This would be a tremendous read for 7th grade suburbanites who think life is tough when their mom's SUV is in the shop, and they have to walk a quarter mile to soccer practice.Being in my 40's I very much enjoyed this simple story of boy and his mother and father who settle into hostile Kansas-Colorado border area, and homestead there. Through sicknesses and storms the family endures, and through the everyday stresses, one senses the building of a higher spiritual order built on family responsibility. The book presents many details of plains life and risks that have been forgotten. After reading this, one is reminded of just how much more can be accomplished through resolve and love.

This book is a pleasure to read. Borland has brought the homestead to me as no one has before. Seen through the eyes of a young boy. We discover the end of the wild west as he does. It is refreshing to hear about the challenges of a new homesteader and how they perservered. In fact, this book does a great job of showing what is right with America. How "do-it-yourselfers" are the real reason that this great country is what is today. I'd recommend this book for all ages, all people.

Hal Borland grew up on the Colorado frontier early in the 20th century, his family being among the last to take advantage of the Homestead Act. Although the story is set from 1910-1913, within the lifetime of a few old people I know, it's so far away from the world of the internet that it's staggering. In some ways like the Little House on the Prairie books, but somewhat more sophisticated, this is a completely true account of Mr. Borland's childhood, and it relates the events of his difficult life, and also explores deeper subjects such as the nature of time. A difficult book to find, but a very worthwhile read.

The author moved to the Colorado frontier at the turn of the century when he was a preteen. His descriptions of the hard work for survival that his family endured, along with the peacefulness of a time that was not burdened by extra possessions, made me homesick for a different time. He reminded me that a lot of what we are missing is time to sit and look at the sky (there was no school nearby, so he didn't attend one). It was not an easy time, and illnesses before penicillan could be deadly. But courage and love went a long way, even though those words were not mentioned. I was quite moved by this family's determination to succeed.

It's a great guide to the CT and I often use the advice for any trip I'm planning. It goes into great detail for the thru hiker or the day hiker, about the CT, or regardless of where you hike.

This book is in excellent source of information on the Colorado Trail. The sections are perfect for day/weekend hikers as well as thru-hikers. The advice on trail hiking is also very accurate and useful.

This book, although fiction, is true history. It was written by Henty in 1894. It's a classic adventure novel right up there in the ranks of Swiss Family Robinson. Henty was an outstanding writer of his time. It's very easy to get lost in this book, I'd be suprised if anyone could read it without putting it down. It's full of references and dialect of days long gone by. I want to jump into a time machine and go live with Tom for a while and quit worrying about traffic and work. I am fortune enough to own an original 1894 hard copy of this book that was given to me by a family friend and will cherrish it for ever.

This book presents a factual side of western history in an exciting way! That is very rare these days. From the first few pages, you are drawn in by young Tom's determination to join his uncle in Colorado and the dangers, joys, and sorrows he encounters along the way. I read this book in five days; it is an impossible put-down! All those who love history or just great stories will love this book.

I found this book on a shelf in a bookstore, thought it looked interesting and would serve the purpose of curing my boredom while sitting at home. Little did I know that this book would keep me enraptured so I could not put it down.
Normally I don't read books of this nature, but after realizing this is part of a series I went on a hunt for the other two and have not been let down thus far.

Lady of Light is the 3rd book in the Brides of Culdee series. Just when I think Kathleen Morgan has written her best ever, she comes out with one more. I appreciate the reality of flawed humans dealing with diffucult relationships. I also appreciate the reality of a great God who is ever present. In Lady of Light, Evan and Claire fall in love in a short period of time and marry. Not only do they deal with the problems of most newlyweds, but Claire brings along her troubled younger brother and immediately moves to a new country. In this new country, which is Evan's home, Claire deals with questioning in-laws and working daily with Evan's first love. Did he marry on the rebound? Does he really love her? Does he still long for his first love? When tradegy looms, the whole family must work together. But how!?! The complicated relationships must grow stronger or break. Even growth is not without pain and scars. A true love story because God is love.

