Bridger: The Story of a Mountain Man

Kherdian, David

ISBN 10: 0688065104 ISBN 13: 9780688065102

Publisher: Greenwillow, 1987

Synopsis

In 1822 eighteen-year-old Jim Bridger leaves civilization behind and journeys into the frontier wilderness, where he learns to trap beaver, experiences skirmishes with hostile Indians, and explores new country.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 7-9 In his ``historical adventure novel,'' Kherdian follows Jim Bridger as he terminates his apprenticeship with a St. Louis blacksmith in 1822, and goes with General Ashley's band of ``Enterprising Young Men'' up the Missouri, employed as a trapper. Narrative ends with Bridger's discovery of the Great Salt Lake in 1824. This could be a useful update to biographies about the most famous of the legendary mountain men. Fictionalizing tends to be limited to dialogue, although there is also an invented, if likely, romantic involvement with Whippoorwill, an Indian girl; whether the romance is consummated is hard to tell. Occasional want of transition, a handful of sexual references, and the use of some undefined period words (a five-term glossary is nearly worthless) may daunt some readers. Kherdian's style is a mixture of fact and poetic rendition. He is more inclined to go for a striking, if not always appropriate, simile than to settle for a more prosaic, factual explanation or observation. Jim Bridger (Houghton, 1952; o.p.) by Doris Shannon Garst is a more interesting book and is superior to Kherdian's. George Gleason, Department of English, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0688065104
• ISBN 13: 9780688065102
• Binding: Library Binding
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 147