Oregon Trail, struggling to survive disease, Indians, accidents, wild animals, and so much more. It will be a great challenge when they will work in the west, but it will be a greater challenge to even get there alive.
Then, Aiden becomes friends with three friendly Indians along the way, named Tupic, Silent Wolf, and Clever Crow. Soon after, the train, Aiden, and the Indians run into a group of soldiers, some soldiers infected with the very deadly disease, smallpox.
The devil's paint.
Aiden and the wagon train are likely to not catch the smallpox. The Indians, however, is a whole different story. Indians catch disease much more easy than anybody else. Being around smallpox could mean serious trouble.
Things just got a lot more complicated.
I really enjoyed The Devil's Paintbox! The Oregon Trail is one of my absolute favorite things in history, ever! I am in love with stories about the Oregon Trail, even if they are fictional. At the mention of things such as Fort Laramie, the Whitman Massacre, and other things associated with the Oregon Trail, I perk up and feel happy inside that these things were mentioned and that I know what they are.
I fell slowly in love with the characters, especially Aiden, Maddy, Carlos, Joby —especially Joby!— Tupic, Silent Wolf, and Clever Crow. Others, like William Buck were complete idiots, and I hated their guts. For the most part, the characters were lovable, and I enjoyed them a lot. I especially liked the part about Aiden, Tupic, Silent Wolf, and Clever Crow doing things together, playing their Indian games, wrestling, and having a good time.
This quote that Tupic said really stuck to me:
"'Ah!' Tupic sucked noisily on a piece of peppermint, pursed his lips and drew a breath in. 'If a man could eat the stars and breathe the snow, they would taste like this!'"
and then later...
"'Yes.' Tupic tossed the cleaned fish into a basket. 'You people.' He spat out the last bit of peppermint candy. 'All you bring with you are bad things.'"
Hmm. Makes you wonder, doesn't it? This novel gave me a detailed perspective of how the Native Americans must have felt as the whites took over their beautiful land. It's quite sad, if you ask me.
I have to say however, as much as I enjoyed this book, the ending hit me very, very quickly, almost as if it had been rushed. Things happened, people left, others died, and people carried on. So much happened and it became confusing to me, and then I wanted there to be more at the end. I guess I had been carrying false hope with me that some people would come back, but I guess like in real life, some things just don't come back, and you've got to move on.
Despite this, I would recommend this book to anybody who likes a good historical tale, action, and a great soft story for the most part. I know that I enjoyed it a lot, from the magnificent cover to the beautiful writing inside! The Devil's Paintbox was great! I sure fell in love with it!
"'Have you actually seen it?' Aiden asked Carlos. 'The smallpox?'
'Yes. Twice during the war.'
'Is it bad as they say?'
'No.' Carlos gazed into the fire and sipped the tea. 'It's worse. Whatever anyone says, it's worse.' He leaned back on his elbows and stared at the fire. His dark eyes were glassy and blank. 'I've seen death in a hundred disguises,' he said. 'Sometimes she dresses in lace and waltzes in on a summer night, sometimes she hides beneath a hood and scratches through the frost of winter. Sometimes she wears brass and braid, sometimes wearing velvet slippers.' He tipped his head and looked up at the stars. Aiden had never heard Carlos talk this way.
"But this death is the worst.' he went on quietly. 'This death is a devil child playing with a paintbox, just spattering all over. You reach to grab its hand and make it stop, but you find this devil child is made of smoke.'"
January 11, 2010
In anticipation of the announcement of the 2010 Printz Award (and others), I went through all of the Mock Printz finalist lists and looked for anything that I might have missed. I looked at the cover of this one (a total dud) and looked at the genre (historical fiction) and was tempted to pass it up - but I kept seeing rave reviews from those involved in Mock Printz competitions, so I decided to give it a go!
