A Heart for Any Fate: Westward to Oregon, 1845

by Linda Crew

Follows headstrong, optimistic, seventeen-year-old Lovisa King and her pioneer family, three generations strong, as they make the arduous journey west with a wagon train along the Oregon Trail.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Adventure

Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

My early books were for young readers, and perhaps my best-known is my first, Children of the River. Set against the backdrop of the Cambodian refugee crisis of 1979, it’s still used in schools and English-as-a-second-language classes across the country twenty-seven years since publication. My two most recent—Brides of Eden: a True Story Imagined and A Heart for Any Fate: Westward to Oregon 1845—were published as cross-over titles, and I suspect have been read by more adults than teenagers.

With my new book, I have had to take a completely different turn. When I inadvertently became addicted to both Oxycodone and Xanax after undergoing total knee replacement surgery, there was suddenly no material more compelling to me than my own survival and healing. And when I realized the extent to which the problem of addiction to prescription drugs was affecting people all across the nation, I knew I needed to speak up and be at least one of the people telling this story. If the sharing of my pharmaceutically-induced trainwreck can comfort somebody else or, even better, help save them from heading down this horrible path in the first place, it will help me feel that perhaps some good can come of my past four years.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent fictionalized account of a true story (based on the King Family). During our three-week trip in Oregon, we've visited several history museums and read numerous accounts of the westward expansion made by people with true grit. Although this is listed as Young Adult, it's a good book for all ages.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Cat for TeensReadToo.com

Lovisa King was just seventeen in the spring of 1845 when three generations of her family loaded up the green, canvas-covered wagons to make the two-thousand-mile journey from Missouri to Oregon.

Born right in the middle of ten brothers and sisters, Lovisa begins their expedition with dauntless optimism and absolute certainty that her family's superior preparation will protect them from any hardships the Overland Trail may present. Even a last-minute reassignment to her sister Sarah and "bossy" brother-in-law Rowland Chambers' wagon can't diminish Lovisa's enthusiasm for the future that lies ahead.

But the road west is cruel and indiscriminate, leaving a trail of fallen party members in its wake. The entire wagon train faces days of unanswered thirst, weeks of trekking across the barren plains in blistering heat, and storms of prairie sand so acidic that the only remedy is axle grease rubbed into raw skin.

As death and disease ravage those she loves, with bone-deep weariness chipping away at Lovisa's soul, she begins to wonder if this expedition really has a terminus and when it does, how many Kings will be left standing when it ends.

I'm a huge history buff, especially anything pertaining to the Old West. The problem with a lot of us enamored of these tales, though, is a tendency to romanticize a time and place full of brutal and harsh realities. Linda Crew effortlessly sidesteps this trap to capture Lovisa's story as it might have been. Opening A HEART FOR ANY FATE is a general introduction to the U.S.'s great expansion, circumstances leading up to the citizen's migration, and life along the trail itself.

Lovisa and her family are the heart of this story; searching, like so many Americans at the time, for a more prosperous fate in a new land. Ms. Crew did such a wonderful job creating this young woman's voice, I had to continuously remind myself that I wasn't reading an actual account of her experience; although if the truth be told, I was moved to tears more than once during my reading.

A HEART FOR ANY FATE is a fascinating and moving depiction that immerses the reader into a defining period of American history and definitely shouldn't be missed.

[Abbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a girl who spent the happiest childhood ever in the Willamette Valley, right off Chambers Street, playing with my best friend a King, I feel like this book is partly my heritage, and it makes me swell with pride. It's about a family's experiences on the Oregon Trail, and the author did an incredible job making the pioneer experience come alive in an inspiring, yet authentic, way. I absolutely loved the characters, and that the story was real! Wow. It makes me want to get on a plane to Oregon to honor these people and the land they sacrificed so much for. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

[GIACOMO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of my parents grew up on the East coast. They spent time in Santa Fe and Montana. Both of my families had a modern and slow move westward. A fraction of them left New England. But I grew up in Montana and I'm the farthest west of anyone in my direct family. I'm in Portland Oregon, and this book really helped me feel connected to the Pacific coast and Oregon in particular. Growing growing up in Montana I especially appreciate the soil here.

