frontier and pioneer life

The Bentley family is peculiar indeed. Twins Eliza and Leander and their parents always seem to know more, dream more, and do more than the other families in town. When they decide to head west toward promise of the unknown, every day becomes a new adventure. But when one wild night causes Eliza to lose her most precious possession, it seems to curse the entire Oregon Trail. Could a thirteen-year-old girl be the downfall of the pioneers?.

Do you know the story of the "Wild" West? The history stories you think you know may not be what they seem. In this deep-diving series, readers of How FACT Became FICTION are invited into the truth beyond the stories people tell about history. It includes investigations into what really happened and how the truth was hidden over time. Readers explore primary sources as they develop historical inquiry and media literacy skills and learn the ins and outs of separating fact from fiction.

"In the 1870s, a Black family undertakes a perilous wagon journey westward for a tenuous shot at freedom in Nebraska"--Provided by publisher.

For Laura Ingalls, Christmas means good things to eat, visits from friends, and special gifts to give and receive. As Laura grows up, every Christmas is better than the one before.

"Americans' large-scale movement west during the 1800s stemmed from several events. The discovery of gold in California, the Mormon migration west, the transcontinental railroad, and the search for farmland propelled many people in the East across the continent. This valuable volume highlights the major causes and effects of the push westward, highlighting important topics such as Native American displacement and the construction of the Erie Canal. Sidebars, fact boxes, maps, and historical images support readers as they develop an understanding of the many events that expanded the United States from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean"--Provided by publisher.

"Take a...visual journey through the Indian wars in the pages of this...illustrated reference. Native American author Anton Treuer's...text explores...stories, including the...expedition of Hernando de Soto, the clashes between the Plains tribes, and the...surrender of legendary leader Chief Joseph. Hundreds of illustrations, maps, photographs, and artworks lay bare the...conflicts between Native Americans and European encroachment"--Provided by publisher.

Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her wherever she goes. It's locked at all times. Because when the trunk is opened, people around her start to disappear. The year is 1914, and Adelaide is in trouble. Her secret sin killed her parents, and forced her to flee her hometown of Redondo, California, in a hellfire rush, ready to make her way to Montana as a homesteader. Dragging the trunk with her at every stop, she will be one of the 'lone women' taking advantage of the government's offer of free land for those who can cultivate it; except that Adelaide isn't alone. And the secret she's tried so desperately to lock away might be the only thing keeping her alive.

Eleven-year-old John Hale has already survived one brutal Dakota winter, and now he's about to experience one of the deadliest blizzards in American history. The storm of 1888 was a monster, a frozen hurricane that slammed into America's midwest without warning. Within hours, America's prairie would be buried under ten feet of snow. Hundreds would be dead, thousands terrified and lost and freezing. John never wanted to move to the wide-open prairie. He's a city kid, not a tough pioneer! And his inner strength is seriously tested when he finds himself trapped in the blinding snow, the wind like a giant crushing hammer, pounding him over and over again. Will John ever find his way home?.

"It is January 12, 1888, and you are caught by surprise by a powerful blizzard that sweeps across the Midwest. Dangerously cold temperatures, high winds, and deep snow make travel nearly impossible. Will you be able to find your way home through the storm after leaving school? Can you find your father after he becomes lost in the blinding snow? Will you be able to help your students find shelter after the storm ruins your schoolhouse? With dozens of possible choices, it's up to YOU to find a way to survive one of history's worst blizzards"--Provided by publisher.

Olivia Clark, a young girl who is moving with her family from Missouri to Oregon Territory during the middle of the nineteenth century, describes her five month journey traveling westward.