Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a historical fiction novel. The novel focuses on a journey out west in the 1860s by two youngsters. The novel features various characters (both good and bad) and the rigours of a wagon train journey. Haidie (disguised as a boy) and her younger brother Boots take the journey to find their father.
After their mother dies, Haidie and Boots are left by their older brother and put into an orphanage. However, Haidie is certain her father is alive, so they plan to escape and head toward Denver. First they hide and eventually fall in with a mule driver who offers them a ride. Interesting things happen to them, but they survive. Later they join a wagon train with a variety of characters. Along the way they find people who help them and people who take advantage of the youngsters. However, Haidie does not lose faith and continues to search.
The novel highlights the strength of Haidie and Boots and their determination to find their father. Also there is a wicked twist at the end that really shows the lengths people will go to in order to gain wealth. The novel is well written and contains some great characters and descriptions of the people and the journey. It certainly shows the rough and toughness of the early towns in the west. Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a good read.
