ACCESS DIGITIZED EDITION
Guide/Reviews Database
OLDER FICTION
Wolf, Allan

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep: Voices from the Donner Party

416 pp. | Candlewick | September, 2020 | Trade ISBN 978-0-7636-6324-7 $21.99
(1) YA As in his previous works of historical fiction, including The Watch That Ends the Night (rev. 9/11), Wolf here deploys a cast of characters (a few not human) to provide a fictionalized account of a major event from the past, grounded in thorough research. He describes his storytelling style as "narrative pointillism": "Each point has its own unique perspective. And only by stepping back to consider all the points together will the picture or story become complete." Six sections, each covering roughly a two-month span of time, faithfully track the ill-fated titular expedition from optimistic start to tragic end. Various participants relate events in (mostly) free verse; each bringing his or her (or its) own viewpoint to bear. These characters serve as guides, from eight-year-old Patty Breen with her child's-eye view, to George Donner's erudite and resourceful wife, to two converted Miwok vaqueros dispatched from Fort Sutter to assist the party--only to end up being killed and eaten. Ever-present Hunger, "The Narrator," appears throughout in prose sections to clarify plot points, offer philosophical reflections, and reframe characters' motivations. Careful attention to detail, skillful character development, and expert pacing prevent this ambitious undertaking from buckling under its vast scope. The forty pages of back matter are essential reading as well. Wolf documents his extensive research; among the appended material are profiles of selected characters, a section on "Native Americans and the Donner Party," a timeline, insight into what's real and what's not, and a lengthy recommended reading list. Two maps not seen.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

RELATED 

OLDER FICTION

What Beauty There Is
by Anderson, Cory
OLDER FICTION

Between Perfect and Real
by Stoeve, Ray
OLDER FICTION

Zoe Rosenthal Is Not Lawful Good
by Werlin, Nancy
OLDER FICTION

Home Is Not a Country
by Elhillo, Safia
OLDER FICTION

All Our Hidden Gifts
by O'Donoghue, Caroline
More

Get connected. Join our global community of more than 200,000 librarians and educators.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?