It was hard to read about these settlers on the planes, and some of their perspectives on the Indians. Growing up with a strong planes Indian influence I found it heartbreaking but honest. It's somehow reminded me of home and help me connect to my new home. I thought this would be a more prominent part of the story, but it takes a back seat to survival.

One little choice can be lethal on a desolate plain, and if a few wrong moves compound people will die. There are mothers, children, and patriarchs with stubborn cultural soap boxes. The oxen move 15 miles a day and information is nonexistent. They don't know what is over the next hill, how far freshwater is, or if they will have to throw hard earned tools or heirlooms out of the carriage to make them lighter. This story fascinated me. I found myself dreaming about exploring a colonized planet, or those nights where I walked to far from a cabin in the woods.

I love young adult fiction. This story reminded me of "The Sisters Brothers," a funny romp centered around two gold panning con men. If you're in middle school or high school and you are learning about westward expansion, this will give you fun emotional context. I promise studying will be more fun if you read this on the side.

[Julie Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction novel based on fact. The King family really did exist, and they really did travel the Oregon Trail in 1845. None of them kept a journal though, so this book was researched and fictionalized to depict what their trip might have been like. The King family was large, consisting of 22 people in five wagons. We know for a fact who reached Oregon and who didn't survive. What we read here is what might have happened along the way.
This story is told in Lovisa's point of view. She's 17 when her family starts out from Missouri on the trail to Oregon. Her father puts her in the wagon with her sister Sally, brother-in-law Rowland and their two kids, Meggie and Jimmy. She doesn't like Rowland and balks at the idea of traveling so long with him looking after her, but hardships along the way have a way of growing you up in a hurry, and if nothing else, changing you in ways you'd never expect.
This story doesn't skimp on descriptions of the hardships of the trail. People got sick. People died. The best-laid plans turned out to not be such good ideas once you got out on the trail. The Kings were a proud family, or at least Lovisa was proud of her family and believed all the hardships they'd heard about were for other people. They had everything planned out. None of those things would happen to them. But they did, and then some.
The Kings do make it to Oregon, but you'll laugh, cry and celebrate right along with them on the journey west. I'll remember this book for a long time.

[ErinAlise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in 1845. Nahum King knew that in order for his family to survive the trek from Missouri to Oregon, they would have to stick together and always be prepared. He planned it all out-each of his adult children had their own wagon and the younger paired up with their siblings. No one was more excited about this journey than Lovisa King. At 17 years old, she thought she was wise and ready for any challenge. Though disappointed to be paired up with her older sister and her serious husband, she didn’t let that discourage her from the adventure awaiting. As weeks turn into months, her perception changes, though certainly this trip is adventurous, the difficulties along the way are too hard to bear. As death creeps nearer, Lovisa is forced to adjust and find support in the most unlikeliness of people. Though weak apart, the King family is always strong together.
A beautiful story of friendship, bravery, and a love that can be built overtime. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, Lovisa is headstrong and daring, she at first craves for independence but learns that family is everything. I laughed and cried, smiled and sighed throughout the whole story. Highly recommended book that is well worth the read!

[Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting tale of hardship and sacrifice that fictionalizes the pioneering journey of the very real Lovisa King and her family from Carroll County, Missouri, to central Oregon's Willamette Valley. After the horrific Missouri River floods of 1844 destroy much of the King farm Nahum(Pa) King makes the fateful decision to join likeminded souls looking to put down stakes where a farm can thrive without the perpetual worry of flood and draught. The entire King clan hooks up with a wagon train heading west in April, 1845, and sets off on an adventure filled joy and sorrow, love and heartache, all told through the voice of 17-year old Lovisa King. As a teen Lovisa makes for a terrific narrator as it allows the reader to view the journey with the awe and wonder of a naive young girl whose previous life experience was quite limited. Knowing one of Lovisa's descendants added a layer of fascination for me that merits an additional star for what is a good but somewhat routine pioneer story. My future visits to the Willamette Valley will be viewed with a broader lens and a deep respect for those generations that threw caution to the wind and headed west to fulfill their dreams.

