Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (and Children) Across the Plains

by Deborah Hopkinson, Nancy Carpenter (Illustrator)

The slightly true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the plains.

Apples, ho!

When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can’t bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too.

But the trail is cruel. First there’s a river to cross that’s wider than Texas, then there are hailstones as big as plums, and then there’s even a drought, sure to crisp the cherries.

Luckily Delicious (the nonedible apple of Daddy’s eye) won’t let anything stop her father’s darling saps from tasting the sweet Oregon soil. A hilarious tall tale from the team that brought you Fannie in the Kitchen that’s loosely based on the life of a real fruiting pioneer.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Historical, American History, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

I write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. (Deborahhopkinson@yahoo.com)

NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.

I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny book about a family who takes a wagon full of trees with them. Johnny Appleseed would have been proud.

Fun illustrations and some clever folksy metaphors sprinkled throughout the read make this enjoyable.

Ages: 4 - 8

We had a little Johnny Appleseed/Apple celebration: watch my reel!

Content Considerations: one page has several males without clothes- can see butt cheeks, no other details though as either hidden by the angle of the picture or objects obscuring the view.

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[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful "tall tale" version of the (true) story of the man who brought the first apple trees to Oregon--along with his wife and kids. At times, I felt a tad annoyed/disturbed that the father was so focused on his fruit rather than his children--of course, it is done "tall tale" fashion so one knows it's exaggerated, and the children don't seem to mind playing second-fiddle, but I couldn't help but feel that the world doesn't need another story with a neglectful parent, however tongue-in-cheek. The sheer zest of the story, the great illustrations, the "historical fiction" aspect--and a touching father-daughter ending, make me rate this quite favorably overall. However, children already feeling sensitive to parents who seem to put work before parenting might feel that the tale makes light of their situation.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luckily, it’s made clear all along that, while this is a historical fiction story based on a real man/family, that it’s a meant to be amusing tall tale, and it’s a delightful story.

The tale is based on the man who first brought fruit trees (from Iowa) to Oregon. It’s a westward pioneer story.

What makes it funny, and it is funny, is that the father is consumed with care for the fruit trees, and much less so for his children, who do have a mother that sort of looks after them. Whenever the family encounters a dangerous challenge (crossing a river, a hailstorm, a desert, etc.) the father makes sure those fruit trees are safe and as far as the children go, other than expecting the them to help protect the fruit, they’re basically left to fend for themselves.

Given these circumstances, I think children with loving and attentive parents will find this story silly, and maybe hilarious at times, and they’ll enjoy it. I personally would not knowingly read it to children who have been neglected (or abused) in any way because my thinking is that they may find it highly disturbing, and that’s a shame because it really is a clever and amusing tall tale.

The illustrations really add to the fun. There is a map (hooray, a map!) showing the route from Iowa to Oregon (very near Portland) and the states are in different colors and there are some pertinent landmarks shown. So, there is a mini geography lesson, as well as a mini history lesson. The people in the pictures within the story exhibit so much verve that it’s contagious. The illustrations have a lot of variety in terms of color and level of detail, and they are sometimes very funny too. The fictional daughter, the narrator of the tale, is named Delicious; the author says she couldn’t resist, even though that variety of apple was not in existence at the time.

Readers are likely to start craving apple, or peaches, pears, plums, grapes, or cherries. And given all the junk food that’s often available to kids, there are worse things to have happen.

I love how both the author and illustrator, in their author’s and illustrator’s notes, share their favorite type of apples.

Be sure to read the back cover because it has a short list of information about apples and closely related facts. I learned a few things from reading the list. For instance: there are more than 7,500 varieties of apples & about 2,500 of them are grown in the U.S. I try to eat a variety of foods but I had no idea there was that much variety of just apples. Also, apples are part of the rose family. Etc.! I also learned some historical information from the fictional tale itself.

