The Devil’s Paintbox by Victoria McKernan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Oregon Trail was not just an early 90’s computer game. It was a real path though the country leading folks to dreams of prosperity and hopes for the future. Aiden and Maddie Lynch are two young people on their own. Drought has destroyed their farm, and they are living off of clay, cornmeal, grasshoppers and whatever else they can find. When Jefferson J. Jackson arrives on the scene and offers Aiden and Maddie a chance of a lifetime: to leave the desolation of their farm behind and head West to begin a new life. Aiden can become a logger in Washington State. Along the journey with about a hundred other people, Aiden and Maddie face a variety of challenges. They must make choices and judgments that they might not ordinarily make for the sake of survival. The road is difficult, but there is nothing behind them. The Devil’s Paintbox by Victoria McKearnan outlines the treacherous journey of two young people along the trail. Extreme weather, indigenous peoples, disease, danger around every corner. Is it worth it?
I have to admit that I found this book a slow and cumbersome read in the beginning. It is also on the longer side, which may be troublesome for reluctant readers. The action began to pick up several chapters in. This book is heavily laden with difficult situations and tragedy, which may not be easy for some young people to take. As far as content is concerned, there is a fair amount of violence. The events in the latter part of the book delve into the grey area between right and wrong when survival is at stake, which makes for great discussion material in classrooms. As a historical fiction book, my recommendation is to pair this book with a non-fiction trade book to ensure historical accuracy. All-in-all, this is a decent book. Certainly not my favorite when it comes to historical fiction, but decent nonetheless.