Spirit of the Raven: The Frontier Life of Toby Macklin

Book Description for Spirit of the Raven In 1839, Toby Macklin and his young family, along with a group of other families and friends, undertake a perilous journey through the Rockies in the hope of reaching the Oregon Territory. Ezra Manning capably leads the expedition. Ezra has taken on Jackson Meredith, a large, muscular ex-slave and a formidable fighter. Jackson is also well educated and has considerable medical training. Little Bird, Toby’s Mandan wife, and her twin sister, White Moon, are part of a group of young women in the expedition who acquired practical fighting skills that the expedition would very much need. White Moon has been trained as a medicine woman and has visions that sometimes enable her to see into the future. For example, Toby has visits occasionally from two ravens. White Moon has seen them in her visions and believes that they are Toby’s spirit animals. She says that ravens are very powerful spirit animals that can protect him. The journey is a challenge as the group faces hostile tribes and renegade trappers that threaten their survival. In addition, they face sickness, vicious storms, rockslides, and dangerous wildlife. Despite hardships, the group drives on to the promise of free land and a new life in the Oregon Territory.