[Susan Mortimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the (“slightly true”) story of Delicious – yes, she’s named after an apple – and her family as they move from Salem, Iowa clear out to Milwaukie, Oregon sometime in the mid-19th century. Delicious tells us about their adventure-filled journey, one with a personal dream as tall as this tale: that of Papa getting his precious fruit trees, carried in boxes set to wagons, across the western plains and mountains, and ultimately planted in good Oregon dirt. “Along with apples, my daddy took peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries. Oh, and by the way, he took us along too.” And oh, yes, it’s a good thing too, because Delicious saves the day time and time again for her family (and especially for her Papa and his dream) during their journey. While a tall-tale, this story also serves as an accurate portrayal in other regards for the pioneer experience. In fact, Hopkinson provides an interesting and informative Author’s Note, allowing the reader to see the fact behind the fiction. Carpenter’s illustrations are beautiful, as they capture equally well the hardship (and humor) of pioneer life, and the loving relationship between father and daughter. And, as a bonus, if you’re the kind of parent that likes to read aloud, Apples to Oregon is a dream come true. The text is pitch-perfect, and it allows for a fun personal interpretation. This book serves equally well for younger listeners for the sheer entertainment value of this racous tall-tale, as well as for older readers enjoying a humorous look at history (while learning a thing or two to boot!).

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Delicious's father decides to head west to Oregon in this entertaining tall tale, he takes along all of his favorite apple trees (not to mention his peach, plum, cherry and pear trees, as well as his grape vines), carefully stowed away in a wagon of their own. The trail from Iowa to the west coast is an arduous one though, and Delicious must often think quickly in order to help her father get his precious cargo to its destination...

The third book I have read from author/illustrator team Deborah Hopkinson and Nancy Carpenter - the first two being Fannie in the Kitchen and A Letter to My Teacher - this engaging work of picture-book historical fiction is apparently based upon the real-life story of pioneer Henderson Lewelling, who established the first orchard in Oregon. That said, this is definitely a fictional tale, and is full of a folksy language and sense of humor. The accompanying artwork, done in oil paint, is full of light and color, and captures the excitement of Delicious and her family's many adventures. Recommended to children who enjoy tall tales and/or stories about the westward journey of the pioneers.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun story!

I rather enjoyed reading about how apples were brought across America by the pioneers. I liked the tall-tale aspect of it - the larger than life scenes and exaggerations of events. It worked really well overall.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: My daddy loved growin' apples. And when he got ready to pull up roots and leave Iowa for Oregon, he couldn't bear to leave his apple trees behind. So Daddy built two of the biggest boxes you could ever hope to see. He set them into a sturdy wagon and shoveled in good, wormy dirt. Then he filled every inch with little plants and trees. Hundreds of them! Daddy was ready for the most daring adventure in the history of fruit.

Premise/plot: Apples to Oregon is a tall tale story. A girl named DELICIOUS is telling the story of how her Dad brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries with the family on their trek west on the Oregon Trail. Misadventure abounds but so do solutions to every problem.

My thoughts: If you're looking for a DELICIOUSLY silly story, then this one might fill you up. It is not to be taken at all seriously. There was a man who did bring apples and other fruits to Oregon, but this isn't his story.

The narrative is a tall tale. If you're looking for an example of a tall tale to share with little ones--perhaps to teach the concept of a tall tale--then this one might do well.

Here's an example of the silliness:


The wind began to throw around everything that wasn't lashed down--our boots, baby Albert's diapers, every pot and pan Momma had, even our own little wagon. Next, hailstones big as plums came hurtling out of the sky.
"Guard the grapes! Protect the peaches!" Daddy howled.
So we all started tearing off our clothes and holding them over Daddy's darlings. Bonnets, petticoats, trousers, hats--even Daddy's drawers!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

[Vy Ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really allows readers an insight of what life could’ve been like to migrate across the county. Although it isn’t relatable to a lot of people in present day, it’s still important to be informed.

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tall tale about a farmer bringing the first apple tree to Oregon. This book is funny and shows just how much this Dad cared about his fruit trees. Also has interesting apple facts in the back of the book.

