Cateline Fortier remembers little of the mother she lost when she was only four. In an effort to save her own history for her posterity, Cateline begins a journal that follows her remarkable journey to find her family—a journey that leads to employment on a wagon train bound for Salt Lake City in 1862.
Trail life means Indians, hardship, and death, but through it all Cateline learns to love the Mormons, growing especially close to a lonely widower and his two small children. Will she be able to accept the faith of her newfound friends? And why keep a journal if her life of loneliness is to continue in Utah?
My Spiritual Trail is a trek—not so much through the wilderness of the West but through the heart and hopes of an unforgettable young woman.
Reviews -
The format is good and keeps interest high while not boring with too much detail. I especially liked the portrayal of Kate showing her sensitive self-reliance. Too many stories today give the women (pioneer and contemporary) a 'don't tread on me' attitude that is too aggressive. Kate, on the other hand, feels very real and a bit vulnerable. Good job!
What a beautifully told story. Historical fiction is always a special delight. Heirtzler's views of the faith, and delayed embrace, are told in fascinating, compassionate style. With our pioneer ancestry, this story takes on even more meaning for the progenitors. Robyn is a gifted story teller.
I was drawn in by the very first page and held captive until the end. I smiled, laughed, and cried as I read this intriguing and inspiring story.
—Alene Roberts, author of
Gustavia Browne and A Tear of Love
Once in a great while a story comes along that not only captivates the mind but also makes a powerful impact on the heart. My Spiritual Trail is such a tale. Beautifully and sensitively written, I recommend it for everyone.
—Blaine M. Yorgason, author of
Charlie’s Monument and One Tattered Angel
My Spiritual Trail: the journal of cateline fortier by Robyn Heirtzler is the fictional journal of a fifteen-year-old orphan girl who leaves her foster parents to seek her destiny. Not able to find the family connections she was hoping for, Cateline takes the first work which she can find. A man hires her to take care of his two children and sick wife while they cross the plains to Salt Lake City. The man, Brother White, and his family, happen to be Mormon.
Journal entries range in length from a couple of sentences to a few paragraphs. Here s a typical journal entry:
June 26, 1862
I met Ashley today, that is Brother White s wife. She is very thin and weak. Still, she is pretty and she has a soft voice that sounds like the south. I like her and I feel sorry that she can not take care of herself or her children. She said she was glad I came and that I was beautiful. I don t think she was looking at me very well when she said that, but still she said it and it made my heart thump in my chest. Nobody ever told me that before. (p. 24)
Ashley, the gentle mother, eventually dies. Brother White, the gentle father, is honorable and hard-working. Cateline loves the children and observes Mormon life among the pioneers. (Can you guess what just might happen?)
I would recommend this book for very young adults or anyone who enjoys non-threatening, quickly-read LDS historical fiction.
—Holly Jones, UT
Association for Mormon Letters
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