Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder (published in 1941) continues the story of the pioneering Ingalls family, now with Laura 14 and a half years old. The book continues immediately after the closing of The Long Winter, and it is now spring 1881. But life will never quite be the same for the Ingalls family. Not only is the area changing, but the girls are growing up and they all face new challenges. While they have always been the settlers in a somewhat barren land, they are now the established settlers on the outside of a growing town. Plus, Mary will have the chance to go to college, but only by leaving her dear sister Laura!
Laura has always been a fun-loving, imaginative girl, most interested in the wide expanse of nature than staying in and doing chores. But now, instead of helping at home, she has the chance to earn money by sewing in town. And, if she can prove her worth in school, she will be able to become a teacher, giving her earnings to help send her sister to school. As with the last two Laura stories (By the Shores of Silver Lake and The Long Winter), Little Town on the Prairie introduces an older and wise Laura. There isn’t the loneliness of giving up childhood nor the fear of starvation anymore. But now Laura faces new struggles: financially supporting her parents, becoming the oldest child in terms of responsibility (as Mary leaves for school), supervising her sisters alone for a week, dealing with a bully (that dreaded Nellie Olsen), and proving her intelligence even when the local schoolteacher despises her. Not only that, but this is the first book where Almanzo Wilder shows her some attention. Is Laura ready for that?
Laura shows her leadership as she takes on increasing responsibility and determination to be successful. The whole feeling of life shifts, now, as farming and survival are still essential but no longer the only focus of life. “Literaries” and “socials” now occur in town. A society has emerged where all can be involved, whether it is celebrating Independence Day or Christmas holidays. Laura may be missing the empty loveliness of an open prairie, but she recognizes that there are some huge benefits to be being by a growing town.
As a whole the book is a fun addition to the Laura story. Although there is the introduction of some adult subjects (including 15-year-old Laura “walking with” 22-year-old Almanzo) and the financial struggles of the family, in general the book has an appropriate spattering of humor for a young reader to appreciate. It is not as intense as the starving time in The Long Winter. Even the “bullying” from Nellie and the teacher are somewhat amusing because we can all see the unfairness inherent in it. Disappointingly, there is a chapter with racism as the town gathers for entertainment (a minstrel show, in which even Pa takes a part in black face), so this will never be a favorite book of mine. Although it’s never easy to grow up, the reader cheers for Laura as she earns her teacher’s certificate. We can tell that only good things are coming (eventually).
Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder was awarded a Newbery Honor in 1942. I rate it as “really good” and say “Keep it and read it.”
Newbery rating scale:Â FANTASTICÂ | REALLY GOOD | PRETTY GOOD | OKAY | BLAH
What to do with this Newbery: KEEP IT AND READ IT | MAYBE IF YOU HAVE TIME | DON’T BOTHER