[Katinas Čiobrelis | knygos, kelionės ir kiti įdomūs dalykai · Rating 5 out of 5]

kind of interesting story how father took his family and all his garden trees from Iowa to Oregon. lot of funny and interesting adventures.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really cute and in the manner of a tall tale like Paul Bunyan. A little wordy for my two year olds but has great pictures, too.

[Nora Grimmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest with you I don’t love it but it’s okay and I enjoyed reading it and all but it’s not as good or interesting as I thought it would be.

[Kellie Bae · Rating 5 out of 5]

An apple core trail from Salem, Iowa to Walla Walla, Washington is the map the reader sees first as the book is opened. The story that follows is a creative, silly, heartwarming tale about a journey to move not only apple trees, but also a family, half way across the country. This story is (slightly) based on a real fruiting pioneer. The first full page illustration shows two wagons, the first is 3 times as large as the second. One wagon is pulling apple, peach, pear, plum, grape, and cherry trees, and the other wagon is pulling six children and a mother. There is a girl chasing the wagons and a man standing tall at the front with his hat in his hand, reaching out. To the reader’s surprise, the larger wagon is the one holding the fruit trees, and the family is squeezed in the small covered wagon trailing behind. The many adventures begin right away. First, the family has to cross the Platte River, and the folks on the other side of the riverbank don’t have much confidence in the family making across. The narrator young girl, Delicious, is the apple of her daddy’s eye and she helps the family make it across. A horrible wind storm and hailstones as big as plums are the families next challenge, but daddy’s concern are his grapes and plums. So the family takes off their clothes to cover the trees. Delicious steps up and makes the trip a success as she is able to solve the many problems her father faces on their journey. When they finally arrive to Oregon she explains how gold was discovered not long after, but the family already had their fortune, the fruit had made them rich.
The author’s note on the last page helps fill in the details the reader may not be aware of. It explains that a family with 8 children actually did carry seven hundred plants and young fruit trees from Iowa to Oregon, and fruit orchards remain an important part of Oregon’s economy.
Bright, colorful painted illustrations make this book a delight to read, and details included in each illustration lend to discussions of their own.
The figurative language in this book makes this a prefect text for a variety of grade levels. While the silly story may be enjoyed as a read aloud for a primary classroom, intermediate students may benefit from taking a closer look at what the author means through the use of simile and metaphor. It would be useful to discuss vocabulary throughout the story. Because the story is about a journey west, geography lessons can be based on what is read, and the history of the apple and how orchards came in to existence in the west is not just a fluke.

[Marissa Raimondi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apples to Oregon is a fantastic historical fiction book for children! In this “slightly true” story, a father and his family travel from Iowa all the way to Oregon on a wagon pulled by cattle. The journey they make has many hardships and obstacles. But despite all the obstacles they face, the family accomplishes their goal and are as happy as can be.

This story really had my students and I so captivated! Students were so involved in Papa and Delicious’ journey, they just could not wait to see each page turn. After listening to the story, our class discussed the importance of determination. Delicious portrayed a positive example to students, showing the importance of perseverance and hard work. Students were also eager to learn more about the history of apple trees in America and geography, allowing Apples to Oregon to lead into a great social studies lesson as well.

The illustrations in this book really capture the reader’s attention! They are so vivid and detailed. Apples to Oregon was a great book to use to really help my students understand why illustrations are so important while reading.
I would recommend Apples to Oregon to all elementary grades (a read aloud to the lower grades). This book leads to great discussion after perseverance and the importance of illustrations. After reading this story, students could also write their own tall tale.

[Cammym · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tall tale of a pioneer who brings a wagon full of apple, peach, pear, plum, grape, and cherry saplings (oh, and his eight children) over the Oregon Trail is fun and engaging for kids, especially here in Oregon. The father is humorously depicted as a distracted eccentric who cares more for the plants than he does for his family. They protect the saplings at all costs through river crossings and tornadoes, finally reaching their destination having successfully transported their precious cargo. The book is actually based on a true story, and the original pioneer who brought these trees over became a very successful purveyor of fresh fruit to the people of the west coast.

