The May family is on the way to a new life in Oregon. They are leaving in a wagon train tomorrow morning – the parents and all their children, including newly widowed Naomi. But today, they are exploring town, stocking up on the supplies they will need to survive in the wilderness…and making friends. Naomi catches the eye of the mule dealer’s son who is also heading out tomorrow as a guide with the train. One tiny interaction on a busy street will forever change the lives of both the pair and the May family. Love wasn’t expected in this frontier town, but it’s love that will pull them through the tough times ahead.
Perfect for Xennials who grew up playing Oregon Trail on 5 ¼” floppy disk in their elementary school’s computer lab, Where the Lost Wander follows a group of families looking for a fresh start in the new Oregon Territory in 1853. Amy Harmon weaves a love story that feels genuine in its development, as well as racial bias against Native tribes, throughout this novel of exploration and desperation. With moments that feel too far away from the typical love story, Harmon does not shy away from the darker side of this era in American history. This is a book about finding your place and survival in the face of great adversity.
I give Where the Lost Wander 3 out of 5 stars. After the first few chapters, I actually stopped to look up which came first – the novel or the screenplay for Taylor Sheridan’s 1883 series (the novel did, if you’re wondering). Those opening pages actually felt like many of the previews for the series put out a few years ago. The previews for that show are largely the reason why I never watched it, and, to be completely transparent, I nearly stopped reading this book, too. I understand the West was a violent place, but it wasn’t what I was looking to read. I was also disappointed in the way one of the main characters was able to speak several tribal languages – it’s my understanding that was not common. Additionally, the way that certain people from their past keep popping up at just the right time to save them felt forced and unrealistic.
This book should come with trigger warnings for a variety of topics such as violent death, gun violence, scalping (that might be a first for me in the trigger warnings), rape, physical violence, and kidnapping. For a love story, that’s really too many warnings, which is part of why I have to give it a low 3-star rating. Given these warnings, I would suggest this book for more mature readers over the age of 16. If you liked 1883, you may find this a 5-star book, but, just like that series wasn’t something I was racing to watch, this is not a book I would actively recommend to someone looking for a western or book set in Oregon.
I chose Where the Lost Wander for the US States prompt “Oregon”. While technically set on the Oregon Trail and very little in the actual Oregon territory, I thought this was going to be a great look at life in the early days of the future state. I’ve got a few other great suggestions in Sunday’s agenda you may enjoy more than this novel. Have you read this one? Let me know if you agree with my thoughts!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The Lost Summer of Newport, Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White
- Current audio book: The Christmas Inn, Pamela M. Kelley
- Book I’m most looking forward to: The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
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