[Mackenzie Deater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on assignment, with no real prior knowledge about what it was or who it was about, and was pleasantly surprised to find it's an amazing book! A true Oregon trail story, it's based on a real family, but the majority of the story is fictionalized. Though it's fiction, much of what happens in the book happened to many of the Oregon Trail pioneers, which is to say that it comes off as an honest, human account, not some romantic depiction of days gone by. The main character Lovisa is the perfect main character for this story, she's smart, kind, strongwilled, and stubborn; exactly the kind of person you want to read about, and be friends with. While this tale is heartbreaking and difficult, it's also beautiful and truly speaks to the American spirit. If you're looking for a trip back in time, you can't go wrong with this book.

[Mary Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME! A true story, fictionalized, of the Oregon Trail. The family about which this was written settled near Corvallis, my current home. I can't wait to go see some of the sites. A bonus was the photos of the family in later days included at the end of the book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a bazillion wagon train stories. But for some reason this one hugely sticks out in my memory. I was expecting kyla at the time and I remember being in a rocking chair for several hours immersed in this story. Curious how it would hold up as a reread.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Historically based account of the King family coming across the Oregon Trail.

[Squeaky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story. I wouldn't have made a very good pioneer. I would have quit in the first ten miles, I am thinking.

[Lucie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quit on page 11 - I just can’t get into this story.

[Susan C. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-told story, based on journals of those who traveled then Oregon trail. Good characters (many are real people). Enjoyable book.

[Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I've read it twice.

[sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel abandoned it at 45%, but I kept reading because I enjoyed the book and wanted to see the Kings through to O’gen, as Meggie would have said.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story.

[Kristin M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from the first two lines: “West… The sound of a wish in a single word.” It’s a beautiful quote, and for me (and very likely many other Americans), it has the ring of truth. I was born and raised in Oregon, and though my own ancestors migrated here during the early part of the 20th century, I have still inherited the cultural legacy of the Oregon Trail and the fascination with unexplored frontiers that enticed so many families to travel that road. Linda Crew’s Heart for Any Fate brings the true story of one of those families to life, fleshing out the bare bones of the Kings’ tale with memorable, likeable characters, highly quotable prose, and plenty of supplemental material about aspects of the Oregon Trail and the King family history that weren’t addressed in the story proper.

The novel’s protagonist and POV character, Lovisa, reminded me a bit of Jane Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet. She has many of the same character traits: opinionated, headstrong, and a touch proud, yet also loyal and loving, capable and resilient. She even had a sister named Lydia and an abhorrent admirer named Mr. Collins! Her romantic subplot also followed a familiar trajectory – first, decide you simply can’t stand the man; second, come to the realization that he has some redeeming qualities after all; third, realize you’ve fallen in love with him and wallow in angst over your prior treatment of him; last, resolve all silly misunderstandings and get your happy ending after all. All resemblances to other literary heroines aside, I thought Lovisa was a likable and well-written character in her own right, and I loved watching her learn, suffer, and ultimately mature throughout the novel.

I also enjoyed the characterization of many of the other King family members. So many people with differing opinions and personalities within one family inevitably resulted in drama, and the younger children were wonderfully sassy. I fell in love with Lovisa’s younger brother Sol, a precociously capable 12-year-old who won the respect of much older adults; I found myself wishing that Heart for Any Fate had a companion novel from Sol’s point of view.

