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perfectlystill's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Read for work's Historical Fiction genre study.
lydia_smith's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Death of parent
jk_nojoke's review against another edition
5.0
Linda Sue Park's homage to and challenge of Little House on the Prairie. Loved it.
nightsparks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Really enjoyed the author's note. Will be reading this with my children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual assault
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
maryhannawilson's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Prairie Lotus is a historical novel that takes place in 1880 in the United States’ Dakota Territory. Hanna Edmunds is 14 years old when she and her father arrive in the town of LaForge. Her father wants to set up a shop and immediately buys a property for his dream. Hanna is more uncertain about settling down so quickly but she decides to try her best to attend school and fit in. Unfortunately, she will have to navigate a lot of racist beliefs as she tries to become part of the community.
I liked this book, though I didn't love this book. I think Hanna's father bothered me the most because he seemed completely unaware of the needs of his daughter and the challenges she would face. He settles for the town so quickly without giving much thought to the racism Hanna will face and what her life will be like.
I appreciated the dressmaking focus in the book - showing the main character's skills and talents, which ultimately integrate her into the community. Dressmaking was an important connection to her mother and the story as it continued.
Hanna's desire to complete her education is an important aspect of this story too. Her father is less interested in her education, but that seems accurate for the time period. Thanks to the teacher in town (yaaaay for hero teachers!), Hanna achieves her goal despite the racism of the other families who keep their children away from school as a protest.
This is a nice alternative or companion to book such as, "Little House The Prairie," which have problematic language and viewpoints. A book like, "Birchbark House," would work well as a companion book that takes place in this time period as well.
NOTE: Chapter 23 contains a brief moment of violence as two men in the town approach Hanna. One says that no one will hurt her "as long as she doesn't put up a fight." Hanna escapes the situation with distraction but sensitive readers might need a heads up.
I liked this book, though I didn't love this book. I think Hanna's father bothered me the most because he seemed completely unaware of the needs of his daughter and the challenges she would face. He settles for the town so quickly without giving much thought to the racism Hanna will face and what her life will be like.
I appreciated the dressmaking focus in the book - showing the main character's skills and talents, which ultimately integrate her into the community. Dressmaking was an important connection to her mother and the story as it continued.
Hanna's desire to complete her education is an important aspect of this story too. Her father is less interested in her education, but that seems accurate for the time period. Thanks to the teacher in town (yaaaay for hero teachers!), Hanna achieves her goal despite the racism of the other families who keep their children away from school as a protest.
This is a nice alternative or companion to book such as, "Little House The Prairie," which have problematic language and viewpoints. A book like, "Birchbark House," would work well as a companion book that takes place in this time period as well.
NOTE: Chapter 23 contains a brief moment of violence as two men in the town approach Hanna. One says that no one will hurt her "as long as she doesn't put up a fight." Hanna escapes the situation with distraction but sensitive readers might need a heads up.
mdevlin923's review against another edition
4.0
Hanna, a half-Chinese half-white girl, is traveling from California to the Dakota territories with her father during 1880. Together, they are trying to make a new life after the Los Angeles riots and the death of Hanna's mother. Hanna's father decides to settle in a small town where he knows the justice of the peace. They begin the process of setting up a dress goods store...but any people have issues with Hanna's ethnicity. Both Hanna and her father have to navigate the racism while attempting to create a successful business. Hanna learns to stand up for herself and finds good friends amid the townspeople while being true to her mother and her heritage.
This book was wonderful and shed light on people who have been erased from stories about America's creation. The descriptions of dress making, schooling, and general day to day business showed me what it was like to live during the 1800s. It was also refreshing to have a different perspective, and Park's notes about Laura Ingalls Wilder was nostalgic but-most importantly-realistic.
