A Light in the Wilderness
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Rating: 4/5
Revell – Historical Fiction
Although she cannot read, Leticia treasures the papers that prove she is free and no longer a slave. When she decides to marry Davey Carson and travel with him along the Oregon Trail, she is determined to build a new life for herself. Davey is an Irishman who has his own secrets but is loyal to Leticia.
On the trail, the Carsons meet and bond with Dr. Zachariah Hawkins, his wife, Nancy, and their large family. Nancy loves her husband so much that she’s willing to leave everything she knows to follow her husband across the country to Oregon. Nancy and Leticia form a special friendship that both come to rely on when tragedy strikes.
Did Leticia do the right thing? Should she have stayed in Missouri? Can she trust Davey to write her into his will? Could Davey ever care for her and look past the color of her skin?
I loved that the book was based on the real life story of Leticia Carson. The historical aspects of the story are so well realized and described. I was completely caught up in the story and transported to a different time and place. The first 1/3 of the story is a little slow but once I really got into the book, I couldn’t put it down. Kirkpatrick did an amazing job with the setting and the characters. I really enjoyed reading about Leticia’s character and her triumphs and struggles. She was someone I would have loved to have met in person.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history and is interested in learning about life on the Oregon Trail and in Oregon Territory.
I received this book for free from Revell in exchange for an honest review.