There were a few things about this book that I felt could be improved. Not all of the characters were well-fleshed out – there were some siblings and in-laws that Lovisa just never seemed to interact much with, and I got the feeling she didn’t consider them very important to her day-to-day life (granted, it was an obscenely large family…) I also would have liked a bit more development for Lovisa’s eventual husband; he was rather opaque for much of the novel. I sometimes felt that Lovisa’s opinions about Indians were a bit too enlightened for a young girl from her time period, but it’s not improbable that some of the people who traveled the Oregon Trail were indeed ahead of their time in that respect. For the most part, I loved the author’s use of language, but there were a couple phrases that felt a little modern.

One last thing: I could see how Lovisa’s romantic subplot would work out after only a few chapters in, but I didn’t actually mind that. Other readers, however, may dislike such transparency.

Overall, I give this book 4 ½ stars (provided the website allows halvsies). A Heart for Any Fate was both informative and engrossing, and ran the emotional gamut from funny to sad to suspenseful to heartwarming. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Oregon history, and I think it would be an excellent addition to high school reading lists.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t say I’m particularly aware of what young adults are reading anymore—but I can say what I would have enjoyed reading between the ages of 12 and 14, and it would most certainly include Linda Crew’s A Heart for Any Fate. As a young woman, I would have deeply identified with the thoughts, trials and heartbreak that Lovisa King encountered on her journey to Oregon. The plot moves quickly, and I really did have a hard time tearing myself away from finding out what would happen next to Lovisa and her family and community. In addition to an engaging plot line, there are complex matters of romantic love, faith and death interspersed throughout the book that were deftly and carefully handled by the author. Despite the very real horrors of famine and disease (or getting lost in what truly was the middle of nowhere), Crew deals with very frightening scenarios delicately and clearly considered her younger audience.

As an adult, I was very entertained by the story, and impressed by the thoughtful attention to detail that went into every aspect of re-creating this world of 150 years ago. I can see why it has been used in school curriculum's as it is a vivid testimony to the immensity of westward expansion on the part of thousands of average people. The reader gets a clear and intimate view of how truly incredible this journey was. When I learned about the Oregon trail as a child, it was often through romantic images like Little House on the Prairie—A Heart for Any Fate is a much more realistic and full portrayal of early pioneers, and one that I believe would inspire young and older reader’s alike to find out more about the Oregon Trail and Pacific NW history.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book with all my heart. Lovisa's voice rings so true, and the story is so well-written, that one is simply carried along in the wagon train. The hardships and the little beauties were lovingly delineated throughout. There was no way the King family's wagon train was going to get to Oregon intact, of course. None of them did, and this book brought the sadness home in an especially poignant way without overpowering the whole book with woe. The portrait of the native peoples was historically accurate and nothing at all like the usual scary tall tales from the trail.

Crew based all the interactions of the pioneers and the natives on actual journal entries. In her afterword, she noted wryly that one of the pioneer journals that most stuck with her was one woman's chronicle of innumerable times she was helped with food or river crossings by First Nation peoples, but her entries dwelt upon her fear of the frightful, murderous Indians she was certain were right around the next bend.

Crew has done her homework here, and nearly all the characters in this book were actual people. There is supplemental material that was also interesting- a forward by Jennifer Armstrong, an afterword by one of the King family, and an afterword by Crew, all of which add something positive to the book.

Highly recommended!

[Verity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing book is focused on 17-year-old Lovisa King and her family. In 1845, they set across the prairie for Oregon. They experience the hard trail life but the Kings endure. But at fort near the Blue Mountains, their party meets Stephen Meek. He offers them a shortcut that will not only save days and days but also avoid the Blue Mountains. The Kings and a few other families decide to follow the godsend of a mountain man. But as the terrain gets drier, the food scarcer, and the pioneers are being stalked by "camp fever", Meek declares himself lost. Will the Kings make it out alive?
Not only some of the best fictional writing found on this disaster, this book is also some of the only. And Lovisa's voice rings true; this is not some sappy trail story. Filled with wit, wry humor, and just the right amount of romance, this spellbinding novel will hold any reader until the last words.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The historical aspect, the heartache, the drudgery, the anticipation, the hardship of the Oregon Trail was all well researched and well done and I think the author (as far as I know) portrayed a journey West on the Oregon Trail very well.