Picture book, tall tale, Oregon Trail.

[Luann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author says this is "mostly a tall tale" and subtitled it a "(slightly) true narrative." I think it's an entirely fun take on how apple trees made it to Oregon with a spectacularly strong narrator, a young girl named Delicious. This could be used in classrooms and library storytimes on apples, Oregon, pioneers, tall tales, and figurative language.

Nancy Carpenter's quirky illustrations highlight the personalities of the characters, especially Delicious, perfectly. She seems to have something of a thing for feet - especially bare feet. Fun!

The author's note at the end helps to sort out the truth from the "tall" parts of the tale. I also loved the map on the endpapers, which had apple cores along the route to Oregon, and the apple facts on the back cover.

[Analissa Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talks about the Oregon Trail when the settlers began moving west of their homes to find new ones. This story reveals all the hardships that many went through on this trail with the weather and traveling. Though there was much more this could still show a child how hard it was to travel back then. It was aa somewhat contemporaneity story when the girl begins to talk to the reader about her missing left boot which was interesting to add in. Finally it talked a bit about the California gold rush, but not too much because the girl and her family were already rich from the fruits the carried on the trail.

[Ms. B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Curious if this tall tale (based loosely on a true story) will hold the interest of young readers or if they will find it as corny and over the top as I did. Here's hoping they find it more enjoyable.

[Casandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a hoot! It's a tall tale based on a few facts about the first orchard planted in Oregon, and how they got the fruit trees there. I'm thinking about adapting it for story time...
Apples

[Amir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apples to Oregon is a fun and educational tale about a family traversing the Oregon trail with their cart full of apples. The story is told from the perspective of a girl who narrates the journey. The cart full of apples is the main cargo that she focuses on protecting, and throughout the journey she gives unique accounts of the history unfolding.

The writing has a nice flow to it that could keep a child interested. I enjoy the use of alliteration in several instances, such as "the peaches are plummeting, the plums are plunging". The use of similes such as "wider than Texas" and "muddier than a cowboy's boot" gives the literature more character and makes it a pleasure to read. The main character runs into several obstacles on the trail such as "Jack Frost" who tries to freeze over the fruit in their cart.

This story is anti-bias because of its showcasing of the history of the Oregon trail, helping people relate to the families moving westward in search of better opportunities and a better life for their kids. In the end the narrator talks about how her family's fortune is in the apples and peaches they carry with them.

I think that this story is good for kids but can be appreciated by all ages for the writing craft and the unique historical perspective provided. Overall, this is a WOW book for me because of how it blends visually appealing illustrations with a family-oriented historical narrative. I think that the author did a great job teaching history in a fun and exciting way from the perspective of a younger person, and I would certainly recommend giving it a read.

[Ashlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apples to Oregon is a story about a family who is traveling West during America’s Westward Expansion. The family leaves their home in Iowa to restart their life in Oregon. However, their journey is not easy. They face difficult weather patterns and a lack of resources, but they stick together and continue on to make their new life.

I came across this book about a year ago. This book, although not exactly accurate shoes how treacherous the journey was for people heading West. This book does a good job at depicting possible hazards as they cross different regions. I definitely recommend reading this book to a class, I also suggest that you give the main character, Delicious, a fun voice as you read! (Also a side note the book has some puns like the above, the daughters name is Delicious and she wears a red dress, red delicious).

Other books I could connect with this one would be “Daily Life in a Covered Wagon” by Paul Erickson, “You wouldn’t Want to Be an American Pioneer” by Jacqueline Morley, “Westward Expansion: An Interactive History Adventure” by Allison Lassieur, and if I were to expand the look of expansion I would connect with “Discovery of the Americas” by Betsy Maestro, and the Magic School Bus lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole.

