ARDATH MAYHAR
ISBN# 1-58873-536-2
January 2003
Renaissance E Books
www.renebooks.com
E-Book
$4.99
Western Historical
335 Pages
Rating:
Although billed as a western, this Spur Award nominee is no typical shoot-‘em-up tale.
The book follows the Stoner family as they migrate from a burned out Missouri farm
across the Oregon Trail in 1850. Among others on this trek are an Austrian widow,
Katerina Holzer, who is seeking her grown sons and another widow of German descent,
Marta Hirschorn with her eight boys, ranging from six to nineteen.
Much of the story is told through the eyes of Maryla, the eldest of the Stoner children. A
tall athletic girl of eighteen, she is a tomboy who wears trousers, hunts and works
alongside her father and brothers. Tragedy befalls the Stoner family, leaving Maryla and
her youngest brother Phil the sole survivors. Maryla endures a winter in the Rockies
alone. Phil is handed around among various groups of Indians until he finally escapes to
reunite with his sister. Together they weather further adventures but ultimately arrive in
Oregon to begin a new life. Near the end, there are hints of a romance between Maryla
and Andreas, the eldest Hirschorn son.
Better known for her fantasy works, High Mountain Winter proves Ms. Mayhar can also
weave a vivid adventure set in an historical period and partly based on real events.
Originally published in 1966, the book is now offered to new readers in e-book form. I
enjoyed and would recommend this inspiring book to anyone interested in a true-to-life
portrayal of the hardships faced by pioneers crossing the Great American Desert and
the courage and ingenuity with which most met these challenges.
Alegria
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Reviewer for Coffee Time Reviews
