Stranded: A Story of Frontier Survival by Matthew P. Mayo
Reviewed by: Sylvia Shults, Circulation
Genre: Western
Suggested Age: Adult
What is the book about?: A young girl, on her way to Oregon with her family, is stranded for the winter in a valley at the foot of the Rockies. Her father and brothers have gone off to hunt buffalo in preparation for their journey over the mountains. When the men don’t return, Janette must find a way to survive. She must battle not only loneliness and hunger, but the wild animals who prowl the valley looking for prey.
My Review: This book has a Western sticker on the spine, but if you’re not a fan of westerns, do not let that put you off reading this book! Stranded is an adventure tale above all. Told in the form of a diary kept by Janette Riker, this is actually based on a true story. Janette Riker was left behind to guard the wagon when her father and two brothers went off to hunt. When they didn’t return, she had to find a way to survive the winter. The real Janette didn’t keep a diary, but if she had, it may have been filled with grit and determination, just like this book.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Powerful, raw, awe-inspiring
Give This a Try if You Like… The Revenant by Michael Punke, or the movie based on the book.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!