Author: Melissa Forney
Illustrator: Dave Olson
Publisher: Buttery Moon Multimedia
Genre: Children / History
ISBN: 978-0-9790094-5-7
Pages: 214
Price: $17.95
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Theodosia (Teddy) Bodain and her family are moving from Mississippi to Florida. They’ve joined a wagon train, and their 1,000 mile journey will take about four months, if all goes well. The year is 1892, and Florida is a vast wilderness, just waiting to be developed.
Teddy decides to share her adventures with her best friend, Martha, through a series of letters. She tells of the people she meets, the sights she sees, and her experiences in traveling such a vast distance. But along the way, her family runs into trouble when illness strikes the wagon train and everyone is separated in the confusion.
Once Teddy finds herself alone, she must rely on her wits and the kindness of others to survive and ensure she makes it to her destination safely. But will evil strike Teddy along the way?
Melissa Forney has nicely captured the lure and excitement of this dramatic family move across the country. Although the Bodains seek their fortune and a happy future, nothing is certain when crossing such dangerous and unfamiliar territory. History, family and friendship are seamlessly woven together in this well-written and interesting tale. I highly recommend it.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Bergers Book Reviews 