"It is the early 1860s and twelve-year-old Erik Larson and his Swedish family are headed west in a wagon train from Minnesota to find a valley in pre-Idaho Territory. The family holds high hopes that their new home will provide the happiness they seek--that is, until a deadly illness strikes. When Erik's own mother becomes ill, the wagon master decides to push ahead, intent on outracing a blizzard. Unfortunately, winter arrives with a vengeance, and...

"It is 1862 as nine-year-old Katrine Larson heads west to a mountain valley in pre-Idaho Territory with her family and several other Swedish families. But when her parents and older brother are separated from the main wagon train, Katrine suddenly becomes an orphan. The Swedish families want nothing more than to create new lives in America. Unfortunately none are prepared for the brutal realities of farming in wilderness populated by Sheepeater Indians...