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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
[Read for a Child/YA Lit class]
The story of the Ingalls family and their move from the woods to the prairie and how they cope with life in a different environment and territory that holds different challenges than their previous home.
I know this book is a classic but I just didn’t like it. The plot was thin, the characters are unlikeable and racist, and a big portion of the book is just a list of Pa’s construction projects.
The only thing I did like was the art in the book. Lots of pretty scenery pieces.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this one. There are better books for young readers to start with.
The story of the Ingalls family and their move from the woods to the prairie and how they cope with life in a different environment and territory that holds different challenges than their previous home.
I know this book is a classic but I just didn’t like it. The plot was thin, the characters are unlikeable and racist, and a big portion of the book is just a list of Pa’s construction projects.
The only thing I did like was the art in the book. Lots of pretty scenery pieces.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this one. There are better books for young readers to start with.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
relaxing
medium-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
This is another heartwarming classic that everyone should read.
I loved these as a girl. reading them as an adult, is different but I have such great memories.
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While there's no doubt some racism in here, I do feel it's contextual, historically likely accurate, and also not one sided - some hate the 'Indians', some think they aren't bad. Overall I think the book is interesting to hear about the white settlers that came around the early 1900s. All the others things they had to do to create a homestead are very interesting to read. I wouldn't say this is for kids anymore, as it should likely be read with context. It would be nice to have something as popular about the other side of the story, of the Indigenous perspective when the white settlers came in.
hopeful
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So hard to rate this book because all the lovely things are so overshadowed by the racism towards Native Americans. I was captivated by the story and storytelling but the racism was so unnecessary and jarring to a modern reader that I know I couldn’t recommend the book to anyone because of it, and it somewhat spoils my childhood memories of the books / TV series
I was obsessed with the idyllic homesteading aspect of this book when I was a kid and HOO BOY did I miss all that other stuff on the egregious violations of indigenous rights! First time I’ve read this book since I was 7, and it definitely deserved a critical re-read. Laura actually witnesses the TRAIL OF MOTHERFUCKING TEARS and then it cuts to a scene of Ma planting spring peas in the garden. I’m disappointed in my younger self for not seeing the thread of white supremacy running right under my nose.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-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
Reading books with my children that I read as a child. This is a good story, but be prepared to have a pretty extensive history lesson mid-story. The racism toward Native Americans is strong in this book. “The only good Indian is a dead Indian” is said many times, called Native American babies “papoose” and Laura absolutely having a meltdown because she couldn’t keep an adorable Native baby that went past her house with her mother led to some good conversations with my kids. This is a part of our history, and it’s important that we teach about it.
That being said, my kids found this story enjoyable, and we’re often swept up in the tale. We were considering taking a break from the series after this one but the story hooked them back in. cliffhanger ending strikes again!
That being said, my kids found this story enjoyable, and we’re often swept up in the tale. We were considering taking a break from the series after this one but the story hooked them back in. cliffhanger ending strikes again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Animal death
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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:
N/A
It made me sad to read the Ingalls leaving the home they built in the Prairie with its glass windows, a really deep well they dug themselves, and brand new fresh garden planted with crops they'd been saving. All Pa's hardworking was wasted. That's sad.