The story begins in Kansas in 1865, post Civil War. Aiden and Maddy Lynch have lost their parents, and all of their siblings. Left in their sod hut alone, they are starving to death when Jefferson J. Jackson happens along looking for potential loggers to join the wagon train he is leading to Seattle, Washington. Against his own better judgment, he agrees to take Aiden and Maddy along - the price of their passage is Aiden's work in a logging camp in Seattle (one year for each of them). Along the way, they meet soldiers infected with smallpox, wolves, snakes, floods, Native Americans, and more. A Nez Perce Indian, Tupic, saves Aiden from drowning, and this is the beginning of a steadfast friendship. Many lives are lost along the way - and this boy and girl shortly become adults as they take on adult responsibilities, decisions, and tragedies. This is a well-researched novel, and gives the reader insight into pioneer life, the conflict between the white man and Native Americans, the smallpox epidemic, the logging industry, the impact of the Civil War, etc. The plot is intense and action-packed. It is not for the weak of stomach or heart!
The characters are well-developed and unforgettable. The reader invests in them and what happens to them. The novel seems, somehow unfinished. What really happened to Maddy? Her body is never found, so her destiny is left unfinished. Are Marguerite and the Reverend who they purport to be? Will Tupic get the vaccine to his tribe? And, once Aiden is released from his obligation to the owner of the logging company, Gilivrey, where will he go? Will he meet up again with those he met on the wagon train? "The Devil's Paintbox" is ripe for a sequel. If this is a stand alone, I would see this as a criticism. There are many things that are hinted at but never resolved in the book.
There are many lessons to be learned here: we control our own destinies, there are moments of perfection in all of our lives, we all have issues but choose to deal with them in different ways, the cycle of life, friendship, loyalty, the role of women and the possibilities we afford them, relations between whites and Native Americans, goodness in humanity, the power of nature, courage, etc.
The book is recommended for grades 7-10. I think because of the detailed violence, talk of sex (nothing gratuitous), drinking to deal with problems, etc. it is more suitable for an older audience (9-12?).
The story begins in Kansas in 1865, post Civil War. Aiden and Maddy Lynch have lost their parents, and all of their siblings. Left in their sod hut alone, they are starving to death when Jefferson J. Jackson happens along looking for potential loggers to join the wagon train he is leading to Seattle, Washington. Against his own better judgment, he agrees to take Aiden and Maddy along - the price of their passage is Aiden's work in a logging camp in Seattle (one year for each of them). Along the way, they meet soldiers infected with smallpox, wolves, snakes, floods, Native Americans, and more. A Nez Perce Indian, Tupic, saves Aiden from drowning, and this is the beginning of a steadfast friendship. Many lives are lost along the way - and this boy and girl shortly become adults as they take on adult responsibilities, decisions, and tragedies. This is a well-researched novel, and gives the reader insight into pioneer life, the conflict between the white man and Native Americans, the smallpox epidemic, the logging industry, the impact of the Civil War, etc. The plot is intense and action-packed. It is not for the weak of stomach or heart!
The characters are well-developed and unforgettable. The reader invests in them and what happens to them. The novel seems, somehow unfinished. What really happened to Maddy? Her body is never found, so her destiny is left unfinished. Are Marguerite and the Reverend who they purport to be? Will Tupic get the vaccine to his tribe? And, once Aiden is released from his obligation to the owner of the logging company, Gilivrey, where will he go? Will he meet up again with those he met on the wagon train? "The Devil's Paintbox" is ripe for a sequel. If this is a stand alone, I would see this as a criticism. There are many things that are hinted at but never resolved in the book.
There are many lessons to be learned here: we control our own destinies, there are moments of perfection in all of our lives, we all have issues but choose to deal with them in different ways, the cycle of life, friendship, loyalty, the role of women and the possibilities we afford them, relations between whites and Native Americans, goodness in humanity, the power of nature, courage, etc.
The book is recommended for grades 7-10. I think because of the detailed violence, talk of sex (nothing gratuitous), drinking to deal with problems, etc. it is more suitable for an older audience (9-12?).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2013
This was on my to-read list since 2009. This is a really well-written story and action-packed so I would recommend it to any junior high kid who wants a book that really hops along. Aiden and his sister, Maddy, are orphaned in the barren plains of 1865 Kansas. They are thisclose to starving to death. I mean eating clay kind of starving. They are found by one Jefferson J. Jackson who had been led to believe there were grown men in the area who might be interested in joining his wagon train heading to Seattle. Here's Mr. Jackson's deal: He will front the costs of the trip for any man joining. He will be paid at the end of the trail by Mr. Gilivrey, the owner of a huge lumber outfit. In turn, Mr. Gilivrey now has the wagon trailer(?) in his debt. After a man paid off his debt to Gilivrey he could opt to continue lumbering for his own money. A man could--and many did--earn a fortune. Unfortunately, most men gambled and spent their fortunes almost as soon as they made it and had to go back to lumbering.
