“Along the Trail” by Kaci Curtis

Along the Trail

Kaci Curtis
Wild Rose Press, Inc. (2025)
ISBN: 978-1509263165
Reviewed by Jennifer Bishop for Reader Views (01/2026)

What was it like traveling on the Oregon Trail? We’ve heard about dysentery, but what else may have occurred on the long journey over such rough terrain? Kaci Curtis explores this in Along the Trail by following Winnie and her family. In this story, they begin in Missouri and join a travel guide as well as a train of other wagons to journey across America all the way to Oregon. They plan to start a new life and a new colony of people.

Throughout the journey, Winnie is discovering who she is and what kind of future she wants for herself. She sees her newly married sister, who is happy beginning the life of a wife and future mother. Yet she also sees her new friend, who is more free-spirited and loves the adventure of the trail. As she learns what life on the trail is like, and what all challenges there are to face, she has a boy named Hal who seems to come along and help out any time there’s a need.

I really feel like Curtis truly captured the heart of a young girl traveling on such a perilous journey. There was laughter and love along with fear and peril. Learning about how they set up the wagons for travel, both over rough terrain and through rivers, was also very interesting. She described the landscape so well that I was able to imagine it as if I were traveling along as well. Even the writing itself was captivating and beautiful. The transition between calm moments and intense moments was extremely fluid and did not feel forced or unnatural.

Something else that was well done, she portrayed the curiosity and fear of the unknown Natives in a way that felt true to history. And she did not shy away from some of the harsher realities of what would have happened. There are bandits, severe injuries, pregnancies, and even animal loss. There were also moments of celebration where the camaraderie between the fellow travelers was absolutely beautiful.

Along the Trail by Kaci Curtis was a beautiful and heart-grabbing story about traveling along the Oregon Trail and what all that entailed. It’s historical fiction that can be read by young adults and older. There is very minor cursing and only closed-door bedroom scenes that are just hinted at. This was so well done, and I truly believe everyone should pick this book up and give it a read!