Amanda (novel)

Amanda is a novel written by Candice F. Ransom. It is the first in the Sunfire series of thirty-two books. It was published by Scholastic Press in 1984, and is 346 pages long. It is currently an out-of-print book, though the trademark is still held by Scholastic Press.
Plot introduction.
The plot of "Amanda" centers around the main character's journey from Boston to Oregon on the Oregon Trail in 1846. Amanda Bentley travels with her father Thaddeus Bentley, who is escaping creditors in their former hometown of Boston. Her beau Joseph White lives in Boston as well.
On the Oregon Trail, she meets and befriends several characters, including Helen Jorgenson, a girl of her own age, and Ben Compton, who becomes a romantic interest as well later in the book.
Amanda's character changes throughout the book, from spoiled society girl to hardworking pioneer woman.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science.
Placed during the period of North American history in which settlers travelled west in search of a new life the setting is the Oregon Trail, which travels from the midwest to the Northwest of the United States.