Down The Long Hills' Book Review

Down the Long Hills was written by Louis L'Amour and published in 1968.

*Warning - there is some ripe language at points in this book.*

Louis L'Amour was a prolific and extremely famous Western author who died in 1988.

This book deals with the harshness of the West as pioneers were crossing - or attempting to - the the "far-seeing lands".
I noticed on this read how differently the kids were trained back then. Parents did not shy from showing their kids how hard life was going to be. Pioneer children, particularly the boys, were taught almost before they could walk to be wary. Indians, accidents, unforgiving climate. Any number of things could happen - and usually did.

The hero of DTLH is such a boy. His mother is dead. His father has gone west to search out land for them. Now at 7, he's in the care of fellow pioneers who are taking him out to his surviving parent. Even at his young age he understands and comprehends responsibility. Which, though he doesn't know it at first, will help save his life and another.

A girl of 3 tags after him and kindly he takes care of her through all that follows. Their adult figures are killed by Indians, and it's only them and the horse that the young boy has been with from a colt.

Long, frightening and danger-filled are the days that follow for the little wanderers. Our hero knows that he must, "go west young man," to find his father and safety. Indians, storms, outlaws, weather and wild animals stand between them and safety.

Do they find shelter and the boy's father? Read for yourselves in this slim volume packed full of adventure.

Cheers for the books we read.
L

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