The Far Tribes

I started at the beginning of the series with "Sun River", and have been working my way through them. Of the first three books, I think I enjoyed this one the most. The Far Tribes isn't simply a journey from point A to point B, but is an exploration by a group of New Englanders of the ways of various Indian tribes. Set in the early 1850's in what is today Montana and Wyoming, Wheeler excels here, with his style of grit including pain, fear of death, perseverance, and even a dash of romance. The previous reviewer was right about the freezing rain scene; indeed there were several chapters where I found myself unable to put the book down. And that's about the highest compliment I can give to a narrative story.

This is one of the earlier entries into the Skye's West series, and it's just as good as the others I've read to date. The freezing rain sequence was so painfully real, it set my hair standing on end. Once again, Mister Skye and his family delight the reader as they trek about what is now Montana, trying to keep their charges alive and in line.