Comment

Feb 17, 2014
Like, I'm sure, most people, I vaguely remember learning about the Donner Party in my U.S. history classes. What I remember: pioneers, mountains, snow, cannibalism. No details or people, which I didn't think were all that important or compelling. So I was surprised to find that such an engaging, entertaining story could be told about the tragedy. In typical Hazardous Tales style, Nathan Hale has found a way to balance historical facts, melodramatic personalities, broad humor, grim realities, and exceptional artwork into a fascinating tale. There are numerous warnings about the gruesome content well in advance to soften the shock of encountering it, and it is shared without detail or embellishment. The rest of the content, on the other hand, is embellished with unexpected details that make the book all the more exciting. Even though I knew the general outcome the book was heading toward, I found myself caught up in the suspense of wanting to know just how it would happen. This is history at its best, and I expect young readers will find themselves enthralled and captivated.