What Mr. Jackson was not looking for was a starving, half-dead teenager and his skinny, ragamuffin little sister. Nonetheless, Aiden and Maddy joined up with the wagon train and in short order made themselves quite useful. The wagon train meets with many dangerous situations. In one such incident Aiden meets up with, and eventually befriends, three Nez Perce. He will have future dealings with them most especially Tupic, a boy about his age.
Aiden meets his various obstacles head-on but a pivotal event crushes him. He settles into a life where he merely functions and wants it to stay that way when Tupic reappears asking him to help secure the life-saving vaccine for smallpox. This is not Aiden's concern. It could mean his death and the adventure will not benefit him at all. What's a teenager with no family, no friends, no hope, and nothing to lose to do?
What Mr. Jackson was not looking for was a starving, half-dead teenager and his skinny, ragamuffin little sister. Nonetheless, Aiden and Maddy joined up with the wagon train and in short order made themselves quite useful. The wagon train meets with many dangerous situations. In one such incident Aiden meets up with, and eventually befriends, three Nez Perce. He will have future dealings with them most especially Tupic, a boy about his age.
Aiden meets his various obstacles head-on but a pivotal event crushes him. He settles into a life where he merely functions and wants it to stay that way when Tupic reappears asking him to help secure the life-saving vaccine for smallpox. This is not Aiden's concern. It could mean his death and the adventure will not benefit him at all. What's a teenager with no family, no friends, no hope, and nothing to lose to do?
December 8, 2012
The Oregon Trail was not just an early 90’s computer game. It was a real path though the country leading folks to dreams of prosperity and hopes for the future. Aiden and Maddie Lynch are two young people on their own. Drought has destroyed their farm, and they are living off of clay, cornmeal, grasshoppers and whatever else they can find. When Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on the scene and offers Aiden and Maddie a chance of a lifetime: to leave the desolation of their farm behind and head West to begin a new life. Aiden can become a logger in Washington State. Along the journey with about a hundred other people, Aiden and Maddie face a variety of challenges. They must make choices and judgments that they might not ordinarily make for the sake of survival. The road is difficult, but there is nothing behind them. The Devil’s Paintbox by Victoria McKearnan outlines the treacherous journey of two young people along the trail. Extreme weather, indigenous peoples, disease, danger around every corner. Is it worth it?
I have to admit that I found this book a slow and cumbersome read in the beginning. It is also on the longer side, which may be troublesome for reluctant readers. The action began to pick up several chapters in. This book is heavily laden with difficult situations and tragedy, which may not be easy for some young people to take. As far as content is concerned, there is a fair amount of violence. The events in the latter part of the book delve into the grey area between right and wrong when survival is at stake, which makes for great discussion material in classrooms. As a historical fiction book, my recommendation is to pair this book with a non-fiction trade book to ensure historical accuracy. All-in-all, this is a decent book. Certainly not my favorite when it comes to historical fiction, but decent nonetheless.
I have to admit that I found this book a slow and cumbersome read in the beginning. It is also on the longer side, which may be troublesome for reluctant readers. The action began to pick up several chapters in. This book is heavily laden with difficult situations and tragedy, which may not be easy for some young people to take. As far as content is concerned, there is a fair amount of violence. The events in the latter part of the book delve into the grey area between right and wrong when survival is at stake, which makes for great discussion material in classrooms. As a historical fiction book, my recommendation is to pair this book with a non-fiction trade book to ensure historical accuracy. All-in-all, this is a decent book. Certainly not my favorite when it comes to historical fiction, but decent nonetheless.
