X Marks the Spot

Letitia was the first African American to travel the Oregon Trail in 1845.  She faced her greatest hope and biggest fear in the risk of a new territory with different laws on slavery.

Her husband, Davey Carson, is a red bearded, Irish immigrant - albeit a marriage in name only as most everyone viewed their relationship as employer/employee with Davey getting a bed warming companion.  Marriages like theirs were not recognized legally.   

Her dearest friend, Nancy Hawkins-Read accepts her completely and changes her view of herself. “She wished she could find the words to tell this woman what her life had meant to her, how her faith and absolute acceptance of Letitia’s being had oozed strength into Letitia’s soul. ‘You are the tree that a sapling looks up to.’ ”  Letitia is a career midwife and brought a fair amount of Nancy’s 11 children into this world.

Letitia is a hard worker and friend to Betsy and Little Shoot, Kalapuya Indians who have lived on their land in the Oregon Territory.  Her many friends are her support while Davey is in California chasing gold.

Hardship is part of her life, but mixed in is the joy of her daughter, Martha, and son, Adam, the first mulattos born on the Oregon Trail. Letitia paved a new road for African Americans coming after her in a precedent setting lawsuit against a prejudiced, slave patroller, G. B. Smith, who has been a thorn in her side since Missouri.  And she won — twice. 

She does actually face a fear she’s had since the very beginning.  As everything is being auctioned off, Letitia’s stance is: “I’s free to decide how this day gets remembered.  I say I let light shine inside me, keep the dark memories out.”  

Light in the Wilderness is based on historical facts which are documented in the back by Jane Kirkpatrick.  I love historical fiction and this is a terrific book in that category.

I received a complimentary book from The Book Club Network at bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.