Fiction Review: One More River to Cross by Jane Kirkpatrick

Book Description:

In 1844, two years before the Donner Party, the Stevens-Murphy company left Missouri to be the first wagons into California through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mostly Irish Catholics, the party sought religious freedom and education in the mission-dominated land and enjoyed a safe journey--until October, when a heavy snowstorm forced difficult decisions. The first of many for young Mary Sullivan, newlywed Sarah Montgomery, the widow Ellen Murphy, and her pregnant sister-in-law Maolisa.

When the party separates in three directions, each risks losing those they loved and faces the prospect of learning that adversity can destroy or redefine. Two women and four men go overland around Lake Tahoe, three men stay to guard the heaviest wagons--and the rest of the party, including eight women and seventeen children, huddle in a makeshift cabin at the headwaters of the Yuba River waiting for rescue... or their deaths.

My Review:
One More River to Cross is a musical chorus with high and low chords woven together to create a dramatic melody of fear, faith, and triumph. The folks who pioneered the west were tough people. The men and women in this story showed a strength I can't imagine. As the story jumped among three different groups, I cheered for those who took on the task of leadership and hoped for those who were losing focus. Their faith kept them from giving up. I especially enjoyed Daniel, Beth, Ellen and Mary's stories. If you love historical fiction based on true experiences, you'll want to read One More River to Cross. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.