On to Oregon...by Time Machine

Eleven-year-old Cliff's dad was independently wealthy, which enabled him to spend his life exploring time travel. Cliff and his friend, Sam, "borrow" his newly-perfected time machine to experience first-hand something they've studied in school: the trek West on the Oregon Trail. Cliff planned ahead, and thought he'd prepared for everything, but there are still some instances when their ruse is almost exposed. They experience death, fear, hunger, thirst and weariness. They also learn to love the young family that provides shelter in exchange for the boys' help. Extensive research went into this book. Adventure, dialogue and humor keep the research from being obvious. The young reader will have a hard time stopping at the end of the chapter.