Tree Wagon by Evelyn Sibley Lampman

Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Publication Date: 1953
Pages: 239
Challenges: Heart of a Child Challenge #3

This is a fictionalized story based on a real family. Although some of the real family have been adapted and renamed in the book, the basic story is true. In 1847Henderson Luelling (sometimes spelled Lewelling) moved his family from Iowa to Oregon and brought with them a wagonload of over 700 fruit trees – about half of the trees survived the journey and became the beginnings of the Oregon Nursery industry.

More information about the real Henderson Luelling and his trees can be found here and here.

Lampman’s book takes some liberties with the story which she tells from the viewpoint of 12 year old Aseneth Luelling – a young girl who at the beginning of the book plans to stay in Iowa because she can’t take her cat and 6 newborn kittens on the journey to Oregon. Aseneth is a daydreamer and has some elaborate ones throughout the book, but it’s an enjoyable read – albeit with some 1950’s era treatment in its portrayal of Native Americans.

This book was a pleasant trip down memory lane for me. It brought back memories of my beloved 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Williams reading it to us to go along with a series of history lessons on the Oregon Trail. When you grow up in Oregon, it seem like you study the Oregon Trail stuff every year. I remember reading the book several times on my own after that. I was so proud of myself for knowing what ‘grafted’ meant because of this book when I went with my Mom to the local nursery to buy trees and plants for our yard.

This completes the initial list of books I’d selected for the Heart of a Child Challenge, but I’m having so much fun with these that I think I’m going to read a couple more – maybe Harriet the Spy and The Borrowers.