August 10, 2016
Set in 1865, this book is part prairie survival story, part Oregon Trail story and part settling of the Pacific Northwest and all quality historical fiction. Teenagers Aiden and Maddie Lynch are the only survivors of their once numerous family. Their parents tried hard to escape famine in Ireland only to meet more difficulties in America. Now Aiden and Maddie have barely survived a difficult winter and are near death themselves. They make the aquaintance of one Jefferson J. Jackson, a wagon guide on the Oregon Trail looking for recruits to work in a logging camp out west in Seattle. He allows the two teens to join the wagon train west and Aiden will work off their debt in the logging camps. The trail is long and difficult and not without danger and some people are more friendly than others. Friendly Maddie becomes friendly with the young doctor, Carlos Perez and tries to help him escape his demons and discover what it takes to become a doctor. Aiden befriends some Nez Perce Indians along the way and learns to appreciate them and their way of life. The traveles soon discover first hand how dangerous western travel is and how tragedy can occur in a single instant and the prospect of a better life doesn't seem so exciting. When smallpox, the devil's paintbox, threatens Aiden's Indian friends, he must rediscover his heart, come to grips with his emotions and decide whether to help his friends. This is a long and serious book and not for younger readers. The author does not hold back from the harsh realities of life in the 19th century. The writing is rich and detailed and the story is gritty and gripping. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story that should not be missed by teens and adults!
April 27, 2010
I really liked this book. Aiden and Maddy are the only two remaining members of their family who have not died as a result of an accident or starvation. They are on the brink - eating dirt to stay alive, when one day a man rides up on a horse and offers to take them west over the Oregon Trail in exchange for a year's servitude in the logging business. It's their last hope and they agree. The trek west is filled with adventure - soldiers who have small pox, Native Americans who help guide the wagon train, the crossing of rivers, and of course the precarious crossing of the mountain ranges. Once in Washington, Aiden dives into his work and also participates in weekly fights to earn extra money. He maintains a friendship with one of the Native American boys he met on the Trail, eventually helping him secure small pox vaccine for his tribe.
I am a sucker for historical fiction and loved this book because of the historical nature of living off nature, the hard work of physical labor, and the relationships that develop as a result of living among the people you have to depend on to survive.
Every time I read a book, I look to see whether or not it is appropriate for my middle school library. I was disappointed when I got to the part describing traveling prostitutes who visit the logging camps. There are times when such topics are above the head of some of my students, but the detail used to describe the tents and Bandy, the leader of the prostitutes, leads me to believe that this time, my students would "get it". I will probably keep the book in the library but only recommend it to a mature few.
I am a sucker for historical fiction and loved this book because of the historical nature of living off nature, the hard work of physical labor, and the relationships that develop as a result of living among the people you have to depend on to survive.
Every time I read a book, I look to see whether or not it is appropriate for my middle school library. I was disappointed when I got to the part describing traveling prostitutes who visit the logging camps. There are times when such topics are above the head of some of my students, but the detail used to describe the tents and Bandy, the leader of the prostitutes, leads me to believe that this time, my students would "get it". I will probably keep the book in the library but only recommend it to a mature few.
March 10, 2009
Review: McKernan is a historian; her first book was”Shackleton’s Stowaway,” which was a fictional account as accurately based on the facts as possible. One of the features of that book was an appendix of what happened to the men of that expedition to Anartica, as the book was based on the actual members of Shackleton’s crew. In “The Devil’s Paintbox,” McKernan does not have real people to weave her story around, but there is evidence of her intensive research into the settlement of the west by the white man via wagon train. Our hero, Aiden, is one of two remaining members of a family, whose parents and siblings have all died of starvation. Aiden is able to negotiate passage via wagon train west to Seattle if Aiden will indenture himself as a logger. What follows is an historically accurate of all of the challenges one can encounter in such an epic endeavor as conquering the West, and conquering & settling the land loosely held by Native Americans. A central plot line revolves around Aiden’s friendship with a small group of Nez Perce Indians and his attempts to help them get their hands on the smallpox vaccine. A dramatic review is Booklist states: “Almost 400 pages of human folly, fear, cupidity, stupidity, heartbreak, death, & disaster nearly drive Aiden & the reader insane.” Publishers Weekly concludes with this contrasting opinion: “Flawless attention to detail & steady pacing keep readers fully engaged. … Readers will be riveted.” This history major enjoyed “The Devil’s Paintbox”, but realizes it may reach a limited audience. Peg Dombek
May 11, 2013
McKernan does a fantastic job writing believable hitorical fiction. Her facts are interwoven seamlessly into the story. Reading this book in the classroom was a perfect opportunity for my middle school students to learn about the Oregon Trail, Nez Perce indians, smallpox epidemics and logging camps in the Northwest.
