Tough Luck by Sandra Dallas is a historical novel that follows a resilient fourteen year old girl, Haidie Richards, and her brother, Boots, as they navigate the dangers and hardships of life while traveling across the country to Colorado in search of their father. Shortly after their mother dies, Haidie and her younger brother are sent to an orphanage, as they are considered orphans. Their father had left four years earlier to search for gold in the Colorado Territory. In that time, he sent only three letters, but Haidie remains convinced he is alive—and that he struck it rich. She believes it’s only a matter of time before he comes back for them.
Determined not to wait any longer, Haidie decides to escape the orphanage with Boots and set out to find their father. To help them travel safely through the dangerous Western frontier, she disguises herself as a boy. Along the way, the siblings learn how to survive in the wild and deal with unsavory characters, but they also come to understand the value of community. They form fast friendships with an unlikely group of companions: a cheating card shark, an ex-nun, two independent spinsters, and a loyal dog. When they finally arrive in Colorado, Haidie realizes they will need the support of all their newfound friends if they want a chance at a happy ending.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I initially expected a dull Western, but I was hooked from the very first page. The story was compelling, and I appreciated how well-developed and unique the characters were. I especially liked how the author portrayed the female characters as complex and dynamic. They weren’t one-dimensional or solely focused on men, but also on what they wanted from life. I would definitely be open to reading more books by this author.
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