America, at last! This classic early reader tells an exciting story and is also a good launching pad for classroom and home discussions.

The Long Way Westward relates the experiences of two young brothers and their family, immigrants from Sweden, from their arrival in New York through the journey to their new home in Minnesota.

This lively sequel to The Long Way to a New Land follows the fortunes of Carl Erik’s family from New York City to the farmlands of Minnesota. "Historically accurate; will attract competent primary-grade readers and will be equally suitable for less able readers in intermediate grades." (School Library Journal)

As a fan of this book and its companion, The Long Way to a New Land, put it: "The books describe the difficulty and dangers of the journey in a way that is non-complaining and full of optimism for a new life in America. Teachers, these books are wonderful for integrating with other subjects and topics, such as immigration, westward expansion, steamships, trains, geography, and American life in the 1860s."

Author-artist Joan Sandin's grandfather was born in Sweden and immigrated to Wisconsin with his parents in 1882, when he was only two. Joan herself spent time in Sweden and did extensive research to create her well-loved classic books about the immigrant experience.

What was it really like for a family to travel across America in the 1860s?

Westward Expansion Journey: Follow two brothers, Carl Erik and Jonas, as they travel by train and steamboat from New York City all the way to their new home in Minnesota.
An American Immigration Story: Based on the author’s own family history, this story captures the challenges and optimism of Swedish immigrants seeking a new life in 1860s America.
Historical Fiction for Kids: A perfect introduction to 19th-century history, exploring topics like travel by steam train, geography, and the immigrant experience in a way young readers can understand.
Perfect for Early Readers: A Level 3 "I Can Read" book designed to build confidence with engaging stories, longer sentences, and high-interest topics for developing readers.