Donner Dinner Party is part of the series Hazardous Tales, by Nathan Hale. This book features America during the Age of Discovery when people traveled the trail from Missouri to the West at Oregon or California. In this book, the Donner Family goes on a trail to California in a group of wagon trains. However, Father Donner tries to take a shortcut which ends up being longer than the real route and drains them of resources. Throughout the route, their oxen get stolen, and there are vicious fights between the company. Because of all this, some die. They get back to the main route, however, there is still one stretch remaining - the Sierra Nevada. While they cross the mountains, it is very cold and steep, and water is very scarce. Will they survive the trip and make it to California, or will they never be found again?
This book, like the others in the Hazardous Tales series, was very interesting and I learned a good amount of history, while the book also keeps things humorous, so it is fun to read. There is a real, accurate map in the book that you can look at throughout the story to see where the Donner party is and how much farther they need to go. In addition, not all stories have a happy ending, so I appreciate that this book kept it real to be more accurate of the true history. Because of all this, I give this book a five out of five.