Go West, Young Women!

This book is an fascinating and colorful look at crossing the plains from a girl's perspective. It is very entertaining, and Phoebe is an interesting and engaging main character. We really get to know how she feels and thinks. Boys may not find the book quite as enjoyable; there aren't any sympathetic male characters, and most of the women don't seem to fond of men in general. This is a good book to get the favor of the early westward movement.

This book is one of the few available that are adventurous, appeal to girls in a period where self-confidence is constantly threatened, and has a splash of learning tossed in. Not enough to make it boring, of course.

I loved this book. I love historical fiction and this was very educational. Yet at the same time, this was a very fun to read book. I couldn't put it down!!

When the men in the Kennan Party find disaster on a buffalo hunt, the women must take over to survive!! That means that 12 year old Phoebe must take over many "manly" chores and help the others on the rough journey West. Thus the Petticoat Party is born! Phoebe finds inner strength along the way and also becomes a blood-sister to a Sioux chief-to-be in the process! A delightful read that gives enough historical fact and humor to make it worth the time! Good book for 4-6th graders!

This first book in the Petticoat Party series was great. It is about a wagon train of strong, independent women. All the men are dead or injured so the women try to get to Oregon on their own. This book was funny, too.