Review
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Title: Only the Brave: The continuing saga of the San Juan pioneers
Author: Gerald N. Lund
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year Published: 2014
Number of Pages: 283
Binding: Hard Cover
ISBN10: N/A
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-026-5
Price: $21.99
Reviewed by Denice Stiles-Mouncé for the Association for Mormon Letters
Gerald N. Lund returns in his latest book to the desolate desert of San Juan, Utah. Although the author has previously visited here in other stories, this book does not require any previous knowledge of Lund’s work. Lund’s previous fiction characters fade away as he begins anew in the same location a bit further along in history. The beginning of the novel finds the area sparsely settled and encapsulates the lives of new families as they push on to live and survive in a wasteland.
Lund’s writing expertly captures the interest and imagination of the reader as he transports them back in time and makes people and places come alive. Lund’s ability to weave historical fact and historically accurate fiction creates a living world so perceptible that readers will find themselves squinting in the desert sun and wiping away dust and sand from their clothes. The storytelling becomes alive as readers find themselves living alongside Lund’s characters and enduring with them the trials and triumphs of their survival in one of the most inhospitable environments on earth.
From horse thieves to floods, railways to dusty trails, Lund takes his readers across the map of the American Southwest and gives them a glimpse into the lives of faithful pioneers who were determined not to let anything stand in the way in completing their callings. An inspiring story based on true events, “Only the Brave” gives readers some perspective on answering the call to serve.
A great stand-alone book, “Only the Brave” manages to weave in parts from other pieces of Lund’s work, making this book desirable to both casual readers and avid Lund fans. Suitable for the whole family, especially young adult readers, “Only the Brave” manages to be entertaining, enthralling, and educational all at the same time. After reading this book, readers will have a new appreciation for the San Juan pioneers, the power of faith, and the skill of a masterful storyteller.