Why a Booktrail?
1846: Based on the true story of The Donner Party, a group of American pioneers…
The Hunger
What you need to know before your trail
After having travelled west for weeks, the party of pioneers comes to a crossroads. It is time for their leader, George Donner, to make a choice. They face two diverging paths which lead to the same destination. One is well-documented – the other untested, but rumoured to be shorter.
Donner’s decision will shape the lives of everyone travelling with him. Which would you choose and why?
Travel Guide
The Donner Expedition
The book is based on the real life story and tragic journey of a group of American pioneers who set out on a mission only to take the wrong path and find themselves in an impossible situation.
George Donner and James Reed led the party out on a wagon train and their journey should have taken between four and six months but as they approached Nevada, they took the new route called Hastings Cutoff across Utah’s Wasatch Mountains and Great Salt Lake Desert.
The route was untested and the terrain tricky and dangerous. The party soon fell into difficulty and were severely delayed and suffered a series of mishaps.
By the tie they reached the Sierra Nevada, they became trapped by a heavy snowfall close to Donner (Truckee at the time was renamed).
Snow and difficulties delayed the first rescue party almost four months after the party had become trapped. Out of the 87 members in the group, only 48 survived. The journey and rescue were so iconic and infamous since the survivors had to resort to cannibalism to not succumb to their own deaths.
Trail Gallery
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
A remarkable true story of a mountain trek which goes badly wrong. In 1846-1847, a group of American pioneers led by George Donner and James Reed (The Donner Party) got into difficulty on their way West to California. They make a fatal decision, a wrong turn and….well, you can find out for yourself. This is quite a trek into the unknown. It’s a tasty if not gruesome treat to devour that’s for sure!
It’s so well researched and written it almost reads like a travelogue heading towards tragedy. I can only assume the author went on the exact same journey – she may have invented some characters and depth to give the story the impact it needs on the page, but what she does is take you back to that time and moments of terror. Lost and afraid on the mountains. Where nature is your enemy..brrrr
This is a gripping read. A read to make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. Lots of ethereal and even supernatural elements to this. There are some very dark dark places both in the human psyche and in those mountains…
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Hunger
Destination: Nevada, Utah, California, Donner Author/Guide: Alma Katsu Departure Time: 1846
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