McKernan's writing offers plenty of opportunities to teach about descriptive writing, plot, conflict, character and theme. Her story is gripping enough to engage most reluctant readers. However, some of the subject matter is beyond the maturity of most seventh grade students, and I was uncomfortable reading the profanity aloud. However, the language wasn't excessive and it added authenticity to the text.
If this were a happier story,I would have given it five stars. Yes, I'm one of those people. The fact that the protagonist was a starving orphan at the beginning of the book and had lost even more by the close of the story didn't sit right with me.
I highly recommend this book, even though I wasn't thrilled with the author's plotting choices. The writing is exceptional; the characters are realitic, relateable and sympathetic; all elements of literature are included and easily defined, making it a great book for the classroom. McKernan writes with flair and a strong narrative voice.
McKernan's writing offers plenty of opportunities to teach about descriptive writing, plot, conflict, character and theme. Her story is gripping enough to engage most reluctant readers. However, some of the subject matter is beyond the maturity of most seventh grade students, and I was uncomfortable reading the profanity aloud. However, the language wasn't excessive and it added authenticity to the text.
If this were a happier story,I would have given it five stars. Yes, I'm one of those people. The fact that the protagonist was a starving orphan at the beginning of the book and had lost even more by the close of the story didn't sit right with me.
I highly recommend this book, even though I wasn't thrilled with the author's plotting choices. The writing is exceptional; the characters are realitic, relateable and sympathetic; all elements of literature are included and easily defined, making it a great book for the classroom. McKernan writes with flair and a strong narrative voice.
March 5, 2009
McKernan is an historian; her first book was "shackleton's Stowaway,"
which was a fictional account as accurately based on the facts as possible. One of the features of that book was an appendix of what happened to the men of that expedition to Anartica, as the book was based on the actual members of Shackleton's crew. In "The Devil's Paintbox," McKernan does not have real people to weave her story around, but there is evidence of her intensive research into the settlement of the west by the white man via wagon train. Our hero, Aiden, is one of two remaining members of a family, whose parents & siblings have all died of starvation. Aiden is able to negotiate passage via wagon train west to Seattle if Aiden will indenture himself as a logger. What follows is an historically accurate rendition of all of the challenges one can encounter in such an epic endeavor as conquering the West, & settling the land loosely held by Native Americans. A central plot line evolves around Aiden's friendship with a small group of Nez Perce Indians & his attempts to help them get ahold of the smallpox vaccine. Peg Dombek
which was a fictional account as accurately based on the facts as possible. One of the features of that book was an appendix of what happened to the men of that expedition to Anartica, as the book was based on the actual members of Shackleton's crew. In "The Devil's Paintbox," McKernan does not have real people to weave her story around, but there is evidence of her intensive research into the settlement of the west by the white man via wagon train. Our hero, Aiden, is one of two remaining members of a family, whose parents & siblings have all died of starvation. Aiden is able to negotiate passage via wagon train west to Seattle if Aiden will indenture himself as a logger. What follows is an historically accurate rendition of all of the challenges one can encounter in such an epic endeavor as conquering the West, & settling the land loosely held by Native Americans. A central plot line evolves around Aiden's friendship with a small group of Nez Perce Indians & his attempts to help them get ahold of the smallpox vaccine. Peg Dombek
May 15, 2014
Aiden, 15, and his sister Maddy, 13, are the only two in their family left--bad luck, illness, and accidents have destroyed siblings and parents on their bleak Kansas homestead. Forced to eat river clay, the two are starving to death, until a man happens out to their homestead looking for strong men to join a wagon train to Seattle and from there work in the lumber camps. Jefferson J. Jackson has a good soul and takes the two teens into his outfit, but they will have to work off their debts in the lumber camps for a year. There are plenty of good books about the Oregon Trail experience, but this one is particularly well written and often jarringly distressing. Judging from her title, which references the Native American term for smallpox, McKernan's intent appears to have been to illuminate teen readers about the devastations of smallpox, but this is a relatively minimal part of her overall plot. Aiden is a compelling character, with his relative naivete, his fierce love for his younger sister, and his often violent temper. Highly recommended to 8th grade and up.