This book was wonderful and shed light on people who have been erased from stories about America's creation. The descriptions of dress making, schooling, and general day to day business showed me what it was like to live during the 1800s. It was also refreshing to have a different perspective, and Park's notes about Laura Ingalls Wilder was nostalgic but-most importantly-realistic.
jnishi's review against another edition
5.0
Just an amazing book. As a biracial Asian- Canadian this book is the book I waited my whole life for. I finally saw myself in a book. Wonderfully written, excellently researched, it was like I was there in 1880. It broke my heart and mended it again. It was just a beautiful book. Thank you ms. Park, thank you so much.
bookwyrm76's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this book not sure what to expect. I am a fan of Linda Sue Park, but not of the original Little House books. Not because of any of the current issues that concern adults about these books, but because I found them boring as I did most historical fiction. Prairie Lotus was anything but boring. I loved the characters and I could see the parallels to the Wilder books which Park was a fan of growing up, but she goes so far beyond them. I found her author's note to be as interesting as the book itself. I love hearing about the how and why of writing, not necessarily the nitty gritty detail, but the thought process and reasons for making certain choices. It added even more shades of meaning to a story which already had a great deal of depth. As always, the thought, research, and care she puts into her writing makes the book shine. i can't wait to recommend this to the kids in my library. I wish it were already released!
daumari's review against another edition
5.0
Like author Linda Sue Park, I was a big Little House on the Prairie book fan. My second grade teacher read LHotP to us in class, and when we did a family trip to Michigan the next summer, my parents made stops in Plum Creek, MN and DeSmet, SD. Nothing fits a long roadtrip quite well like staring out the window at grass and thinking about Laura doing the same from the back of the wagon.
However, like Park it's hard to ignore the fact that the Ingalls family likely would've been racist to me with some of the aggressions that Hanna encounters (and as Park notes, are all things she's faced IRL). Historical fiction is whitewashed, and that gives an erroneous perception that history largely belongs to white people. Black and brown people have existed in all eras; do you think our ancestors stayed at home until deciding to move in the 20th century or something? Prairie Lotus is Park's way of reckoning with that childhood love while envisioning how girls like us would've lived in a pioneer town.
LH fans will find this a familiar place- small town with a one room school house, cheerful calicos and poplins, and salt pork. One of Hanna's classmates is an expy of Laura Ingalls Wilder herself (lived in the same states and wants to graduate & become a teacher soon). Unlike the Little House books, though, Park recognizes that indigenous people lived in the area and they have names & dialogue instead of being a nameless, voiceless Other. A lot of what 14-year-old Hanna faces from townsfolk is unfortunately timeless, and will be familiar to any nonwhite reader (as is the way she reacts, not wanting to give the satisfaction of a reaction especially as the only Asian these people have likely met).
Really loved this, and it was the perfect way to segue into my Little House reread. I'll strongly recommend this book in general, and also as a companion book for readers going through LH, especially those who Ma would've snubbed.
However, like Park it's hard to ignore the fact that the Ingalls family likely would've been racist to me with some of the aggressions that Hanna encounters (and as Park notes, are all things she's faced IRL). Historical fiction is whitewashed, and that gives an erroneous perception that history largely belongs to white people. Black and brown people have existed in all eras; do you think our ancestors stayed at home until deciding to move in the 20th century or something? Prairie Lotus is Park's way of reckoning with that childhood love while envisioning how girls like us would've lived in a pioneer town.
LH fans will find this a familiar place- small town with a one room school house, cheerful calicos and poplins, and salt pork. One of Hanna's classmates is an expy of Laura Ingalls Wilder herself (lived in the same states and wants to graduate & become a teacher soon). Unlike the Little House books, though, Park recognizes that indigenous people lived in the area and they have names & dialogue instead of being a nameless, voiceless Other. A lot of what 14-year-old Hanna faces from townsfolk is unfortunately timeless, and will be familiar to any nonwhite reader (as is the way she reacts, not wanting to give the satisfaction of a reaction especially as the only Asian these people have likely met).
Really loved this, and it was the perfect way to segue into my Little House reread. I'll strongly recommend this book in general, and also as a companion book for readers going through LH, especially those who Ma would've snubbed.