A Review Of "The Bluegrass Dream" by Ruth Thompson

This is a book about aspiration, determination, adventure, and yes, dreams. The central character, Jess, is actually exercising a dream inspired by her father who had traveled to Kentucky on a trapping expedition. At time of the story Kentucky was a wilderness. His plan was to move the family to Kentucky permanently. The story begins with a heartbreaking event, the death of Jess’s aunt during childbirth, a too frequent occurrence in the early years of America.

Jess is determined to follow her father to Kentucky, a place that has been his dream for several years and transferred to Jess. Jess sets off for Kentucky on her own disguised as a boy. During her travel she exhibits the spirit needed to survive in the wilderness. Her experiences demonstrate what the earlier settlers had to overcome. She was not disappointed by the Bluegrass and fell in love with the country as her father did.

The book describes the hardship the earlier settlers endured and the simple pleasures they enjoyed. It gives a glimpse of the complex relations with the various Native Indians that frequented the Bluegrass; some friendly and some hostile. The book presents an interesting concept for that time, an independent, determined and spirited female in a land usually dominated by adventurous men. Being from Kentucky I would be proud to trace my roots back to a woman such as Jess.

Billy J. Sexton
Louisville, Kentucky