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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Helps you see Caroline Ingalls in a realistic way that we don’t see in the Little House books. What was she going through and thinking as they moved to Kansas. I also liked that it was historically accurate.
As a big fan of the little house books I cannot say that I was not disappointed. This was not written at all how I expected- however I was not expecting anything. It was a narrative not a story. This made for very dry reading. I was also expecting more in depth from Caroline’s perspective. That said I did like the book. I was just expecting something new & much more interesting & entertaining.
Wonderful different perspective on the Little House Stories, with more insight into Ma and Pa. Pa had flaws (like everyone does!). I adored this book and was sorry when it ended….I hope the author continues to research and write about the Ingalls & Wilder families!
Since I had read Laura Ingalls-Wilder’s book as a child this was like revisiting an old friend. I enjoyed it thoroughly in spite of the new twist of today. adding the sexual element to the story.
Interesting to see the comparison with the tv show “house on the prairie”
This is perfect for fans of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. The author must be very sensitive and introspective as she describes Carolines feelings and emotions so well! Living on a prairie in that time was a man’s world. A lot of lonely work for a woman with children.
This book was very very good! I would recommend it. When it ended, I was sad because I was so invested with the characters and I wanted the story to continue.
I guess I’m on a LHOP streak. I am picky about retellings, but I found this book to be moving and insightful.
After reading the first paragraph, I almost ditched it because it was too descriptive for my fancy . . . . but then I fell in love. . . . . . with this woman and her times. I’m no history buff, but the feel that this book gives for the era is phenomenal.
I woke up early this morning and started reading in bed. (Unusual for me at this time of day) This paragraph just grabbed me for the way it described the prairie thru Caroline’s eyes. (She’d been traveling for months in a wagon from Pepin WI to Kansas)
“The morning breeze pushed Caroline’s skirt to and fro as if she were a school bell. The fabric hugged her belly and the small of her back by turns as Charles strode away across the grass. It ought to have made her feel small, alone on such a vast and empty plain. Instead she felt a fullness that had nothing to do with the outward billow of her skirt. The whole day stretched before her, with no wagon wheels cutting through it. Beside her the big washtub stood full and shining in the sun. Without woods or walls to partition the space around her, the sense of that word—alone—blurred. The distance between them might expand until they lost sight of one another, yet they were all in the same place. Or rather, on it. The prairie did not contain them, but held them on its great open palm. Only the girls were small enough to make a forest of the tall grass and disappear beneath itssurface. Their voices flitted up from the weed tops like the dickcissels’, and for the first time she could remember Caroline did not fret to have them out of her sight. All she need do to find them was stand in the wagon box and watch for the dimpling of the grass.”
And then, this quote about having a GOOD tiredness after a physical, productive day.
(She washed all their clothes and bedding from months of travel . . . .in a washtub of cold water . . .and laid it on the prairie grasses to dry)
“This was earned. A vigorous sort of fatigue that comes from doing.”
Anyway . . . .love the book and highly recommend it!
This was a great re-telling of Little House on the Prairie from Caroline Ingalls’ viewpoint. The author stayed true to the feel of the original book while adding new details. If you read the Little House books at any time in your life I’d recommend reading this one too!
Nice POV addition to the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder we grew up with. Seeing the prairie life through the eyes of Ma was an interesting take. Well written, nice flow.
For all fans of Little House on the Prairie books.
If you were “A Little House in the Prairie” fan this is a little more information from Caroline’s perspective. Quick read. Nothing notable to add.
I hoped for a moderately interesting, casually amusing read, but this was so much more. Yes, it’s the familiar story from Ma’s point of view, but it’s beautifully written and fully brings to life how the same events that stand out in a child’s memory decades later as exciting would have been daunting, if not thoroughly terrifying to an adult required to navigate them, not merely observe them. Caroline’s inner dialogue is believable and moving. Highly recommend!
Wonderful look at life on the prairie with Laura Ingles Wilder’s family.
I grew up reading the Little House on the Prairie books. I loved them, so I was happy to see a book written from the mother’s point of view. Caroline was a strong woman as pioneer women needed to be. This book answered so many questions regarding how the pioneers handled real life events. It was inspiring to see how innovative and creative they were in managing their lives when they were “on the road”. If you loved the Ingalls family from the Little House books, you will definitely enjoy thisbook.
Definetly Little House on the Prairie, but an informative look at pioneer life. Fun to read, but I like to relate to the characters in the books I read. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters so it was a bit of a disappointment.
having read all the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this is a wonderful “adult” version. Telling the same story from Caroline (Mrs. Charles Ingalls) gives a more adult look at the problems of living on the prairie with the Ingalls family. I have recommended this to all my friends who are fans of the family. GREAT READ!!!
If you are into pioneer travels and adventure this book is for you. This book is Caroline Ingles view of the the move from Wisconsin to Kansas and building the ‘Little house on the prairie’. It expresses her feelings and thoughts throughout the book as well as the hardships and dangers they encountered traveling to and living on the prairie. Good character development, easy to read and follow. I would recommend this book.
Hard to believe the author did not know the Ingalls family personally. A magnificent book