Diary of Sallie Hester: A Covered Wagon Girl

By Sallie Hester

Teenager Sallie Hester and her family packed their supplies into a wagon and set off on a dangerous 2,000 mile journey to California. They faced disease, raging rivers, and blazing hot deserts. Through it all, Sallie wrote down her experiences in a diary. Read her story, and learn about the Oregon Trail from someone who traveled it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
• Release date: Jan 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491416105

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Dangerous Journey West

The Diary of Sallie Hester 1849–1850

Honoring a Part of U.S. History

Timeline

Glossary

Read More

Critical Thinking Using the Common Core

Internet Sites

Index

A Dangerous Journey West

On March 20, 1849, Sallie Hester began a dangerous journey that changed her life. The 14-year-old girl left Indiana with her family to move to the California Territory.

Between 1841 and 1866, more than 350,000 pioneers made the journey from the eastern United States to western territories such as Oregon and California. These pioneers believed life would be better out West. The overcrowding of the eastern United States had led to unhealthy and uncomfortable living conditions. Disease outbreaks were common in the East, causing many deaths.

Pioneers also traveled west in search of gold. Gold had been discovered in California in 1848. Thousands of people hoped to become wealthy.

Wagon trains formed single-file lines as they journeyed West.

The Hesters did not head to California Territory in search of wealth. They had money and lived comfortably. Sallie’s father, Craven, was a successful lawyer. But Sallie’s mother, Martha, was ill. Craven hoped that Martha’s health would improve in the warm California climate.

The Hesters said good-bye to their friends and

Reviews for Diary of Sallie Hester

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This series of books is meant for a younger reader. The diary excerpts are real. The historical information presented is very good and written in a way that a younger reader would understand and find interesting. It is interesting to "hear" history from the perspective of a young person who was actually there.

[silva_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't realize that this book is aimed at children, but despite its being a quick read I enjoyed learning more about Sallie Hester and her family as they made their way across the plains to arrive in California.