This is an outstanding work of historical fiction from different points of view regarding the infamous Donner Party. By far the most intriguing is the usage of Hunger as a character. It also provides copious amounts of facts and resources to learn more about the events. Highly recommended!

"Authors Note... I hope, like me, you won’t judge the Donner Party too harshly... I hope you will try placing yourself in their train-worn shoes."

Wow. This book is incredible! It’s brilliantly written in a lyrical fashion. This true story is endearing, haunting, and horrifying all at once. While I read this book 2 months prior to writing this review; it feels like yesterday I finished. As anticipated, The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep has stuck with me in different ways and truly affected my psyche; especially on the issue of survival. I was very concerned that I would have trouble reading this as cannibalism is one of my major horror triggers. I avoid the topic in almost all instances. I blame the movie version of The Road and some episodes of The Walking Dead for giving me literal nightmares with their visceral portrayals of cannibalism. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. The difference here is stark. This is about pure survival of the cold, Snow, and Hunger. If your children were starving would you really allow available (dead) meat to go to waste?

No Regular Novel
So many pieces of Allan Wolf's treatment of the Donner Party story are brilliant. This is not a typical novel. To start Hunger is our narrator in places. Hunger's perspective fills in some of the holes with presumed events that are not confirmed. Hunger also lends a lot of humanity to our characters. A reminder that in the end they are starving and cannot afford to waste anything; no matter what type of meat it is.
Alongside Hunger's unique perspective we have diary entries from one of the children, the innermost thoughts of one of the father's, odd ramblings of a couple characters, a mother's despairing perspective, and Snow. Yes, Snow is a character and has pages of grey text that are literally just names. It's impactful as you start to see the accumulation, not just of the word snow from page to page; but also of the pile of dead left in their wake (or eventually at their campsites).
On top of all this the narrative is lyrical. Almost poetic in places. It read like a lullaby for me; both soothing and yet a bit horrifying. Think of the typical lullaby and you'll realize most of them had (or threatened) awful outcomes. This story is written in the same way and the treatment absolutely humanizes this true story and reminds us that it is not just a punchline of a joke; but dozens of people's lives playing out in a harsh, unforgiving, and ultimately tragic environment.

True Story of Poor Choices
One of the biggest takeaway's I have from The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep is the reminder that this is a true story. This group of people including small children, elderly, women, and a few strong men truly did make a whole host of bad decisions. The mountain pass was just the final straw. In fact they were lucky to make it to the pass at all. Honestly a large chunk of what happens feels like pure stupidity; but then Hunger will remind you that when you are unable to focus on anything but the emptiness in your stomach all other logic or common sense is set aside. Prior to Hunger being a factor we must remind ourselves that these people literally have only one way to move forward. They have left nothing behind and put all their eggs in the wagons they travel with. Turning back is never an option as their future is in their final destination.
And yet many times I wanted to just scream at the party for bad choices. Never mind the stupidity of the 'shortcut' that they convinced themselves was worth it, but their choices not to bring the animals into the cabins from the storms, sending way too many people out to find a way through the pass (wasting food on the energy needed for all of them), and overall just not thinking clearly a lot of the time.
Ironically, given the time period and importance of physical strength to much of the story, we actually see that the mothers were perhaps the most resilient in the end as they watched, their own and other, children die around them and despair at how to keep surviving so their living ones could have a future. If you look at the ratio of how many of the mothers of children lived versus the men or children it's quite startling to realize they were most fortunate (if we can call it that) in the end. If anyone was a hero in the end it must be the women who watched their families fall apart as the men searched for a way through the pass (and most didn't return), their children starved (many to death), and their ability to stay warm became imperative to anyone's survival.

The Cold and Snow
I've already mentioned that Snow is a character; but it's important to note how good of a job Wolf did of portraying what it's like to be truly cold. And I don't mind a bit chilly because it's just below freezing. We're talking about conditions with snow, and fierce wind in the pass. Where temperatures would have easily plummeted to the point where Farenheit and Celsuis meet, -40. This is a kind of cold, especially if you are wet from the snow or sweating, that is different than most people ever experience. As a Canadian, who lives in a places that see -30C or lower for at least a week each year, I can tell you that your brain is so quick to lose feeling and not notice the cold in your appendages. It tricks you into thinking it's warm, convinces you that it's safe to leave your enclosed space, and causes utter madness. It's been documented by science many times. Yet so often in fiction; cold, snow and North wind effects are downplayed; but not here. Wolf is explicit in his explanations of the cold, wind and snow on everyone. Especially well written is the narrative where a large party (of mostly men) try to summit the pass and get caught in a fierce winter storm. The eloquence and understanding that Wolf has of exactly how this situation would have played out, both physically and mentally, in real life is exquisite.