April 2, 2018
This book came highly recommended but by the time I got to the end I decided I didn't really like it. Perhaps this is because it is quite depressing. The premise is excellent. Aidan and Maddy are the only survivors after drought destroys their family farm in Kansas during the 1860s. They are days from starving when they are offered a chance to join a wagon train to Oregon. The trek is long and hard but filled with some very interesting people. On the way they meet a band of Indians and a band of U.S. army men. The hatred for the Indians is overwhelming, and when the whites pass smallpox on to the Indians, no one really seems to care. This sets up the second half of the story. The writing is excellent and many of the characters are quite unforgettable. I give McKernan points for creating a harsh look at life during these times. While I don't need a happy ending, I just wish there had been something in the ending of the story that had given me a little bit of hope.
May 31, 2010
I started this book back in January, but in the midst of the flurry of interviews I had going on at the time, it got lost in the shuffle.
The Devil's Paintbox is at times beautiful, at times blunt. Sometimes the prose surprised me with novel turns of phrase and unusual metaphor. At other times, the writing was stiff and alienating.
This is the story of Aiden Lynch, and his journey across the United States to Seattle. Aiden has nothing to lose. Most of his family has died from the drought, and he and his sister Maddy are barely subsisting in the dry land. They make the grueling journey West, and face hardships beyond what an average American could comprehend today.
The book has a rustic charm, but the third-person narration at times feels clinical in execution. It holds Aiden at such a distance from the reader that it's difficult to feel any emotion for his plight.
Overall, a fairly solid read, but not something that I'd recommend readily.
The Devil's Paintbox is at times beautiful, at times blunt. Sometimes the prose surprised me with novel turns of phrase and unusual metaphor. At other times, the writing was stiff and alienating.
This is the story of Aiden Lynch, and his journey across the United States to Seattle. Aiden has nothing to lose. Most of his family has died from the drought, and he and his sister Maddy are barely subsisting in the dry land. They make the grueling journey West, and face hardships beyond what an average American could comprehend today.
The book has a rustic charm, but the third-person narration at times feels clinical in execution. It holds Aiden at such a distance from the reader that it's difficult to feel any emotion for his plight.
Overall, a fairly solid read, but not something that I'd recommend readily.
March 22, 2011
Spring 1865, Kansas
15 year old Aiden and his younger sister have survived another harsh winter in Kansas, but they are alone. One by one their entire family has died leaving Aiden and Maddie to bury them. Their farm no longer exists, the livestock has died and the crops can’t grow. Everyone who once lived near them has died or fled, Aiden and Maddie haven’t seen another human being in 5 months. Now they are starving to death, forced to eat clay from the creek and hunt grasshoppers. Aiden knows the end is near for them both but hopes to find a way out and join the army. Then, one day while foraging for food he shocked by the sight of another person, Jefferson Jackson. Jackson is leading a wagon train west and looking for strong workers to take to Oregon. This could be what Aiden and Maddie need to survive, but Aiden isn’t strong any more.
This was a wonderful book! Great research by the author makes it believable and authentic. Plus the plot is terrific, lots of twists and turns.
15 year old Aiden and his younger sister have survived another harsh winter in Kansas, but they are alone. One by one their entire family has died leaving Aiden and Maddie to bury them. Their farm no longer exists, the livestock has died and the crops can’t grow. Everyone who once lived near them has died or fled, Aiden and Maddie haven’t seen another human being in 5 months. Now they are starving to death, forced to eat clay from the creek and hunt grasshoppers. Aiden knows the end is near for them both but hopes to find a way out and join the army. Then, one day while foraging for food he shocked by the sight of another person, Jefferson Jackson. Jackson is leading a wagon train west and looking for strong workers to take to Oregon. This could be what Aiden and Maddie need to survive, but Aiden isn’t strong any more.
This was a wonderful book! Great research by the author makes it believable and authentic. Plus the plot is terrific, lots of twists and turns.
November 27, 2008
I am still reading this excellent story of Aidan's transformation from boy to man. the story is grave but very engaging.
Set during the US westward expansion- post Donner party-
The book open with Aidan and his sister Maddy so hungry in the windswept prairie that he is eating clay just to have something in his belly. As he traps a dinner of one grasshopper Aidan is found by Jackson a wagon train leader who pities these kids (13 and 16) and agrees to take them on his train west. the deal is that Aidan will indenture himself for one year to pay off the debt. The story is about the trip west and Aidan's time working off his debt.
