In 1828, while traveling from Illinois to Kentucky, twelve-year-old Jesse and her two brothers and sister lose their parents to the milk sickness and must try to finish the dangerous journey by themselves. ( )

Orphan Journey Home is a great book. The author first wrote the story as a newspaper series. She had to make the story short with a cliff hanger at the end of each piece (article). When it came time for her to actually publish the book she expanded some on the book and included some things that previous newspaper readers had questioned her about.

Orphan Journey Home is about four children who loose their parents on a trip east to Kentucky back to live with their grandmother. Their father writes them a safe passage letter to try and keep them from the bondage of that time. Along the way they face different encounters of people and the times. The children arrive home to find their grandmother struggling to hold on just as they were along their journey.

This is an interesting book that shows a little into the life of how it was for families during those times. It is also great to show the trials children faced after they lost their parents as many did. It would be a good book to introduce with western passage material. It also highlights a little of the promises that really never happen for those who heard such great things about moving west.

All in all it is a fun, short, and informative read.