The Devil's Paintbox by Victoria McKernan

Victoria McKernan has written a gripping tale of survival published by Alfred A. Knopf. It's April 1865, the Lynch farm has been devastated by fire and drought, the last survivors of the family are Aiden,15, and his sister Maddy, 13 and even though they made it through the winter, starvation is now inevitable.Unlikely savior, Jefferson J. Jackson, arrives just as the last of the cornmeal mush is about to expire and offers a fighting chance of survival if Aiden will indenture himself as a logger. The orphans see a chance at a new life but that chance is 2,000 perilous miles away. Mr. Jackson agrees to ferry them across the country in his wagon train but before they leave cautions them, "Any way you can think up to die is out there waiting."Aiden is wary but will do anything for his sister's survival and happiness and Maddy is anxious to see what life has in store for them. Their exploits naturally include new friends like the young Nez Perce boy, Tupic, educated in a mission s
chool but now reunited with his tribe and Doc Carlos, who helps the wagon train avoid an epidemic of "the devil's paint".Victoria McKernan portrays both the danger and beauty of the developing west and at the same time deftly depicts the orphans heartbreaking and hopeful adventure-filled story with exciting and dramatic characters. Besides "The Devil's Paintbox", Victoria McKernan has written "Shackelton's Stowaway", another young adult historical novel and four novels for adults. She lives in Washington, DC.

View this post on my blog: http://www.yourgamebook.com/the-devils-paintbox-by-victoria-mckernan.html