For some reason I thought the books would be boring. I
have no idea why. Frontier life was incredibly hard and the Ingalls family was
brave and determined. We follow them on their travels west from Wisconsin to
Kansas to Minnesota to South Dakota. The forge rivers, survive blizzards and
locust, and exist on almost nothing at times. Throughout all of it they have
hope and faith and encourage each other.
This will be a reading experience I won't ever forget. This
was the first series I read with my daughter and it was a wonderful one. I
can't wait to read them again when my youngest daughter is old enough. Below
are my brief thoughts on each of the books in the series.
The Little House in the Big Woods
I love the detailed descriptions of their life in
Wisconsin. Hunting, household chores, dangerous animals in the woods, all told
from a child’s point of view. Even simple life becomes fascinating. Cherry
Jones narrates the books and she’s just perfect!
Farmer Boy
In this book we meet Almanzo and hear about his time as a
child on his family’s farm. They raised sheep, planted crops, and learned about
life. Each chapter covers a fun vignette, from a prize-winning pumpkin to a
week without their parents at home, the adventures are sweet. I loved the scene
where his father gives him money and encourages him to make a smart decision
about how to spend it. It showed trust and gave Almanzo a responsibility that
he did not squander.
The Little House on the Prairie
This series is such a delight. Each of their adventures
and struggles is seen through the eyes of young Laura. I love the honesty and
innocence that comes from that. I love her Pa's strength and character. Laura's
parents are a team and despite their hardships, they never stop supporting and
loving each other. This book covers their time in Indian country. There's a
scene where they cross the river in their covered wagon that was particularly
harrowing.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Each book in the series is a blend of sweet moments and
heartbreak. For every Christmas morning filled with joy, there is a blizzard, or
leeches, wild fires, or a plague of grasshoppers. The things they survived are
incredible. Yet despite the traumatic events in their lives, it’s often the
relatable moments that are the most memorable. Going to school for the first
time, longing for a fur cape on the church Christmas tree, snobby Nellie who
picks on Laura, a small child who takes Laura‘s doll Charlotte, etc. You feel
like you are experiencing each moment alongside the Ingalls family.
By the Shores of Silver Lake
This might be my favorite of the series so far. From the
start of the book we know this is a time of change. Mary has gone blind from
scarlet fever, the family rides a train for the first time, they move into a
shanty in a railroad town, etc. I love Laura's adventurous spirit. Even when
her path crosses with wolves, she's almost more concerned with their welfare
than her own.
There are some intense parts in this book as well
(SPOILERS). The death of their sweet dog Jack, the confrontation of Pa on
payday by angry workers, the moment when the youngest Ingalls daughter, Grace,
goes missing, and a scuffle when Pa fights to place his claim for their
homestead plot. Life on the prairie was not for the faint of heart.
I'm continually impressed with Pa's moral compass and the
way he treated his wife and daughters. Even though Ma is quiet, he looks to her
before making big decisions. They do not allow themselves to go into debt or
take charity, but when an opportunity presents itself, like the chance to stay
in the surveyor's house for the winter, they aren't too prideful to take it. I've
grown to love the Ingalls family.
The Long Winter
This one was intense! The small community where the
Ingalls live is stranded in a seven month blizzard. No trains with supplies are
coming and everyone is beginning to starve. I know I’ll remember the vivid
picture of Pa twisting hay to make logs for the fire and the girls using the
coffee grinder on the wheat. The scene where the students head from school into
town in the midst of a blizzard was terrifying. I loved getting to know Almanzo
better and seeing his braver.
Little Town on the Prairie
A lot of this book focused on Laura’s time in school.
Thanks to Nellie, who somehow ended up moving to the same town as Laura, the
teacher hates Laura. Luckily she has sweet friends who stand by her. Laura also
gets her first job, sewing shirts in town. She and her parents are saving money
to send Mary to college and she is thrilled to be able to do her part.
It’s important to note that Ma’s hatred of the Indians
and a black face musical show are unfortunate parts of the book. I know that
those things were accepted in that time. I’ve use them to open conversations
about prejudice with my kiddo. No matter when it’s written, it’s still not ok.
These Happy Golden Years
Laura is now working as a teacher and making money for
her family. It’s been such a joy to watch her grow up and it’s hard to believe
she’s a woman now. Almanzo courts her with buggy rides and I loved watching her
show her strength and fearless nature as she becomes more comfortable around
him. Definitely one of my favorites in the series.
“The last time always seems sad, but it isn’t really. The
end of one thing is only the beginning of another.”
The First Four Years
The final book in the series is very short and covers
only a brief glimpse into Laura’s new life with Manly and her daughter Rose.
Their struggles to get a successful crop, avoid storms, and survive blizzards
makes this book a bit bleaker than the others. I missed scenes with Pa and Ma.
The pace also felt rushed, like she was skimming over their lives. There were
memorable scenes, like Rose’s birth, a visit from a group a Indians, etc. As
always, her simple descriptions of their life were my favorite parts. The book
feels a bit like an afterthought and I almost wish the series had ended with
These Happy Golden Years.
*After doing a bit of research, I found that this final
book was published almost 30 years after the rest of the series.
*Photos by me
