Book Review: Letters to Callie: Jack Wade's Story

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Letters to Callie: Jack Wade's Story     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Dawn Miller
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Historical
Pocket, Aug 2001, $12.95, 336 pp.

When baby Rose died on the trek west, Jack Wade could not cope with the loss of his little sibling. Needing to mourn by himself and rethink his values, Jack leaves his family and the wagon train in Utah to head north.

However, a new guilt wracks Jack and he feels despondent that he abandoned his beloved sibling Callie. Still, he knew he could no longer remain with the wagon train because he was one of the prime supporters that persuaded the Wade family to go on the journey in the first place. To ameliorate his depression, Jack begins to write letters to Callie that describe what he has seen, how he feels, the nightmares he suffer over his losses including the women he loves, and his dismal hopes for his future.

LETTERS TO CALLIE: JACK WADE’S STORY is more of a historical journal that tells the adventures and misadventures of the hero. Jack’s life is exciting as he becomes a gambler, deals with dangerous enemies, and falls in love. The companion piece to the powerfully descriptive THE JOURNAL OF CALLIE WADE is a stand-alone story that continues to portray the often-harsh life of settlers and pioneers. This is Americana historical fiction at its realistic best. It will dawn on genre fans that Ms. Miller is quite an artist painting the landscape of mid nineteenth century western America.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner