Heart of the Wilderness

When Kendra is orphaned at a very young age, her grandfather, George, sees no better choice than to take her to live with him in the backwoods. But given that George has lived alone as a trapper for years, the life he provides Kendra, away from the city, may not be enough for her in Heart of the Wilderness by author Janette Oke.

I first read this novel a number of years ago, so it didn't hold any big surprises for me. Indeed, it's not the kind of read for major surprises or twists. It's a simple, easygoing story with only a few characters most of the way through.

Now, while I've enjoyed a good deal of this author's easy reading over the years, this one almost seems to wander along the path of Kendra's childhood, girlhood, and young show more womanhood. There's not really a driving focus until quite late in the book. Then the last few chapters awkwardly rush to pull the faith theme together, to introduce some rather last-minute characters, and also to squeeze in a new, underdeveloped romance.

Nevertheless, even with the weaknesses I recognize in these novels, I still consider the Women of the West series to be one of my all-time favorites. It's trailblazing fiction: some of the first of its kind in ChristFic as we now know it. Historical stories that are easy to digest but that also tuck some important nuggets inside. show less

The eighth of eight standalone novels in Janette Oke's Women of the West collection. Kendra is orphaned at 3 years old, then taken in by her trapper grandfather who lives in the Canadian wilderness (seems like it's north of Edmonton). Her grandfather isn't religious and doesn't put much stock in either the Indian gods and stories or the Bible. He equates them all as fairy tales and myths. Kendra enjoys living with her grandfather and has a hard time adjusting when he takes her in to the city to be educated. That doesn't last long and she goes back to home with him and educates herself by reading lots of books. Then she decides to go to Edmonton for a year of college. It is there that she finds truth about the God she's been searching show more for but didn't know anything about. As with all of these Women of the West books, the characters and their relationships are not as well-developed as in Janette Oke's other books (Love Comes Softly and When Calls the Heart). show less

This was a favorite story of mine in this 'Women of the West' series. Kendra Marty was not quite 4 years old when she lost both her parents, with no one left behind to care for her except her Grandpa, George McMannus (called 'Papa Mac' by Kendra). The problem was that Papa Mac lived out in the wilderness by himself as a trapper. He just can't leave her to others to raise, so packs her up and takes her to the backwoods to live. This will work for a time, but as Kendra gets older she will have to leave and get more training. Watching these two people grow together and learn from each other was very enjoyable. Their love for each other was very dear to my heart, and tears came when they had to part. But in the end the Lord will work it all show more out for everyone's good! show less

Lightweight fluff of a story about frontier life in Alberta. Old-timey fur trapper inherits 4 year-old granddaughter when his daughter and her husband are killed in a river accident. This is a story of a young girl growing up on a lonely frontier, though not actually feeling lonely, having her grandfather, her caretaker/Indian friend Nonie, and her dog. The author grew up in Alberta, and (never having been there myself) I thought she did a really nice portrayal of the area.

Kandra is tragically orphaned, and goes to live with her grandfather, a trapper in the backwoods of the USA. She grows up secure and confident, educated at home, and emerges into the adult world to learn about God and other people. A pleasant light read without too much preaching.

Good story about an orphan four year old who goes to live with her grandfather in the northern wilderness. She is searching for the truth all her life and I do like that she finds it when she learns about God as a college kid. Then her purpose in life becomes to tell her grandfather and the Indian woman who helped raise her about God. I like that God works her life out for good as she is following his path for her.

In the spirit of summer reading programs counting a significant number of pages read as one book, I'm officially marking myself done with this. I slogged through well over a hundred pages (the last chapter number I confidently remember is 19), and I don't think I even got to the story's main conflict. It was a good book to read at bedtime. Girl lives in wilderness. Wilderness is nice. Wilderness can be hard, but always nice.