Overall
Honestly I could go on and on about so many pieces of this novel that are just perfect. Although let's face it the thing everyone wants to know is did cannibalism happen in the end? Yes the children were likely fed the remains of those they knew and some of the adults may have succumbed to Hunger as well.
At the end of the fictional account Wolf gives us a comprehensive bibliography as well as a very explicit description of exactly what is known and 100% true; versus what he has assumed or supplemented to make a complete story. As all the players are now passed on we will never truly know what happened in the valley leading up to the deadly mountain pass. Yet one thing is certain for me after reading this novel; no one from this story deserves to be demonized, mocked, or used as the butt of a joke. These were real people, just trying to survive in impossible conditions with children and adults dying around them. And so while I'm still terrified of the idea of humans being used as a meat source and locked up (like The Road); I'm no longer completely put off by the idea of surviving on what is available. If your children were starving and meat was just a few feet away, preserved in the snow (waiting for the wolves to take it away) wouldn't you feed it to them (and yourself) in order to survive?
If you think no, then I encourage you to read this book and understand the extreme circumstances that these people lived (and died) in. I guarantee it will at least have you pausing to wonder at what point Hunger would win over any ethical or morale concerns.
This incredible piece of literature deserves a lot more discussion and awareness than it has gotten to date. I hope Allan Wolf is aware that he has written an award winning piece of historical fiction and that, if nothing else, there are people out there like myself that truly respect his work; and have been strongly affected by it.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
I read a hardcopy of this book from my library in order to get the feel for the page layout. I recommend this be read in print format due to the layout of the pages being a part of the narrative; especially for Snow.

This was a fascinating book to read. It is considered young adult fiction, but I certainly thought it appropriate for adult reading. Almost everyone knows the story of the Donner party. But this book presents it in a unique way, the voices of the individual travelers, even the voices of animals traveling with them and the voice of Hunger. There are also pages throughout the book that are given to Snow. Very moving to see these pages develop as their journey progresses.
It’s a harrowing story of survival with the extra punch of hearing it from the viewpoint of separate travelers. Hunger, as one of the narrators, looks on watching the decision making, the kindness, the cruelty, the courage and the greed. Hunger even tells the stages of starvation that the body goes through as it starts to shutdown.
I found the set up of the book, by the separate voices, very easy to read. It also helped in understanding the feelings and attitudes of each of the travelers. The individual voices of the travelers really strengthened character development.
I know this is historical fiction, but the telling of the story in this fashion really brought the story to life. It is not a fun book to read, but as I said, it was fascinating to read.
I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read ,The Snow Fell Three Graves. Deep, free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting approach to retelling the story of the Donner Party in 1846. Hunger is actually the main narrater which I have to say is a very different and interesting approach. However, it just wasn’t my favorite. But I definitely recommend checking out this book as it is definitely an interesting concept,0

Having taught the Donner expedition as part of my US history curriculum, I was interested to read The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep (an excellent title). I've never read any historical fiction about the doomed emigrant train and was curious how this would be handled for a YA audience. This would be the perfect addition to a history classroom.

Author Allen Wolf deftly weaves a narrative that includes several members of the Donner party, including indigenous slaves Luis and Salvador, as a novel in verse. For such heavy subject matter (most people who know the Donner party associate it with cannibalism), this is a great choice: it allows the reader to tread lightly, without compromising or trivializing the suffering.

There is an excellent appendix following the text that gives the reader an opportunity to learn more about the expedition. Character biographies, a wonderful bibliography, as well as timelines and other stats about the Donner Party round the book out nicely. I highly recommend this, especially to the history crowd.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for giving me a copy of this text in exchange for a review.

A totally creepy terror filled horror of the Donner party as told by it's multiple individuals involved & hunger itself. Notes included at the end. Great spooky read for fall or anytime your in the mood for some truth based accounts of human necessity and survival.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion from NetGalley.

This novel in verse is the latest retelling of the Donner Party and their fate in the Sierra Nevadas during the winter of 1846-1847. Poet Allan Wolf gives voice to members of the ill-fated party in his book: James Reed and George Donner, leaders of the doomed caravan; Baptiste Trudeau, a 16-year-old orphan taken under George and Tamzene Donner's wing; Salvador and Luis, two Miwok Indian guides; Ludwig Keseberg, a haunted man; Patty and Virginia Reed, two of James Reed's children, and more are all here, telling their stories in haunted verse. Hunger narrates the story, giving readers familiar with Markus Zusak's The Book Thief a familiar touch. Hunger is dispassionate and yet evokes emotion in the narration. Beginning as the party begins experiencing misfortune, the voices grow more desperate and the verse, more haunting, as the snow falls; the party's desperation is palpable. Moments dedicated to the snowfall include names of the fallen sprinkled in with the repeated word, "snow". Comprehensive back matter includes an author's note, biographies, statistics, a timeline of events, and resources for more reading and research. It's an incredibly detailed work of historical fiction and nonfiction all at once. 


