The Irrepressible Watts Sisters

Journey to Zion

This 348-page chapter book is actually “Three Books in One,” for middle-schoolers and Jr. High and High Schoolers, ages 9 to 19! Book One, The Voyage, is 21 chapters, Book Two, Overland, is 21 chapters, and Book Three, The Trek, is 20 chapters.

It describes what it was like in 1863 for the children of immigrants and pioneers, to cross the Atlantic Ocean to New York City by sailing ship, cross the settled United States to Nebraska by trains and steamers, and then cross the wilderness plains on foot and by oxen-pulled wagons. The goal was to settle in the remote Utah Territory with others of their Faith, so they could worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.

It follows the story of 18-year-old, naïve Susannah Watts, who is shepherding her 10-year-old, rambunctious twin sisters, Phoebe and Fanny, with the goal to join their mother and brother, who have already immigrated to Utah the year before.