Required Books
Spring 2006
Each class will be assigned a "focus book" to read throughout the study. There will be comprehension discussions, vocabulary explorations and creative projects to compliment each novel.
Each student will be required to purchase or borrow the focus book for their class.
"On to Oregon" may be borrowed from the library or purchased through Amazon.com or Ebay.
All other novels may be borrowed from the library or purchased at Barnes and Noble or WalMart.
Unit Theme: Westward Expansion of the United States 4th-8th (Different levels will focus on themes appropriate to their level)
"On to Oregon" (Also known as Seven Alone) by Honore Morrow
This book reads easily as we focus on 13-year-old John Sager of Missouri, who comes of age with grim immediacy on the Oregon Trail. Tall for his age but disappointingly immature and bratty, John reacts with sulky silf-pity and arrogant defiance when desciplined by his father on the plains. After a fruitless and embarrassing attempt to run away ere boy (as if a mere boy could make it on his own), John is rescued by the legendary Kit Carson and restored to his frantic family. But wagon train life takes it pitiless toll on John's family of 7 children (a baby girl is born en route). First Father and then Mother succomb to wounds and disease. Suddenly John realizes that it is now up to Him to keep the family together (his mother's dying wish, as she entrusts the baby to his special care). Now the religious scoffer sets the standards (Bible reading on Sundays, entries of family data) as he realizes that he wants to honor his dead parents. He makes the commitment to fulfill his father's dream of farming in Oregon territory. Before they were orphaned John shirked the chores of a Boy; now his siblings are amazed at the sudden appearance of their new brother who immediately assumes the responsibilities of an Adult. Facing incredible hardships and staggering odds, young John battles against weather, nature, Indians and well-meaning but interfering white adults who try to decide the fate of his siblings. To remain true to his father's dream of homesteading in Oregon, John must lie, cheat and deceive. But he will not permit anyone or anything to break up His family! The parents he disobeyed in life inspire him from the grave, as he attempts to atone for his selfish past. This book is based on historical fact and only lacks a good map to help readers visualize the children's location, the geographic barriers and their destination. It reads well, since it is about 95% historical fiction with 5% non-fictional asides directed to the reader. John trusts God to lead him safely to the promised land of Oregon with all the children.