Tough Luck
by Sandra Dallas
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In this homage to True Grit, a young woman makes a perilous journey west in 1863 in search of her gold-mining father.
After their mother dies, Haidie Richards and her younger brother, Boots, are put to work in an orphanage. Their father left four years earlier to find a gold mine in Colorado Territory, and since then he's sent only three letters. Still, Haidie is certain that he is alive, has struck gold, and will soon send for them. But patience is not one of Haidie's virtues, and soon she and her brother make a break for it. Boots and Haidie, disguised as a boy, embark on a dangerous journey deep into Western territory. Along the way, Haidie learns fast not only how to handle mules, oxen, and greedy men, but also that you are better off in a community. Hers includes a card shark, independent "spinster" sisters, and a very fierce dog. Once she arrives in Colorado and finds out the truth about her father, Haidie will need all her new friends for a get-even plot worthy of The Sting. Filled with vivid period detail, colorful characters, and the irreverent voice of our scrappy heroine, Tough Luck celebrates both the tenacity of youth and the persistence of the heart in the great American West.Share
Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781250352309
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Authors
- Sandra Dallas
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Press
- Published Date
- April 29, 2025
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 288
- Physical Info
- 1.2 in H x 8.3 in L x 5.4 in W (0.8 lb)
Haidie was looking for her father, and had some traveling to do to find him. But what she found along the way was so much better than she would have ever thought. Love the time period this book was sat in. The people we meet along the way came become family.
I always find a book by Sandra Dallas entertaining and satisfying, and Tough Luck was no exception. I loved this story told by Haidie, who disguised herself as a boy in order to travel west with her younger brother to find their father in the goldmines of Colorado. The voice was strong and entertaining, giving me many laugh out loud moments. I highly recommend this story for the light and humorous read it's meant to be. As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong when you pick up a Sandra Dallas book!
As someone who grew up watching the John Wayne version of True Grit, I was a little apprehensive going into this book if it would be good or not. It ended up exceeding my expectations and made the story it's own. Haidie is are main character, a young girl who is looking for her pa, after ma died and her older brother abandoned them at an orphanage after selling the family farm. Haidie and her younger brother Boots are determined to find Pa, who went off searching for gold in Colorado. Haidie first has to find a way for them to leave the orphanage, and then after that, for them to find a way to get all the way to Colorado safely. This is no easy feat and is one that takes them on an adventure of a lifetime. They meet so many different characters along the way, with some of them being good, helpful, and wanting the best for Haidie and Boots, and others who are liars and cheaters and willing to do anything for a little bit of money.Overall, this book, while paying homage to True Grit, tells an alternative version of what Haidie could have done in order to get to Colorado and see what happened to her Pa, it's really its own story entirely. This story is one that shows the harsh realities of the Old West especially how it was on the wagon trains, and then in the old gold mining towns. It does not glamorize much and instead shows what Haidie would have really seen if she were travelling in this time period as a young woman, and the things she has to do in order to keep herself safe on the journey.I recommend this one for anyone wanting a little Oregon Trail nostalgia without all the dysentery.
Tough Luck by Sandra DallasThank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a review copy of Tough Luck. My words are my own.In this homage to True Grit, a young woman makes a perilous journey west in 1863 in search of her gold-mining father.Review:Tough Luck is a must read for historical fiction and women’s fiction readers. Set during the expansion of Western America and before the Civil War we see the realities of men leaving their families behind to discover gold. Few became wealthy and many never came safely home. The Richard’s family is no different. It’s been several years since they’ve heard from their father. After the devastating loss of their mother, Haidie and her younger brother Boots are dropped off by their card gambling, no good, older brother to an orphanage. Cheet needs a good whomping! However, this is the reality of American families seeking a better life away from the harshness of their economic troubles.Haidie is determined to not stay in the orphanage and escapes with Boots on an adventure through the Wild West. Wow, what a strong girl of just 14 years old. Her character growth leaps from the page as she faces her fears with courage and determination to reach Denver. They befriend sisters, Missing Arville and Lizzie, and weave hopeful tales of their father’s success. Their optimism in the face of reality is what I’d expect of children putting the best foot forward.If I were to describe Haidie with one word it would be resilient. Her character has left a lasting impression on me. I was rooting on the safety and success of Haidie and Boots as I know you will also. Wait until they find out what happened to her father. The plot takes several turns and Haidie bests the man who fooled her father. Resilient.
Many twists and turns. Great character development. Felt like I really knew them. Great description of the time period. Really like the ending.
