Have you ever had to go on a long, hard and painful journey? Well, in Bound for Oregon by Jean Van Leeuwen, a family leaves their home, travels thousands of miles and overcomes numerous obstacles. Van Leeuwen describes a girl named Mary Ellen Todd, and her family. They travel across the Oregon Trail and encounter obstacles such as storms, rivers, and disease. Van Leeuwen uses the setting of the Oregon Trail to make the reader feel afraid for the characters, because of the dangerous environment they face. In this story, the characters are constantly battling hardships, such as sickness and stormy wether that came in like clashing cymbals. Bound for Oregon contains multiple themes, such as adventure, perseverance, and courage. Mary’s whole
