Bound For Oregon

Jean Van Leeuwen’s novel Bound for Oregon was originally published in 1994. The novel is set in 1852 and is based on the true story of Mary Ellen Todd and her family’s journey from Arkansas to Oregon along the Oregon Trail. When Mary Ellen is nine years old, she, her parents, and her siblings leave their home and venture west to make a new life for themselves. Mary Ellen is sad to leave her house, community, and grandmother behind. She wants to trust that her father, Abbott Todd, will be able to protect them from the dangers of the western landscape. However, she often feels afraid of the unpredictable weather, unfriendly pioneers, treacherous terrain, and the epidemics sweeping the nation. To feel safe, she often curls under the quilt her grandmother made her. However, Mary Ellen’s adventurous spirit inspires her to take risks and seek new experiences, too. The longer she and her family are on the Oregon Trail, the more challenges they encounter. Mary Ellen’s longing for home sometimes makes her doubt her father and wish that they could return to Arkansas, but she also wants to stay strong for her loved ones.