The Jump-Off Creek

Set in late 19th-century Oregon, this acclaimed novel follows widowed homesteader Lydia Bennett Sanderson as she struggles to establish a life in the harsh frontier landscape. Drawing on pioneer diaries and family stories, author Molly Gloss vividly depicts Lydia’s resilience amid isolated neighbors, challenging weather, and unforgiving terrain. Through the intertwining lives of local residents and cowboys, the story explores themes of survival, community, and determination in the American West.