The novel explores the early American drive for adventure, freedom, newness, and autonomy by way of the Todd family’s journey from Arkansas to Oregon in 1852. The Todd family has a comfortable life in Arkansas before they head west. For this reason, nine-year-old Mary Ellen Todd can’t understand why her parents would want to leave their home and make such a difficult journey. Abbott Todd, or Father, is the novel’s archetypal guide and leads the family throughout this venture west. The novel also uses him as a mouthpiece for the pioneer experience and an embodiment of the pioneer spirit. It is his desire to make a new and better life for his family that inspires the Todds’ journey and that helps Mary Ellen understand their move and embrace the pioneer life.

The core of the Todd’s decision to brave the Oregon Trail (and the decision of many other families to do the same) lies in a desire for prosperity and enrichment. Pioneers like the Todds talk about “the beautiful valleys of rich black soil, the outstanding timber and water, the mild climate that could not be beaten anywhere” (1).