The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep has starred reviews from Booklist and BookPage.

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf is a fascinating account of the Donner expedition as told in verse. Readers experience the story primarily through the eyes of members of the party - everyone from party leaders to their children - but also through other unique perspectives, such as a pair of oxen. The most notable narrator is Hunger, a personified representation of the constant and ever-increasing pressure of the party's gradual starvation and increased desperation. Although so many various narrators can be difficult to trace, Wolf helps this by giving each primary character a title, such as The Princess or The Scholar, which helps keep everyone as organized as possible.

In addition to the vast number of characters to remember, there are constant mentions of various locations and paths which can be challenging. As I read an ARC, many features of the finished copy aren't yet available. While the ARC indicated plans to add a map, I feel this work would benefit from several maps showing a progression throughout the journey. It's difficult enough tracking a mental picture of the trek across the country, much less when considering where various groups of people are in relation to others. There were many references to various campsites or one group pulling ahead away from the others. Perhaps it's just me, but visualizing the paths and the locations of each character was often challenging.

Experiencing this story as a novel in verse was a really unique experience. The format of the poems was very different than expected. I especially enjoyed the poems that included repeated chanting verses or characters speaking the same lines but relating to different circumstances. These always felt very effective as storytelling tools. The visual poetry in the snow poems was striking and always felt like a little gutpunch regardless of whether the page was full of snowflakes or featured a single lonely flake. Definitely a cool technique to connect readers emotionally.

Three Graves is obviously well-researched. Readers can tell this from the writing itself, but I also appreciate the thorough notes and citations provided by Wolf. He credits his sources, but also explains in detail the areas where he had to fill gaps of details lost to time or make an educated guess. He is very transparent about what aspects of the story were entirely fabricated, which I respect and of which there are very few. The end notes include additional features, such as select character bios describing what happened to them after the events of the story, stat sheets outlining various statistics from the journey, and much more.

I found this read incredibly fascinating. I tore through the pages, eager to find out what would happen next. I quickly found myself emotionally invested in certain characters and their plight. All of that said, I'll warn that this read isn't for the faint of heart or weak of stomach. Deaths and vividly described injuries abound and unsavory proteins are harvested and eaten in the name of survival. The entire book is a study in what true desperation does to the human mind and spirit. The horrifying reality of what these people lived through was borderline overwhelming at times. I'm grateful to have experienced this read and learned more about the Donner-Reed party, but I can't say the journey through this book was easy.

Overall verdict: Quick, approachable nonfiction on a fascinating topic. Solid pace. Intriguing characters. Emotionally stressful and often more-than-a-little gross, but never gratuitously so. Would recommend for mature(ish) readers who enjoy history, adventures, survival stories, and general wilderness lit.

Special thanks to Candlewick Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

"Hunger does not make choices. Only humans can do that. So do not blame me. Do not blame Hunger. I am merely here to tell the tale."

I stumbled upon this unassuming book on netgalley, never having heard of it before. I read the description and was instantly intrigued by the description. A historical fiction told in verse recounting the perilous journey of the Donner Party. I had heard of the Donner Party in a few podcasts, and generally in passing- but had never really explored the intricacies of it.

If you are unaware, the Donner Party was a group of pioneers who after a series of ill-informed choices descend into chaos and eventually cannibalism after they get trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the midst of a cataclysmic snowstorm. I had mostly heard this story told in a horror, ghost story context, focusing heavily on the canablism- and so I assumed that was what this book would be. However, Allan Wolf told the Party's story with dignity and nuance, bring the members to life.

"So do not judge them, lest you suffer a similar fate. Instead, let us celebrate that small, yet mighty spark of life. That half-full bucket waiting in the depths of the well. That last bean lingering at the bottom of the empty barrel. Do not judge them. Let them eat."

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep is told in a style Wolf calls narrative pointillism. We hear from many narrators, from children to two Miwok guides, to a pair of oxen to hunger. Each of them had a distinct voice and brought something new to the table. My personal favourites were hunger (reminiscent of the narrator death from the book thief), the native americans and tamzene donner. The majority of the perspectives are told in verse which added a unique twist. It was not simply prose separated by a few enters in between, but creatively done. It added to the story, rather than just being a selling point.

