Luke's Adventures on the Oregon Trail

Book excerpt: Luke’s Adventures on the Oregon Trail is an historical fiction of travel in 1853 to Oregon. The story tells the experience from the viewpoint of twelve-year-old Luke Bishop. He describes preparing for the trip and his experiences on the trail. The first part of the book describes Luke’s life on the farm and his parents’ decision to travel to Oregon. His Father and Luke build a wagon, buy oxen, and his parents sell the farm. First they travel from their home in Illinois to St. Louis and Independence, Missouri, when they will begin their trip on the Oregon Trail. On the trail they have to deal with Indians, buffaloes, crossing rivers, steep hills, boredom, and sickness. The Bishop family survives all the problems and Luke’s father becomes a farmer in Oregon. Luke will always remember the family’s trip to Oregon.