A writing assignment that could be done using this as a mentor text would be to have students brainstorm about one of the different difficulties that the family faced, or another condition that may have occurred during the journey and draw/write their own version of events.

[Kiarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries across the plains is told in "Apples to Oregon." Apples, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries abound in this delightful story about a father who uproots his family to move to Oregon—but not without his babies! The trail, however, is a torturous one. There's a river to cross that's the width of Texas, then there's hail the size of plums, and finally, there's a drought that'll surely crisp the cherries. Delicious, on the other hand, is unafraid to let her father's darling saps sample the sweet Oregon soil. Hopkinson writes in a laid-back style that doesn't try too hard to rely on a lot of stereotypes. I always enjoy the author's note at the end of a book, which in this case includes details about the man on whom the story is loosely based. Adults and students would be interested to know that, thanks to Henderson Luelling's efforts in 1847, Oregon is still one of the best fruit producers in the continental United States. In terms of illustrations, the images here have a pleasant feel to them and are a great compliment to the storyline. As you read about the poor kids leaping through the sand without their boots, some readers might feel a slight sense of sympathy. Some can gasp as Jack Frost reaches out to get past the ever-vigilant Delicious. Tall tales, I believe, are an excellent way to introduce students to the concepts of exaggeration and satire in literature, and therefore a genre that they may enjoy.

[MelissaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "Apples to Oregon" by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter as part of a graduate school class on youth literature. "Apples to Oregon" is a "slightly" true story about a father who was in love with his apple trees. He took his family and his apple trees across the country from Iowa to Oregon. It talks about the hardships they went through to get across the plains to Oregon. Delicious, the daughter, worked hard to help her father get the apple trees across the plains and both her father and her refused to give up. The illustrations keep the book engaging. The bright watercolor pictures are very detailed. They capture the humor and the hardships. Delicious's dress even represented an apple with red sleeves and a green tie that looked like the leaves. There is a colorful map from Iowa to Oregon, which would be a fun engaging way to talk to students about the states and what states Delicious and her father had to walk through. The illustrations communicate effectively what is happening in the story, especially the facial expression of the characters. I also enjoyed the apple facts at the end of the book. I would recommend "Apples to Oregon" as a historical fiction book to early elementary students. It is a good book to teach about perseverance and never giving up.

[Alison Waara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This tall tale story of a man who brought the first apple trees to Oregon, with his family, is a great way for children to see the trek pioneers endured way back when. This book is a great way to show the story of how a farmer made it his goal to move his apple trees to Oregon. This book uses great illustrations and figurative language which makes this book a great one for various grade levels to read. Of course students have and will learn about people like Johnny Appleseed, who introduced apple trees to much of eastern America, so it is fun to read and learn about someone else’s journey in introducing apple trees elsewhere. As the book follows this family as they move, something that I did not particularly like was how the father was much more worried about his fruit compared to his children - who worked very hard the whole journey to help their father - but this book is exaggerated to fit the fashion of “tall tale” so it makes sense. I would be apprehensive to share this book seeing as children who may be sensitive to parents putting their work before their children might feel this story makes their situation seem less serious. Overall it does a great job at using more exaggerated storytelling, but is not something I would reach for to show students.

[Jeremy Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Traditional literature can be defined as all forms of narrative, written or oral, which have come to be handed down through the years. The time period of traditional literature is not defined, but it occurs in the past. All forms have plots and problems, often with a clear conflict between good and evil. The tales and stories usually have happy endings." Apples to Oregon falls under Traditional literature because it has been handed down throughout the years and is popular still today. Apples to Oregon is a tall tale that tells the story of young Delicious and her family, who have set off on the Oregon Trail to build a new life for themselves out west. Since her daddy can't bear to leave behind his beloved fruit trees, they build a special wagon to hold hundreds of fruit trees in addition to their other belongings. This book shows the hard times of the Oregon trial and shows how important perseverance, survival, and hardship are all part of life but in the end you can still achieve something great. This book would be great for introducing a history lesson and should be geared towards 2nd-5th grade. Also, the fact that this is loosely based off of real events makes it fun and relatable.

