Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--History--19th century--Juvenile fiction; Infants--Juvenile fiction; Immigrants--Juvenile fiction; Mormons--Juvenile fiction; Mormon Church--History--19th century--Juvenile fiction; Frontier and pioneer life--West (U.S.)--Juvenile fiction; Determination (Personality trait) in children--Juvenile fiction; Helping behavior in children--Juvenile fiction; Fathers and daughters--Juvenile fiction; Worry in children--Juvenile fiction; Bullying--Juvenile fiction; Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail--Juvenile fiction
Twelve-year-old Charlotte and her widowed father are members of a Welsh handcart company on the Mormon trail, pushing all the way from Iowa City to Utah. When a woman in the company dies giving birth and her husband can't care for the baby girl, Charlotte grandly offers to look after the infant, and names her Rose. Taking care of Rose turns out to be much harder than Charlotte ever imagined. But she can't give Rose back. She's stuck with her. As Charlotte struggles along the trail, she dreams of life with "her" baby, even as Papa and others remind her that she will have to return Rose to her father at the end of the journey.
In this lively and memorable novel, A. E. Cannon combines pioneer tales about her family and her community with vivid storytelling and meticulous research to make Charlotte and life on the trail totally real. [from author's web site]
Recipient, Award in Young Adult Literature, Association for Mormon Letters, 2002
Finalist (Children's Literature), PEN Center 2002 Literary Awards