I just didn't like any of the characters (with the exception of Sol). The whole King family got on my nerves with their elite pride, how much more clever they were than others on the trail, how rosy and robust and desirable all the King girls were, how generous they were to others who did not plan as well as they did, how righteously indignant they were when that kindness was not repaid.

And then there was the "romance". I hate my sister's husband, oh everyone is pairing up and I've yet to do so, well there's my dead sister's husband, he's a good man, he'll do. Ugh.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heart For Any Fate is raw, realistic, heartwarming, and tragic. It is an unforgettable YA novel that thrives; its depiction of life traveling along the Oregon Trail is tremendously powerful and easy-to-read. I found myself ripping through the pages, reading quicker than expected because I was just so invested, as Lovisa's narration was seamless and the event progression strong. I loved Lovisa's strong-willed, independent, feminist attitude, as well as her authentic "teenage" impressions of those around her, particularly Rowland and Mamie Brown. The Oregon Trail and westward expansion are interesting in their own right, but told through her perspective––and in such a well-written manner––I truly found myself captivated. I could not recommend this title any more highly, for readers of any age group. My favorite title of the Ooligan backlist that I have read thus far.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on the true story of the King family, Seventeen-year-old Lovisa King and her family head west on the Oregon Trail. It's a coming of age story as well as an Oregon Trail novel. Lovisa's father is forward thinking and feels prepared for arduous journey and trusts their guide will get them to Oregon before winter but the usual and some unusual perils occur. This story is far more graphic than most Oregon Trail novels and rather sad at times. The author carefully researched the King family and their wagon trail to recreate their journey. Also included are photographs of the Oregon Trail and King descendants.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best novel I've ever read about the Oregon Trail. The author did a superb job of characterization, at the same time not glossing over the hardships of the Trail. The King family journeyed to Oregon in 1845, before the Oregon Trail had been well-traveled. This is an important fact to keep in mind when reading--they had few reports on what to expect.
As someone who lives in Oregon, loves our history, and has visited all the places mentioned, I have to give the author, Linda Crew, two thumbs up for giving us this account of the Trail.

[Jenben8426 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this historical fiction book on the King family crossing the Oregon trail in 1845. The author really did her research and was able to portray the excitement, adventure, and heartache that accompanied the many pioneers crossing the Oregon trail in its early years. I really enjoyed the story of Lovisa King the protaganist and also learned more about the Oregon trail than I had known previously.

[Safa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prior to this summer I had spent my life without experiencing the real richness that reading historical fiction can bring, then I read A Heart For Any Fate and was transported to a voyage where hope seemed endless at times, and hardship at others. What really got to me was that these characters were based on a real family, the author beautifully weaving her vision of their experience on the Oregon Trail. I felt like I was there, walking alongside Lovisa.

[KR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time! A good old-fashioned pioneer story full of joy and hardship. It's a coming of age story about a 17 year old girl who has to grow up quickly in order to survive the West and take care of the ones she loves. The story is based off of a real family that pioneered the Oregon Trail. This would be a great read for young adults and adults!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a bit of a slow start. The main character, Lovisa, was a young naive girl at the beginning of her westward wagon train journey and the author's writing was very young feeling, and simplistic as well. However, as Lovisa matured, so did the writing and I couldn't wait to read what would happen to her and how it would all end. For me it was particularly interesting because it is based on a true story of an Oregon family who ended up having a big influence in Oregon.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorite historical fiction reads. The author took diary entries and known facts about Lovisa King and the Oregon pioneers who followed the ill-fated Meek's Cutoff Trail in 1845, and created living, breathing characters of the King family and others who accompanied them to Oregon. Even though I knew something of the outcome of this Oregon trail story, I couldn't stop reading until I knew the fates of the individuals that came to life so vividly in this fine book.