An historical event interlaced with a fictional account of what might have happened is a popular and advantageous way of creating interest in a subject for all readers but especially for younger ones. If done properly, this type of novel allows more familiarity with the characters and content than a footnoted academic work. The No-Return Trail is done properly, and its intended adolescent audience will not be disappointed. The novel is about a covered wagon expedition to California in 1841. The journey was far from glamorous; it was filled with a sense of urgency and decisiveness which the author conveys well. She spares the raw details yet makes it realistic enough for the adolescent reader. (pp. 230-31)

Being the most prominent character, [Nancy Kelsey] leads the reader through the excitement, hardships, and the final satisfaction at the journey's end. For the younger reader these can be memorable—Indians, buffalo...