"The body will starve in the absence of food. But the soul will starve in the absence of hope. "

Despite having the ability to embellish due to its historical fiction label, The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep sticks as true to life as it can. It is clear the amount of research that went into the book, and if you are interested at the end there are almost 50 pages of information. I feel like I learnt so much without ever feeling like I was being force fed statistics and facts.

While it may seem like to read this book would be an entirely gloomy and depressing experience- there were points of hope. I won't deny there are many sad and hopeless moments. But overcoming all of that was the remarkable strength of humanity. Yes, many died, but more survived. Of the 81 pioneers trapped in the mountains, more than half of them were children. 68.9% of them survived. Over half of the overall members made it.

Overall, this was one of the most unique and interesting books I have read all year. I would recommend it if you think you are in the right mindset, and prepared to keep a various characters and places straight in your mind. I am now beyond excited to read Allan Wolf's backlist, particularly his Titanic recount.

Ambitious and masterfully executed, this novel in verse sheds light on a dark moment in westward expansion and the horrors wrought by a relentless winter.

So if someone had told me at the beginning of 2020 that one of the most intriguing books I'd read this year was a novel in verse about the Donner Party, I would have laughed and moved on with my life without a second thought. But... one of the most intriguing books I've read this year is a novel in verse about the Donner Party.

If you don't know what the Donner Party is... it's Manifest Destiny gone wrong. It's the American Dream become a nightmare. It's a real-life horror story about a group of pioneers who got trapped by a snowstorm and resorted to cannibalism. It's horrific, terrifying, disgusting, fascinating, and to some extent... still a mystery. No one knows for sure what exactly happened, and there are still a lot of unanswered questions surrounding certain members of the expedition.

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep is written with revolving points of view from several members of the ill-fated expedition. Tamzene Donner is an especially unique perspective. Virginia Reed is another. You get the perspective of Hunger, the least poetic parts of the novel but still haunting. You don't spend too long dwelling on each person's narrative, but you still start to feel for them, and it's still... very intense.

This is atmospheric and creepy and so, so well done. I knew what was going to happen, but I couldn’t stop reading until the very last word. I especially loved the historical notes at the end.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

Yet another fantastic novel in verse with multiple POVs (narrative pointillism, as he calls it) from Allan Wolf. The most impressive thing about his works is the sheer volume of quality research. There are nearly fifty pages of documentation in the back, and I'm sure that doesn't even scratch the surface. We meet a representative of each major group of the Donner party, as well as some side characters and our narrator, Hunger. By the end of the book, you start to sympathize or even empathize with these poor people, flaws and all. Most of the sympathy is because of Hunger, subtly reminding you that you could easily have been driven to the same acts of morally questionable dining. I also enjoyed the step by step narration of the rescue efforts, which were honestly fairly successful. Of the 89 people on the journey, 48 survived. That's not a low success rate and speaks a lot to human survival instincts and dedication to staying alive and keeping others alive. We only remember that they ate people, not that they saved people as well. I highly recommend this, and honestly, it's a great summer read. As I sit here melting in near 100 degree Ohio July heat, snow three graves deep is frankly a refreshing mental vacation. A really depressing one, but still. Finally, can we just take a second to appreciate the brilliance and too-early snuffed out light that was Tamzene Donner? She was my favorite perspective because she was so intelligent and well-educated at a time when that wasn't a priority for women/daughters. I rooted for her the whole book.

I had very mixed feelings while reading this story. Overall I gave it 3/5 stars

What I liked: I liked having the different perspectives constantly changing every page or so. I also liked that there were bit of the story told by Hunger (I got Book Thief Vibes). I found myself looking forward to reading certain character's perspective. I liked the central themes of hunger throughout the book, it tied everything together. The author clearly did his research on this area of history and it was nice to learn about something that isn't talked too much about in school.

What I didn't Like: I do have to say I didn't like the first half of this book, I didn't have any interest in the characters. This was mostly due to the constantly changing perspective. I wish in the beginning that there were longer than half a page for each person so you can really get to know them and their personality. I didn't get a hang of the characters until about the second half of the book. This book does really show the true horrors of the journey of getting to California and it was a little hard to read at times, I think I would have enjoyed reading this more when the world isn't so negative.

This was a stunning read on a very hard topic. What happened to the Donner Party was and still is such a tragedy, but one that many readers will be interested to learn about. The style the book was written in was a lyrical and poetic style that enamored me from the start. I read the entirety in one sitting, staying up far too late to learn the fates of all involved. I especially appreciated the facts and charts at the end of the book to tell us the really history behind the story.

I think that the various styles of verse and prose within this book allows young readers to feel more connected to the voices of this event. I think this would be a great text to include in libraries or to use as examples of voice or to add to a nonfiction studies unit.