I bought this book because Warren Angus Ferris is my Great (many times over) Grandfather and I was researching the family tree. What a delight to find that he was an accomplished writer and pioneer! His journal of his life in the Rocky Mountains is exceptionally well-written and a beautiful view of the time period. I recommend it to anyone with an interest of the early 1800's or fur-trading.

Day to day survival in the early American West at its best! Pick up any reputable book on the fur trade era during this time frame, and Warren Ferris' "Life in the Rocky Mountains" is always cited as a reference. There is good reason for this. Ferris joined the American Fur Company in 1830 at the age of nineteen and this is his journal of how life was back then from 1830-1835, so far removed from the luxuries of civlization. He spent most of his time in the central and northern Rockies, describing and recording just about everything one can possibly imagine from hostile Indians and the unrelenting forces of nature to grizzlies, days without food and water, etc. He was there at the Battle of Pierre's Hole and the death of William Vanderburgh. He also details the Yellowstone area with its geysers and other oddities, along with many other geographical areas which we now take for granted. Ferris vividly describes the many different Indian tribes of the region of their customs, cultures and habits. This is an excellent book and I can see why many historians use this book as reference material. A must read for fur trade era enthusiasts and arm chair explorers.

This book is about my cousins, and is a true story that shattered our family. The spritual journey that my Aunt and Uncle went through as a result of this tragedy, has changed my life, and I'm sure will change the lives of all who read it.
God can bring good out of all things, even something as horrible as this. I Highly recommend that you read this book.

I loved this book and was surprised to see that it is out of print. I wanted to order it to send to a friend. I remember that I have an extra copy and will send it to her for Christmas. She loves murder mysteries just as I do, so I am certain she will find it as interesting and entertaining as I did.

I've just finished this book for the 3rd time. Each time I smile and dream about Colorado. I can smell the summer showers on the horizon. Now I know how to survive if I get caught again in one of those instant season changes from summer to winter. You know the type, that happen at about 10,000 feet, with a 50 degree temperature plummet in about 45 minutes, that leave you praying for a fleece and a quick decent.
Want to know about historical archaeological digs? Grizzly Bear Myths? Best place to find a burrito as big as your head? Pumas? Surely toxic ceramic-like mud? No???? You just want to know about trail riding? Well this is the book for that as well. Single and double tracks, wash boards, roads, the whole enchilada......mmmmm green chili. Who woulda thunk a trail guide would be so entertaining and yet so thorough? Buy this book now for any of the above reasons, or just buy it for the pure enjoyable read that it is.

This book has a personality lacking in most guidebooks. It is like having a local along on the ride with you. It is nice to see a mountain bike book by a Coloradan dedicated to Colorado mountain biking.

Excellent book for hikers not really familiar with the Summit County area. I am from Ohio, and my family found the book most helpful in ranking the difficulty of hikes, estimating the time of our trips and how strenuous a hike we were looking at. Also the maps & directions were right on the money. Without this book we would have missed out on some fantastic hiking in the Breckenridge & Frisco areas!!

My husband and I have chosen several of the hikes included by Ms. Gilliland and, as neophyte hikers, have found them very enjoyable. Most importantly, we have come to depend on both the times given for the hikes as well as the difficulty ratings. I would not hesitate to take a hike from this book if it sounded attractive to me -- I'd know I could count on it being just as described

This is the little known story of an extraordinarily brave and determined woman that influenced the lives of many people. Against all odds, Clara Brown bought her freedom out of slavery, successfully established herself in the west, and assisted other ex-slaves in the same difficult journey. The life of Clara Brown, told by Linda Lowery, proves to be an amazing story of heroism and compassion. I highly recommend sharing this story with your children, as it is beautifully written and historically important.

From Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks to George Washington Carver and Harriet Tubman, there are scores of African-Americans who were and are genuinely heroes. However, after reading this tale, I can't think of a single individual who possessed the drive, determination and sheer guts of Clara Brown. Lowery has uncovered a slice of both American and African-American history that's exciting and inspirational. My young daughter loved this book, as did I, and the author's fluid writing style really keeps the tale tantalizing and emotionally moving. Black or white, young or old, I highly recommend this book. Though largely unknown today, Clara Brown's life story is one that really should be told, and Lowery's book is an excellent introduction to this amazing woman.