  | Donner dinner party (Nathan Hale's hazardous tales) Author: Hale, Nathan | |
| Price: $21.68 | ||
Summary:
A look, in graphic novel format, at the Donner Party expedition, a fascinating snapshot of the westward expansion of the US.
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 2.70 Points: 2.0 Quiz: 160438 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 6-8 Reading Level: 3.10 Points: 6.0 Quiz: 61403 | |
Reviews:
Booklist (10/15/13)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 10/15/2013 Hale, still narrating juicy history tales (after One Dead Spy, 2011) with the help of a British soldier and an effusive, bumbling executioner, tells the harrowing story of the ill-fated Donner party. Beginning with their departure from Springfield, Illinois, in 1846, Hale depicts the party’s progress in small but clear panels and includes lots of factual details, such as a roster of everyone in the party, how they died, and a helpful map showing just how tantalizingly close they came to California before meeting their grisly end. It’s a difficult story, and Hale makes allowances for sensitive readers: “Horrible things are going to happen. If you are easily upset, skip ahead.” But despite the gruesome facts, Hale keeps it relatively light and lifts the mood with some much-needed humor, thanks in no small part to the over-the-top executioner—who, for instance, is outrageously sensitive to the death of cute and fuzzy animals but surprisingly nonchalant about cannibalism. This informative graphic novel capitalizes on enticingly gross history to great effect, balancing raw facts with strong storytelling. - Copyright 2013 Booklist.