[Emily Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cute story of the travels a family made on the Oregon Trail to bring fruit trees to Oregon. Vibrant and detailed illustrations help the reader to see the many challenges the family faced in their journey. The first of the challenges is crossing the river, which all the other travelers doubt they will be able to do, underestimating the family. Quickly, the family sets to work on building a raft to transport the trees and the children accross the river. The plan seems to be going well, until... the raft starts to tip! In order to save her father's trees, the daughter, "Delicious," quickly tells her siblings to remove their shoes and use their feet to propel the raft to shore. Her quick thinking saves the trees, and also gets all of her siblings safely to shore. This was just the first of the challenges the family faced along this journey, and I think that this book is a great way to introduce the general concept of the Oregon Trail and how hard the journey was to younger readers. I think that this historical fiction picture book introduces younger readers to concepts that are realistic to the time period/event, while still keeping students engaged and having a young main character ("Delicious") solve problems and help her dad save the trees.

[Kiley DeBruyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this tall tale and felt like it included many good literary aspects. The author incorporated a lot of historical accuracy about traveling across the United States to the West coast. They crossed rivers, braved storms, made it through deserts, and beat the cold nights to get to Oregon. The story would be perfect for teaching the historical aspect of manifest destiny and Americans traveling West. The story is a tall tale because Delicious tells the story of her family traveling West with their fruit trees and they are "larger than life." They make it through many difficulties and all the trees survive. I think that kids would enjoy reading this story as it does tell what a child may have experienced traveling West with their family, even though it is exaggerated and simplified a little. The author paints a good picture of what is included in traveling West and how many families were able to start a new life and succeed. Overall, I enjoyed this book and feel that the exaggeration of crossing the river and other events in the story made it much more enjoyable to read.

[eb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is bizarre. Yes, it's a tall tale, but it has some really itchy patriarchal subtexts happening in it that make it a no-go for me. The narrator is a girl whose dad decides to uproot the family and take them (and his precious fruit trees) to Oregon, and the story follows the trials they face on their way and the girl's faith in her father's vision, even in the face of terrible hardship and danger to her family (who are, tellingly, never once referred to with worry or care the way the apples are). It's a fable and highly stylized, but the way the father's character is portrayed-- as zealous to the point of delusion regarding his quest to get to the west coast with fruit trees he refers to as his "babies" intact-- smacks of, frankly, the kind of dangerous survivalist patriarchal family dynamics we see in nonfiction like Educated. It's insidious and damaging.

[Jane McCarville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cute little book, with outstanding pictures, tells from a girl’s perspective, the slightly true story about a pioneer family's journey from Iowa to Oregon, carrying apple trees and other fruit trees in their wagon. The story is told from the perspective of the oldest daughter, whose name is Delicious, highlighting the family's challenges and their determination to establish an orchard in their new home in Oregon.

This book could be used for reading comprehension to practice summarizing, sequencing events, identifying the main idea, and analyzing characters. From a social studies perspective, the story could be connected to the history of westward expansion and pioneer life, discussing the challenges faced by families during that time. For science, the different types of fruit trees mentioned in the book could be studied and learn about their needs for growth and survival, for a little about this was mentioned in the story.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apples to Oregon is a work of historical fiction. This story is about how a family with eight children traveled from Iowa to Oregon with their many fruit trees. These fruit trees went through a lot on the journey west as the protagonist, Delicious, describes throughout this story. This entertaining story is made mostly of folktale but apple trees coming to the west with a wagon is a true story. This story offers a way for readers to see some of the struggles of the trail out west in an upbeat way without learning the brutal truths of the journey that many faced. I enjoyed how the writing style reflected that of a young girl. I could picture a young girl, such as Delicious, saying those things in real life. I also enjoyed how Delicious was the hero for the plants at multiple times throughout the book.