Rolling Stones: The Little House Series

When I first began reading the Little House series, I didn’t expect much from it. I’m all for great kids’ books, as you know, but I wouldn’t say I get hooked on them very often. Harry Potter and the Anne of Green Gables series are a few notable exceptions, but I had low expectations for a main character who was neither magical nor impishly precocious. 

That’s why I was surprised to find myself staying up late to read just a few more pages. I needed to see what happened to Laura’s doll, how their crops turned out, and whether they’d had a nice Christmas. In short, I was hooked. 

Mysteriously Addicting

What is it about this old-timey autobiography that kept me reading all nine books? (That’s right…NINE books. That’s 2,784 pages.) Was it the straightforward writing style laced with vivid imagery? The nostalgic feeling of the Old West era? The description of everyday tasks that we’ve completely lost the ability to perform? The swiftly-moving timeline from Laura’s childhood to her marriage? 

Well, yes. It’s all that, and yet the series is more than the sum of its parts. It would have to be. When you can summarize nine books with the sentence, “A family moves a lot, and life is exciting but hard,” there must be more to the series than meets the eye. 

A Preview and a Warning

To me, the books were both inspiring and frustrating. I was inspired by the family’s character qualities, expectations, and work ethic, but I was frustrated by their isolation and motivation. I plan to wax eloquent on these topics in the next two posts, but let’s start with a super-brief overview of the books. 

By the way, if you’ve been meaning to read the books, you may want to tackle them now to avoid my “spoilers.” (Although does it really qualify as a spoiler if the books have been available for 90 years and you still haven’t read them? Just asking…) If you never plan to read them, no problem. These posts will still have something to offer you. Read on, my friend.

A Peek into Each Book

Little House in the Big Woods (published 1932)

Set in the early 1870’s, the first book of the series begins with the Ingalls family living in the woods of Wisconsin near extended family. Some of Laura’s best memories come from time spent there with grandparents and cousins. The book is basically a description of everyday living back then, but it’s fascinating because we’ve lost nearly all of those skills less than a century later. 

Little House on the Prairie (published 1935)

In 1874, Pa Ingalls decides to move his family to Kansas so they can start a homestead. They have no family and virtually no neighbors except one bachelor over yonder. Building a house and making a living is hard, and then they all get malaria and nearly die. To top it all off, they hear that the Army is coming to evict everyone in the area because, legally, it’s still Indian territory. They pack their wagon and leave their painstakingly-built house behind. 

Farmer Boy (published 1933)

Set in 1860’s upstate New York, this book follows the daily chores and capers of Almanzo Wilder, the boy who grew to be Laura’s husband. The Wilder family is settled and successful, but it’s incredible to see how much work goes into maintaining their farm. Also, I can’t believe how much food that boy consumed—the descriptions of his snacks and meals will have your stomach rumbling. 

On the Banks of Plum Creek (published 1937)

In 1875 the Ingalls family moves from Kansas to Minnesota near a small town. Laura and her sister Mary go to a real school for the first time and are right on track academically, thanks to Ma. The family lives in a dugout while Pa builds a real house, planning to pay for the supplies with the profit from his crops. Sadly, grasshoppers consume every piece of foliage in the vicinity, bury eggs to ensure next year’s destruction, and fly off. There goes the profit and the farm.

By the Shores of Silver Lake (published 1939)

Most of the Ingalls get scarlet fever, and Mary is left permanently blind from the infection. In 1879, Pa decides to move them to South Dakota so he can work in a railroad camp while looking for a new homestead in the area. Laura is fascinated by the ingenious construction of the railroad, and Pa eventually lays claim to the perfect plot of land. 

The Long Winter (published 1940)

The winter of 1880 was a doozy. The Ingalls family abandons their “claim shanty” for the season, staying in Pa’s storefront in the nearby town instead. The girls go to school until the blizzards become constant. Then they, like everyone else, stay home and try to survive seven months of arctic weather. Almanzo Wilder, who also lives in town, risks his life to buy wheat for the starving residents. Even so, the Ingalls nearly freeze and starve and go nuts, but they manage to survive until spring comes in May.  

Little Town on the Prairie (published 1941)

After that winter, Mary moves to a college for the blind in Iowa. Unfortunately, the crops that would have paid for her tuition are eaten by a plague of blackbirds. Laura feels pressure to study hard and become a teacher to help pay for Mary’s college. She’s pretty stir crazy until the town starts a monthly literary society. Almanzo Wilder also starts escorting her home from events, although Laura seems oblivious of his motives. Finally, she earns her teaching certificate and gets her first job lined up.

These Happy Golden Years (published 1943)

The book begins in 1882 as Laura leaves home for her first teaching job twelve miles from home. It’s a miserable situation, but she endures until the end of the term. Almanzo drives his sleigh to pick her up every Friday so she can spend the weekend at home. They continue to court for a while, and then he pops the question and she demurely agrees. When he finishes building their new house, the couple gets married and moves in.

The First Four Years (published 1971)

Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t actually publish this book. After her death, a collection of notes was found and published, but maybe it shouldn’t have been; it’s a dismal end to a lovely series. Tragedy follows tragedy—lost crops, the death of a baby, diphtheria, drought, debt, deadly tornadoes, house fire, and the list goes on. Honestly, I might have skipped this one if I’d known. The Wilders did end up moving to Missouri later on and making a successful living, but that’s not included in this book. 

See for Yourself

See what I mean? “A family moves a lot, and life is exciting but hard.” It’s not the what of the books that draws you in; it’s the how. Even though I outlined the plot skeletons, the soul of the books is much richer. Next time I’ll share a few things that really impressed me about the Ingalls’ lifestyle, but you can form your own opinion before then. They’re quick reads, so if you’re interested, check out the books or audiobooks. I think you’ll find it’s time well spent. It’s certainly more worthwhile than growing crops for grasshoppers or blackbirds. Until next time, friends!