Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story

This is a totally solid book, which covers the intense and slow horror of one girl experiencing the Cherokee removal. I'd say the main difference between this and Tim Tingle's How I Became a Ghost is that Tingle manages to keep moments of humor that act as a foil for tragedy. Rogers doesn't lighten things for her readers, but presents an all-too-believable story of a family struggling to survive the bewildering and extremely cruel circumstances. Well written. Bleak.

Mary and the Trail of Tears does a good job of centering the protagonist for young readers, and relaying some very harsh historical facts in ways that don't shy away from the truth but are still digestible for 3rd graders. Rogers is a member of the Cherokee Nation, so I favor this book in bringing history to life, and would recommend to readers old enough to read the material (probably 3rd-grade and up), and as a quick history lesson for anyone. It presents a day-in-the-life to open the book, and discusses several parts of the history that probably don't make it to the textbook for one reason or another.
The language is very straightforward, probably the biggest giveaway that this is intended for children, and it isn't written to make show more the reaader upset, but doesn't try to hide the facts of the situation either.
I could have used more internal drama in the protagonist as she processes the upending of her world and deaths of loved ones, but overall a very good and informative read. I would definitely use this to teach history as well. show less

A book in the Girls Survive series. This story follows Mary and her family in 1838. They are members of the Cherokee Nation in Georgia. She has been separated from friends since soldiers invaded their land and her parents grow worried that they will be forced out next. On the day her grandma dies, the soldiers come and take over their home and belongings. Her family and father become separated as he was not at the home when this happened. They are taken to Fort Wool first, but move from camp to camp and face challenges of sickness, drought and death.

Twelve-year-old Mary and her Cherokee family are forced out of their home in Georgia by U.S. soldiers in May 1838. From the beginning of the forced move, Mary and her family are separated from her father. Facing horrors such as internment, violence, disease, and harsh weather, Mary perseveres and helps keep her family and friends together until they can reach the new Cherokee nation in Indian Territory. Featuring nonfiction support material, a glossary, and reader response questions, this Girls Survive story explores the tragedy of forced removals following the Indian Removal Act of 1830.

-Amazon description

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