Cabin on Trouble Creek

by Jean Van Leeuwen

After clearing enough forest to build a log cabin for their new home, Pa returns east to fetch the rest of the family, while young brothers Daniel and Will stay behind to watch the land. Pa had planned to return within six weeks . . . but something must have gone wrong. Now the boys must survive the winter with only a few supplies and their ability to invent and improvise. But are they alone in the woods?

Jean Van Leeuwen's engrossing novel of pioneer survival is based on a true incident.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Survival, Juvenile, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

First published June 17, 2004

About the author

Jean Van Leeuwen was an American children's book author, of over forty children's books, including the Oliver Pig series, and Bound for Oregon.

Reviews

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Slowly everythng turned gray. Light gray, darker gray, then black.
That was when he began to hear things. Tiny rustlings. The smallest movement in a tree above his head. Was anything there, or was he just getting spooked by the coming darkness?
A minute later he was sure soemthing was following him. Something on quiet, padding feet. He could hear it plainly behind himm. Or maybe more than one. Wolves? Could it be wolves?" (PG.100)

This was a fascinating story set in 1803 Ohio. The whites have run out the Native Americans in the new state of Ohio and now they are able to buy cheap land from the government. Daniel (11), Will (8), and Pa leave to their new forest land to grow crops. Pa stays long enough to build a small unfinished, unfurnished cabin and then he sets out to Philidelphia to grab Ma and the three younger siblings, without Daniel and Will. Pa has told them to be safe and has made it clear he will be back in five weeks time, six tops, but as the months go by without any sighting the boys keep themselves busy learning how to trap rabbits and fish and learning how to not die from the climate and the wild animals.

I was fascinated by the story of these two young clever boys the author envisioned. They took care of one another and were eager to learn the way of the Native ways of trapping and making things with trees and barks. The short history weaved into the tale was great to read about also. This is marketed as a YA but I think adults would appreciate this book and the adventures of the boys. It was short and inspiring. How would you (or your modern day kid) be able to handle being left alone in the woods without internet or electricity with a blanket as a door in mid winter with limited amount of flour for 8 months? Do you enjoy the taste of deer and rabbit or would you learn to enjoy it?

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. I can’t believe I’d never heard of it until researching for our elementary book club! Based on a true story, is so cool. The brothers’ relationship and the balance between thoughtful, caring, protective, annoyed, defiant, trusting, depending, sharing, gah! I love wilderness survival stories and this was perfectly age appropriate with the the right amount of suspense as you watch their time in the woods unfold. The descriptions of nature were so well-written. Beautiful tale of adventure, survival, ingenuity, family and faith. Highly recommend.

[Karen Berggren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

[Trixie Van der green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant book. Read it to my own children, read it to a year 5 class at Penrith Anglican College when I had a prac teaching block there and read it to my primary (grade 3, 4 & 5) class this year. All the children I have shared this book with love it. It captures the students interest and very quickly the students find themselves imagining what it would be like to be one of the main characters who are Daniel aged 11 and Will aged 9. Highly recommend this book.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud to the kids just for fun. I read this specifically to draw in my 7 year old and it worked! All four of my kids (and I!) enjoyed this short story about 9 and 11 year old brothers left on their own in the Ohio frontier.

[Susan P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written for middle-schoolers, this was good pioneer fiction.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered if you, as a kid, could survive the winter without your parents in the wilderness?

“Cabin on Trouble Creek” takes place in the 1800's when settlers were moving into Ohio.

“Cabin on Trouble Creek” is about two children, ages 13 and 11, named Daniel and Will, surviving two cold months of winter and a week of spring without their parents, but with the simple help from a Native American fur trapper. The fur trapper helped them build rabbit traps and when the lake froze over he helped them build more rabbit traps. When the lake defrosted he helped build them a fish trap. Some of the main problems that Daniel and Will had to face are: food shortage, bear attacks, and the cold.

I liked the book because it teaches you about this time in history. For example, a creek was named Trouble Creek after a battle with the Native Americans. There was plenty of action that kept me wanting to read the next chapter. Daniel and Will were very realistic characters; it was like I was in the moment with them. I would have enjoyed it more if it told you how to make the traps it talked about at the end of the book.

If you like books about history you would enjoy this book too.

[Nikki Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book I read to my family while the storm raged outside and we were without power. It's the classic story of two boys surviving on their own in the wilderness. It was full of adventures that my sons especially enjoyed; indians, bears, hunting, fishing, wilderness survival. They really enjoyed the book and Leeuwen creates characters that come to life.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I though this was a pretty good book about 2 boys who have to make it through the winter all alone. It tells about survival, resourcefulness, and some historical references.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: Cabin on Trouble Creek
Author: Jean Van Leeuwen
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

This has been sitting on my shelf for years. I picked it up because it showed up in my recommendations after reading The Sign of the Beaver. I must say that this is a good, quick read. I don’t understand why it doesn’t get more love. This is a solid middle-grade book.

