Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Diary of Hattie Campbell

After the death of her two sisters, thirteen-year-old Hattie and her family make a fresh start. They sell their farm in Missouri and journey across the Oregon Trail toward Oregon City. At first, the adventure is exciting, but as the days, weeks, and months pass, Hattie realizes what a dangerous and tedious trip it is. As they cross the prairies, news of the fate of the Donner Party reaches them, and death, disease, weather, and the terrain take a terrible toll on their traveling party. The Campbells lose neighbors and friends until they can hardly bear to continue. But Hattie and her family must persevere or risk the same misfortune. Hattie’s diary chronicles the hardships of such a harrowing journey, but also captures the small moments, friendships, and celebrations of life that keep hope alive. 

Hattie and her family’s adventure is filled with danger—perilous rivers to cross, deadly animals, unpredictable weather, and accidents. Despite these daily perils, Hattie focuses on conflicts that today’s readers will relate to. She is sad to leave her friends behind but becomes excited when she meets fourteen-year-old Pepper. When a boy begins courting Pepper, Hattie worries about losing her newfound friend and wonders when she will fall in love. While Hattie doesn’t find romance, she does meet many interesting people along the trail. 

Like many thirteen-year-olds, Hattie’s life revolves around her friends and those she cares about, which often makes her seem self-centered and uncaring when others face problems. For example, when Hattie discovers that Mrs. Kenker, a member of their wagon train, is a thief, she struggles to treat the woman kindly. While this reaction is understandable, Hattie is repeatedly rebuked for her lack of compassion. Her mother provides wise counsel: “In order to move on we must forgive the past. Sometimes that means forgiving someone who hasn’t apologized and probably never will.” Through these trials, Hattie learns to show greater kindness to others. 

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie is told in diary format, which limits the development of other characters but still allows readers to understand the importance of Hattie’s relationships with friends, family, and adults. The characters draw readers into the story while the narrative teaches fascinating facts about the Oregon Trail, including landmarks, dangers, and the various reasons people traveled 2,000 miles to start new lives. Although there is no direct interaction between the wagon train and Indigenous peoples, Hattie writes: “I have decided Indians are like white folks in that some are honest and kind, others are liars and thieves.” This observation reinforces a theme woven throughout the story: making assumptions based on appearance is not only wrong but can harm both yourself and others. 

If you’re interested in learning about the Oregon Trail, Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie offers a compelling glimpse into this historic period and will spark your curiosity to explore the people and landmarks along the trail. However, like the pioneers themselves, you may wish you could stop to explore these places in greater depth. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• While in Independence, Missouri, a group of “boys yell and wave their rifles around. One of them accidentally shot a nine-year-old in the neck. He died quickly, right where he fell.”  
• Tall Joe, the leader of the wagon train, shows off “what looks like two short brushes hanging with a string of beads. . . Tall Joe said proudly, ‘Them is scalps, ma’am. . . Pawnee.” Tall Joe said he shot the men. 
• Tall Joe and Mr. Kenker, another member of the wagon train, get into an argument. Mr. Kenker points a gun at Tall Joe. Tall Joe says, “And the next time you point a gun at me, mister, I’ll slice your ears off — don’t you forget!” When Mr. Kenker’s wife defends him, Tall Joe “grabbed Mr. Kenker’s pistol and aimed it at their wagon seat where a pie was cooling. The first shot made the pan spin, the second splattered it.”  
• Tall Joe and Mr. Kenker get into another fight. Mr. Kenker “walked to the edge of the cliff, stepped into midair, and dropped out of sight. For a moment there was silence, then the piercing scream of Mrs. Kenker.” It is implied that Mr. Kenker died. 
• While on the trail, “a boy playing with his father’s gun accidentally shot our front ox in the head. It dropped dead so quick the ones behind stumbled onto it.” 
• Hattie’s little brother Ben fell off the wagon. “The wheels rolled over his left arm so that it hung like a broken stick. He cried and cried, while Pa set it in a splint.” He eventually recovers. 
• A boy fell off the wagon and “was trampled by the mules behind. There was so much dust that it wasn’t until three wagons passed did they find him.” 
• While crossing a river, a family’s mule panicked, and the animals began to drown. They sank so fast they pulled the wagons underwater before anyone had a chance to jump out. Two families disappeared just like that. I’m sick at heart. The screams of their friends on shore I will never forget as long as I live.” 
• Mrs. Bigg, a kind woman whom Hattie admires, falls off her wagon. “Mrs. Bigg had fallen in the water and was trying to grab her husband’s hand. . . Each time she managed to grab a wheel or harness, the wagon tipped deeper toward her. . . In an instant, Mrs. Bigg and her rescuer disappeared under the tongue of the wagon. . . then they were gone.” 
• A woman on the wagon train receives news that her friend has died. “It seems there was a measles epidemic. When some of the Indian children died, the Cayuse thought Dr. Whitman was a sorcerer. So they burned down the mission.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• A couple who were traveling with Hattie’s group has “two crystal wine goblets, for she and the mister tip back a few each night.” 
• Hattie’s friend Wade is accidentally poisoned. While he’s sick, his parents “gave him a sip of rum” to help him relax. 
• When Hattie’s brother is injured, he is given whiskey to help him with the pain. 

Language  

• Brigham Young has “three nigras, servants look like.” 
• “Lordy” is used as an exclamation once.  

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• Several people from the wagon train eat water hemlock, which is poison. When they get sick, Hattie’s father says, “God help us.” Several people die, and Hattie’s friend Wade “is breathing hard and fast through clenched jaws so it sounds like he’s hissing. Blood is at the corners of his mouth.” Hattie and others pray for Wade’s recovery. 
• Hattie’s mother and Wade’s mother pray, “Asking God, that if it be His will, to please heal Wade.” Wade eventually recovers. His mother “cries and cries she is so thankful to God for healing her son.” Wade’s healing was attributed to God. 
• When a wagon flips over and crashes, Hattie thinks, “Thank God, Mrs. Anderson and her daughters were watching from the top of the hill.” 
• Along the way, Wade sings a hymn: “May our good Lord watch over you always.” 
• When Mrs. Bigg dies, Hattie wonders, “Why did someone as generous and loving and honest as Mrs. Bigg have to die while Mrs. Kenker gets to live?” 
• Hattie continues to mourn Mrs. Bigg’s death. Hattie’s mom says, “I know two things for sure. God loves us and he has a plan for our lives. I wish I knew why He took Mrs. Bigg and Cassia and the other children, but this I do not know.” 
• Brigham Young, American religious leader and second president of the Mormon church, was traveling close to Hattie’s wagon train. She writes, “I think something’s wrong with a religion that says men get to have as many wives as they please all at once.” 
• Hattie thinks Brigham Young is “very religious because he makes his people rest on the Sabbath—no traveling.” 
• Brigham Young’s group travels alone, which makes some of the people on Hattie’s wagon train dislike them. Some say he is acting “high and mighty.” However, Hattie’s father says, “Brigham Young’s people are trying to start a new life, just like us. And I’ll tell you something else. . . we ain’t their judge, God Almighty is, so let’s get going and not be so mad about everything.” 
• While trying to ford a dangerous river, Hattie’s aunt goes into labor. Hattie writes, “Why God sends babies into the world at times like this I’ll never understand, but he does.”