blueprairieskies's review against another edition
5.0
See also my reviews of the previous books.
I truly loved this book. It felt as if this is where the transformation happens and we are hearing Laura’s authentic memories and portrayal of life, rather than those related to her second-hand.
Beautiful book!
I truly loved this book. It felt as if this is where the transformation happens and we are hearing Laura’s authentic memories and portrayal of life, rather than those related to her second-hand.
Beautiful book!
kairosdreaming's review against another edition
5.0
Another great classic from Wilder. These books are great reads and essentially timeless. There's a reason that Laura's life has captured the hearts of so many people and this book is a real good example of it.
Having left Indian territory, the Ingalls make their way to Minnesota where they trade their wagon and horses for a piece of land and a dugout house. Pa is determined to build them a proper home, but has to wait for a good wheat crop first. Laura and her sister Mary spend their days playing in the creek and helping their Pa with the cow and planting. He builds them a new home and they're well on their way to happiness when disaster strikes in the form of grasshoppers who eat all the crops. In order to keep afloat, Pa must leave and take work elsewhere. In total, the book covers a little over two years of their lives living by Plum Creek.
It was reading this book again that I started getting an inkling suspicious that as wonderful as Pa is described in these books, he perhaps wasn't so great with money. While they never go without, he makes some not so sound business transactions in the book on borrowed credit. It kind of helped me to see deeper in the characters. Laura is good at describing herself as not being perfect, but rather just being a normal little girl while Mary is often the perfect child. Ma is there as a steady presence but is not nearly as severe as she is in some of the other books.
Wilder is a good writer. She really expresses herself in a way that is understood by all ages and especially be children, whom these books seem to be written for. There is plenty of description and even though life is very different now, it is still easy to see how they lived back then through her words. There really isn't anything offensive in this novel and it is entirely appropriate for children to read. The language is simple enough it should be easy for most ages to read themselves.
I love this series and this book is no different. Its a great glimpse into the life of Wilder and her family and also of the people who lived in those times.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Copyright 1937
339 pages + pictures
Review by M. Reynard 2010
Having left Indian territory, the Ingalls make their way to Minnesota where they trade their wagon and horses for a piece of land and a dugout house. Pa is determined to build them a proper home, but has to wait for a good wheat crop first. Laura and her sister Mary spend their days playing in the creek and helping their Pa with the cow and planting. He builds them a new home and they're well on their way to happiness when disaster strikes in the form of grasshoppers who eat all the crops. In order to keep afloat, Pa must leave and take work elsewhere. In total, the book covers a little over two years of their lives living by Plum Creek.
It was reading this book again that I started getting an inkling suspicious that as wonderful as Pa is described in these books, he perhaps wasn't so great with money. While they never go without, he makes some not so sound business transactions in the book on borrowed credit. It kind of helped me to see deeper in the characters. Laura is good at describing herself as not being perfect, but rather just being a normal little girl while Mary is often the perfect child. Ma is there as a steady presence but is not nearly as severe as she is in some of the other books.
Wilder is a good writer. She really expresses herself in a way that is understood by all ages and especially be children, whom these books seem to be written for. There is plenty of description and even though life is very different now, it is still easy to see how they lived back then through her words. There really isn't anything offensive in this novel and it is entirely appropriate for children to read. The language is simple enough it should be easy for most ages to read themselves.
I love this series and this book is no different. Its a great glimpse into the life of Wilder and her family and also of the people who lived in those times.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Copyright 1937
339 pages + pictures
Review by M. Reynard 2010
govmarley's review against another edition
4.0
Pa Ingalls, you are a starry-eyed optimist. Always looking on the bright side. Grasshoppers destroy your wheat? No problem. Holes worn through your boots? No problem. Deadly blizzards nearly kill you? Still no problem.
How Caroline Ingalls kept from choking this man to death is beyond me. And she moved AGAIN when she didn't want to. Also, a baby pops up out of nowhere with barely a mention. However, this is one of my favorite books in the series because I fell in love with the idea of living in a dugout. In fact, I would go move into one right now. That's right, I'm a prairie gal. Sue me. I was sad when they moved into the real house. Plus, this book kills me because of everyone in this series, I love Jack the most.
To this day, I am terrified of a grasshopper plague and have thought through what I would do. Burn them. Burn them with fire. Thanks, Laura. 4 stars.
How Caroline Ingalls kept from choking this man to death is beyond me. And she moved AGAIN when she didn't want to. Also, a baby pops up out of nowhere with barely a mention. However, this is one of my favorite books in the series because I fell in love with the idea of living in a dugout. In fact, I would go move into one right now. That's right, I'm a prairie gal. Sue me. I was sad when they moved into the real house. Plus, this book kills me because of everyone in this series, I love Jack the most.
To this day, I am terrified of a grasshopper plague and have thought through what I would do. Burn them. Burn them with fire. Thanks, Laura. 4 stars.
huncamuncamouse's review against another edition
5.0
This one was always my favorite of the series, and I used to fantasize about living in a dug-out of my own. It's interesting to revisit these books as an adult and see how Laura's POV matures as the series progresses; the insights and sentences are more sophisticated as she ages. As always, I love her descriptions of the land, of clothing and household objects, and food. Anyone interested in writing children's literature could benefit from seeing the arc of narrative voice Ingalls employs.
Man, I love to hate Nellie Oleson. Nothing makes me happier than when Laura gets a cape of her own--and a muff. But again, it's frustrating to see Pa's hopes for the family completely dashed once again as they battle plagues of insects and brutal Minnesota winters.
Man, I love to hate Nellie Oleson. Nothing makes me happier than when Laura gets a cape of her own--and a muff. But again, it's frustrating to see Pa's hopes for the family completely dashed once again as they battle plagues of insects and brutal Minnesota winters.
lnickels's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
bookswithpetra's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
madighan's review against another edition
3.0
Loved that it was set in MInnesota I loved all the different adventures
torahimesama's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
casehouse's review against another edition
4.0
Wow - How did I not remember how intense this book is? Though my kids are now past the age to be enthralled by this series of children's books, I decided to re-read some of them. This family overcame SO many hardships. It was an enjoyable read, reminding me of how much easier life is now in so many ways but also of how grateful people were for the simplest of gifts when hardships abounded.