In this one, Pa has decided to move the family to Ohio. When Daniel and Will arrive on the land with their Pa, there is nothing but woods. They start clearing trees and building a cabin with the intent of bringing the rest of the family here to settle. The closest neighbour is fifteen miles and it’s a new life. Once the cabin is built and some of the land has been cleared, Pa heads back to Pennsylvania to get the rest of the family. He leaves Daniel and Will behind to watch the land. The trip is supposed to only take five to six weeks. However, that time quickly comes and goes and now winter is upon the boys. They are going to have to survive the winter on their own with limited resources.

Yes, this does sound very familiar to Sign of the Beaver and it is. However, I prefer this one over the Sign of the Beaver. I enjoy stories like this. We have two boys who are really in trouble and, yet, manage to think and come up with ways out of bad situations. Some somethings happen in this book that probably would not happen in real life, but the heart of the story is good. I like that the boys were able to think about what they needed to do and come up with ways to see that they made it to the next day.

It brings into question if you would be able to do what the boys did. Again, I know this is fiction and it probably does not play out like this in real life. It makes you look at what you would do if you were in a similar situation and had to figure out how to make it on limited supplies. Humans want to survive, but we also panic when things get bad. The boys were determined to fight and keep the land safe. They wanted to be there when the family came. All they could focus on was making it a better place for their parents. They believed that their parents were also coming. This hope is what drove them not to give up.

Overall, I did enjoy this story. I don’t understand why it doesn’t have more people talking about it.

[Awg828]

Recommended from the Good and Beautiful
Based on a true story set in Ohio in 1803, this historical fiction book is well written, very engaging and wholesome, and even includes references to God and the Bible. After clearing the forest and building a log cabin, Pa leaves his two sons and returns to Pennsylvania to fetch and bring back the rest of the family in six weeks. But when Pa doesn't return before winter, the boys are on their own. This would be a great book for reluctant readers. The book supports courage, perseverance, hard work, and strong family relationships. This book is similar to The Sign of the Beaver, but it is different in many ways. Homeschoolers could compare and contrast the two books as a project.

Moral Merit: 4Literary Merit for Level: 4Educational Value: 5Points: 7 (8-9 yrs), 4 (10+)

[Cameron Slicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story Cabin on Trouble Creek is a book that takes place in the early 1800's in Ohio. Two boys and their father set off on some land to establish a home and homestead. The father leaves the boys to fend for themselves which was expected to last only five weeks. While left by themselves the boys had to survive through fishing, hunting, and primitive skills. The boys expected their father back around five weeks but when he didn't arrive worries set in. Through trust and hard work the boys succeeded and finally met up with their dad.

[Niffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It got off to a slightly slow start, but eventually found its stride and had plenty of tense moments to keep me interested and turning pages. The writing was slightly juvenile, but considering the book is aimed at younger readers, I wouldn't consider that a huge flaw. I don't know that I see this reaching quite the same level of "classic" as Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain, but it was solidly written and had appeal. I can see this book being a favorite for a young reader--the type of book to read and reread while daydreaming about hunting fish with spears and catching rabbits with snares.

[Jennifer Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great fiction for middle grade readers or advanced elementary readers! About two boys who have to spend eight months taking care of themselves in their newly constructed cabin during a time when many states in America hadn’t been settled yet. The author says it was based off a true record of two boys who had to fend for themselves during the harsh winter and new surroundings of an Ohio forest.

[Jules Loz · Rating 5 out of 5]

J read this book during 5th grade at DHA with Mrs. McGraw and the class.

The two main characters (Daniel & Will, they are brothers) were trying to survive in the wild. Their dad left to go get their mom and he didn't get back for a long time. The boys figured out a lot of things on their own. They got attacked by a bear and Daniel was wounded for a while. Their dad did eventually come back.

J thought it was a good book.

[BooksNCrannies · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of survival based on a true event, 'Cabin on Trouble Creek' gives a realistic portrayal of life in the early 1800s Ohio wilderness. Through a string of events, two brothers must survive alone in a partly built cabin by using their inventiveness and ingenuity. Jean Van Leeuwin uses personification in clever way to further enhance the conflict. 'Cabin on Trouble Creek' packages these true events into a thoroughly researched and realistically written tale.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent children's book, especially for those who are interested in adventure and history. Some classic books can lack a propelling story - this one (be it a "new" classic) is a good solution for that.

[Rose Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this story to my children! It’s a fictionalized story of a true happening- two boys are left on their own to survive the winter. Their ingenuity and the kindness of an Indian pulls them through.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a really good book about being with no adult and trying to survive in the wilderness.

[Erin Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat predictable, but a good read nonetheless. Similar to the book, "Sign of the Beaver".

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a Hatchet-like story. I think middle grade boys would enjoy this.

[Patrick Dingley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book. I thought it was very interesting throughout the book.

[Lisbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional story!

[Carrie Snider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book!

[Jeni]

Girls and I enjoyed this read aloud!

[S. A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

[Santo Francello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Amazing story and characters.

[SSM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just easy, interesting read

[Justin Musselman · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students loved this book. I think I can say pioneer living has some of my students in a chokehold. :) I always love reading this book.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much better option than Sign of the Beaver. My kids enjoyed it.