In this novel authorized by Little House Heritage Trust, Sarah Miller vividly recreates the beauty, hardship, and joys of the frontier in a dazzling work of historical fiction, a captivating story that illuminates one courageous, resilient, and loving pioneer woman as never before–Caroline Ingalls, “Ma” in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books.In the frigid days of February, 1870, … 1870, Caroline Ingalls and her family leave the familiar comforts of the Big Woods of Wisconsin and the warm bosom of her family, for a new life in Kansas Indian Territory. Packing what they can carry in their wagon, Caroline, her husband Charles, and their little girls, Mary and Laura, head west to settle in a beautiful, unpredictable land full of promise and peril.
The pioneer life is a hard one, especially for a pregnant woman with no friends or kin to turn to for comfort or help. The burden of work must be shouldered alone, sickness tended without the aid of doctors, and babies birthed without the accustomed hands of mothers or sisters. But Caroline’s new world is also full of tender joys. In adapting to this strange new place and transforming a rough log house built by Charles’ hands into a home, Caroline must draw on untapped wells of strength she does not know she possesses.
For more than eighty years, generations of readers have been enchanted by the adventures of the American frontier’s most famous child, Laura Ingalls Wilder, in the Little House books. Now, that familiar story is retold in this captivating tale of family, fidelity, hardship, love, and survival that vividly reimagines our past.
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I had read the Little House on the Prairie books, but this gave a very realistic and different view of the hardships of traveling and setting up a home in Kansas. The book is entirely from Laura’s mother’s perspective. For anyone who enjoyed the original Little House books, this is a must read!
I loved the Little House books as a child. Seeing the Ingalls family from Caroline’s perspective now was wonderful. Didn’t want it to end!
I have been a fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder since I read her books and watched Little House on the Prairie on television many years ago. Caroline is the first book I have read that tells her side of the story of many moves and adventures. This is a relaxing read set in times long past of which I am a fan.
I loved it. What an interesting insight from the “soft spoken “ mom’s point of view
Good read–different perspective of Laura Ingalls Wilder Books.
I always love hearing the story from another character’s perspective. Little House fans will not be disappointed.
Very heartwarming and enjoyable!
Modern women (and I am one) tend to be either uninformed about or forgetful of what our female ancestors’ lives were like. Most of us wouldn’t have lasted a week in Caroline’s place: married to a man with wanderlust, leaving behind home and family to travel 700 miles by wagon (pregnant, no less, and taking small children) into a sparsely populated area to live in a 12’ x 12’ cabin with one (distant) woman neighbor; sewing a family’s clothes by hand; relying on creeks for water; and facing the prospect of unknown danger from a native population that, quite justifiably, didn’t want these interlopers moving in and taking over. Oh, and responding, “Whatever you think best, dear,” to the husband expecting her to do all this and more. The author recreated Caroline’s life, showing the reader this woman’s strength and ingenuity, her courage, and her intelligence. This book comes as close as it’s possible to come, with words, to putting us into the world Caroline inhabited. Let’s be honest—if modern women had to live in that world, the Midwest, never mind the far West, would never have been settled. And I am in awe of this author, who placed me in that life without my ever having to sit, alone except for two small daughters, a dog and a pistol, waiting for an attack from without and and quelling bone-chilling fear from within.
Excellent book about early settlers lives
Very very dull and slow. Could not even finish.
Exquisitely written, intimate portrayal. Tasteful, beautiful, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Slow moving. A look into the past.
Loved reading the same story from a different character’s perspective. As a child, I read “Little House on the Prairie” which narrated the events from a young girl’s viewpoint, but didn’t go into the details of “how” things happened. Definitely recommend this book.
Still reading. Seems like author was caught between proof and modern expressions of thoughts and emotions. Continuing because a fan of the books and TV show (I am unable to not see the TV characters in my mind).
Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller
September 2017
I received this hardcover book from William Morrow through GoodReads Giveaways in exchange for an unbiased review.
It has been many years since I had read the Laura Ingalls Wilder Books. I was pleased to be able to read Caroline’s view of life on the prairie. The author received permission from the Little House Heritage Trust to write this book which closely resembles what she discovered in her research. From a child’s perspective growing up in rural America can seem idyllic but for an adult the reality is literally cold and hard. I appreciated the author’s presentation of the stark monotonous journey from Wisconsin to Kansas by horse and carriage. Thoughts of living and traveling as a pioneer soon fade when the reality of their adventure is exposed. The cold wet weather made it impossible to cook any food which left little for them to eat except cheese, crackers and fruit.
Overall, the story seemed to lag especially as it details a rather bleak journey in terrible weather. The story is fascinating but the reading of it felt more like a task than enjoyment. It is very informative for the The Little House fan. It might prove dull reading for anyone not familiar with the story.
A look back to the beginning of my favorite series growing up, Laura Ingalls.
This book was a disappointment. The author wrote a lot of history surrounding the Ingalls family, but she skipped all around from character to character and dates, making it hard to piece together the real story.
This is a beautifully written novel depicting Little House on the Prairie from the point of view of Ma. Evocative and lovely, with the same illuminating descriptive prose that Laura Ingalls Wilder charmed us with. Highly recommended to LIW fans.
I enjoyed it but I thought the ending was rather abrupt. Would love a sequel.
As a fan of the original Little House series, I found this book to am enjoyable telling of Caroline view – her strengths, her doubts and her dedication to her family and their success in a strange new place. As mother who has relocated her family, I could relate to many of her feelings.