The Donner Party expedition is one of the most notorious stories in all of American history, but it's also a fascinating snapshot of the westward expansion of the US. From the preparation for the journey to each leg of the trip, this book shows the specific bad decisions that lead to the party's predicament in the Sierra Nevadas. Hale focuses on the Reed family (all of the children in this family survive), and their father, James Reed, is a central figure in the story. It's hazardous, it's got a lot of funny moments, it's got kids in central roles - and it's America's favorite gruesome horror-history story.