Tragedy refuses to abate in this fictional account of the Donner party's expedition west. Narrated mostly in verse by a cast of distinct characters and an omniscient, non-human figure ("Hunger"), the story begins as the group of families sets out with a slew of animals and wagons stocked with supplies. Among them are children Patty Reed (dubbed "The Angel"), whose narration is in the form of prayers, and Virginia Reed ("The Princess"); their father James Reed, who fancies himself a strong leader, is later ousted from the group for killing a fellow traveler. Attempting a shortcut to California, the settlers spend a winter trapped in the snowy mountains, where some starve to death and others cannibalize the bodies of those who die. Tamzene Donner ("The Scholar") refuses to leave her dying husband's side; Ludwig Keseberg ("The Madman") endures agonizing injury before his long-awaited rescue. Voices are given to two Miwok vaqueros who attempt a rescue expedition and are murdered by the settlers when the situation becomes dire. Extensive back matter provides short biographies of the characters, a timeline, a miscellany of facts and figures, and more. (Age 14 and older)