I learned the brutal fact that a small pox vaccine was in use and available at the time of the massive Native American deaths due to small pox- the vaccine was denied to Natives. Man, that bugs me.
Set during the US westward expansion- post Donner party-
The book open with Aidan and his sister Maddy so hungry in the windswept prairie that he is eating clay just to have something in his belly. As he traps a dinner of one grasshopper Aidan is found by Jackson a wagon train leader who pities these kids (13 and 16) and agrees to take them on his train west. the deal is that Aidan will indenture himself for one year to pay off the debt. The story is about the trip west and Aidan's time working off his debt.
I learned the brutal fact that a small pox vaccine was in use and available at the time of the massive Native American deaths due to small pox- the vaccine was denied to Natives. Man, that bugs me.
April 8, 2010
This was a well written book and I learned a lot of history from it. I didn't like it. In fact, I wanted to throw it across the room a few times. Twice I closed it determined not to read any more. (I really don't like it when my favorite characters get killed off.) If I was to rate it for TV it would look something like this: LSVD. I also lost interest toward the end. Yes, exciting dramatic stuff was happening, but at that point I knew the outcome would be grim no matter what: "The Indians are doomed," one of the characters says, and I had to agree. (I do know that much history!)
This book is as stark, harsh, and raw as the time in history it depicts. Since I am also reading 1776, I found it intersting that smallpox was also mentioned in that book as a stragtegic weapon. Man's inhumanity to man. Important stuff to know, I guess. Not that fun to read.
This book is as stark, harsh, and raw as the time in history it depicts. Since I am also reading 1776, I found it intersting that smallpox was also mentioned in that book as a stragtegic weapon. Man's inhumanity to man. Important stuff to know, I guess. Not that fun to read.
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August 15, 2010This is an excellent story. From the Book Jacket: It is April 1865, Aiden and Maddy Lynch have barely survived a brutal winter alone on the remains of their family's drought-ravaged Kansas farm, when an unlikely savior appears out of the morning mist.
Jefferson J. Jackson is looking for strong men to work in the Seattle lumber camps, not a half-starved teenager with a useless girl in tow, but somehow the pair convinces him to let them join his wagon train. And so the adventure begins. The first thing that came to my mind was This is not Caddie Woodlawn's story which I am about the re-read again soon. This tale is hard knocks and sadness with some refreshing moments now and then. I keep thinking that this can't be over, there is more to this tale... but I don't know it there. I like happy ending stories and this one didn't end happy....
Jefferson J. Jackson is looking for strong men to work in the Seattle lumber camps, not a half-starved teenager with a useless girl in tow, but somehow the pair convinces him to let them join his wagon train. And so the adventure begins. The first thing that came to my mind was This is not Caddie Woodlawn's story which I am about the re-read again soon. This tale is hard knocks and sadness with some refreshing moments now and then. I keep thinking that this can't be over, there is more to this tale... but I don't know it there. I like happy ending stories and this one didn't end happy....
December 3, 2010
The year is 1865 and Aiden and Maddy are starving on what is left of their drought-stricken farm in Kansas. They are the only survivors of their family, and are now out of food. When Jefferson Jackson shows up on their farm, they are suspicious, but see him as a way out of their situation. Aiden, 16, convinces Jackson to take he and Maddy along with his wagon train in exchange for Aiden's promise of payment of future wages from the logging camp destination to Jackson. The travel in the wagon train is a bleak adventure for both Aiden and Maddy, as it was for most travelers in the westward expansion. McKernan has researched thoroughly for the book and gives an accurate portrayal of life during this time period--perhaps a little too accurate in some instances. The part of the story dealing with the prostitutes, although not graphic, may be too much for the middle school reader.
August 3, 2016
This was a great historical fiction. It was set in the West on a wagon train headed for Gold country. 2 young siblings must survive and keep each other safe. Not only does it deal with the hardship of that life, it introduces the issue of small pox in the 1800s. The country is at the cusp of finding a vaccination but this lifesaving vaccine is withheld from the Native American community that is so terribly vulnerable and devastated by the disease. Great interplay of relationships between the white and Native American youths tyring to survive and find their adult character in the lawless western territory. I really enjoyed this book and am eager to find the right middle school reader to recommend it to. There is some reference to the prostitution trade in the Gold Country once they finally get to California so I would only recommend this to middle school or older.
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