by Mabe Hunt
First published 1980
Johnny Appleseed travels westward through the American frontier, carrying apple seeds and saplings to plant orchards in river valleys across the Midwest. His journey begins at the Youghiogheny River and stretches all the way to the Mississippi, with each stop marking a new chapter in his mission to bring fruit trees to the wilderness. Johnny faces the challenges of frontier life as he moves from settlement to settlement, encountering pioneers who need his trees and his knowledge. The land is harsh and unforgiving, but Johnny persists in his vision of apple groves dotting the landscape. Each variety he plants tells its own story, from hardy winter apples to sweet summer fruit. His work transforms not just the land but the lives of the families who will harvest these orchards for generations. This is the story of one man's dedication to nurturing growth in the American wilderness.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, adventure, biographical-fiction, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: dedication, man-on-a-mission, transformation
Setting: American Frontier, Mississippi River, Youghiogheny River
Period: 19th Century, 20th Century
212 pages · Hardcover · J.B. Lippincott