By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House, #5)

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By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House #5)

by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Garth Williams (Illustrator)

4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 · rating details · 29,721 ratings · 416 reviews

Meet Laura Ingalls...the little girl who would grow up to write the Little House books. Pa heads west to the unsettled wilderness of the Dakota Territory. When Ma, Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Grace join him, they become the first settlers in the town of De Smet. And Pa begins work on the first building in what will soon be a brand-new town on the shores of Silver Lake.

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published October 14th 1953 by HarperCollins (first published 1939)

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May 04, 2007 Summer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2007, i-will-lend-this-to-you, juvenile-literature, novels

One of the things I love about this series is how the prose grows with the protagonist. Four-year-old Laura lives in a world with short sentences and simple feelings, and thirteen-year-old Laura, who has had to broaden her vocabulary to help describe things to her blind sister, inhabits a text that is intricately described and which gives a broader overview of events and situations.

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Mar 28, 2011 Kressel Housman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, fiction, historical-fiction, little-house

It was toward the beginning of this novel that I abandoned the Little House books at age eleven, and to a large degree, I blame the television series. The book opens with the news of Mary’s blindness, which was shown with typical pioneer stoicism: “She was able to sit up now, wrapped in quilts in Ma’s old hickory rocking chair. All that long time, week after week, when she could still see a little, but less every day, she had never cried. Now she could not even see the brightest light anymore. S...more It was toward the beginning of this novel that I abandoned the Little House books at age eleven, and to a large degree, I blame the television series. The book opens with the news of Mary’s blindness, which was shown with typical pioneer stoicism: “She was able to sit up now, wrapped in quilts in Ma’s old hickory rocking chair. All that long time, week after week, when she could still see a little, but less every day, she had never cried. Now she could not even see the brightest light anymore. She was still patient and brave.”

Compare that to the TV series, in which Mary just woke up one day completely sightless and screaming, “Pa! I can’t see! I’m blind!” The actress was nominated for an Emmy for that performance, but it was nothing like the book.

Another discrepancy came in the chapter “Grown Up” in which Jack, the family dog, dies. Twelve-year-old Laura realizes that just as she has put her old rag doll Charlotte away, she’s too old to run around playing with a dog along the prairie. She’s got responsibilities now. Among them is being Mary’s “eyes,” which she does by describing aloud to Mary everything she sees. No doubt that is part of what shaped her into a writer.

In the TV show, Jack is simply replaced by another dog, Bandit, who gets his name because he is caught stealing bacon and because he has a black “mask” around his eyes. He won’t stop following Laura around, and she, grieving over Jack, doesn’t accept him as hers until the end of the episode. I guess Michael Landon didn’t think the viewing public wanted Laura to grow up just yet.

These things I was able to reconcile. There were the books, and there was the TV show, and they didn’t always match. What bothered me much more was a minor detail: Laura’s first ride on horseback didn’t occur until this book. The Laura on the TV show was an expert rider at a young age, and some of my favorite episodes revolved around her riding. I wasn’t willing to let go of those images and the feelings they gave me, even if the book clearly showed they were inaccurate.

But even that was not enough to turn me off to the books. What I think happened was that I reached a dull part (the books do have them, as do the works of many other great writers), and I wasn’t willing to push myself through as I had with The Long Winter years before. I’d grown lazy, spoiled by the minute-to-minute entertainment of television.

I finally finished By the Shores of Silver Lake two Shabbosim ago, and I loved it. But once again, I don’t think I had enough understanding of the history to have appreciated it back in fifth grade. I remember quite clearly that I listed “homestead” as a vocabulary word from the book, and I remember noticing I had no others, from which I concluded that the Little House books were getting easy for me. But when I looked up “homestead” in the dictionary, I didn’t learn anything about the Homestead Act, which is what the whole book is about. Any social studies teachers who want their students to understand the settlement of the American west ought to give them the chapters called “The Spring Rush,” “Pa’s Bet,” and “Building Boom.” These bring the concept of manifest destiny to life. So while the Little House books aren’t necessarily vocabulary builders for older readers, they’re most definitely a slice of history, and that goes for all ages.
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Oct 26, 2007 Torie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Girls who would rather watch the railroad being built than sit inside sewing

What blows me away every time about all Laura Ingalls Wilder books is how she can put me right in the place of someone seeing the world change in extraordinary ways that have nothing to do with the 21st century. I am right there with Laura's fascination with the railroad and trains and crossing the continent to "settle" in the West where no one but buffalo and savages and their little papooses have lived before. The books are instructive in how the popular perception of Manifest Destiny was was...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Treasure rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-books, series

This one begins so sadly, with two years since Plum Creek has ended, the famil sick with Scarlet Fever, and Mary now blind. I've always wished Laura had written about those years, as Baby Grace appears during that time, and apparently a baby brother was also born and died during that time. Clearly, it was a sad and diffucult time, but I find their fortitude inspiring and I wish there was more about that time.
Laura us much more grown up in this one-- I feel there is a separation between Plum Cre...more

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Jan 13, 2009 Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 26, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

The Ingalls have moved west in this next edition of the Little House on the Prairie series. Its just as charming as the other books and its always a pleasure to read Wilder's telling of her life growing up.

When they haven't had a good crop in a few years, Mary going blind, and other bad luck, they decide to travel West to seek better land. First though, they stop off near where a railroad grade is being done and Pa becomes the storekeeper and payroll administrator. They live in a shanty where La...more The Ingalls have moved west in this next edition of the Little House on the Prairie series. Its just as charming as the other books and its always a pleasure to read Wilder's telling of her life growing up.

When they haven't had a good crop in a few years, Mary going blind, and other bad luck, they decide to travel West to seek better land. First though, they stop off near where a railroad grade is being done and Pa becomes the storekeeper and payroll administrator. They live in a shanty where Laura gets to spend some time with cousins also in the area. When winter sets in, they become the only ones in the area and are fortunate enough to live in the Surveyor's house with tons of provisions set in for winter. They are joined later by friends and eventually Paul goes to make a claim on some land in the area so they can build a house and settle, hopefully for good this time.

The characters in this book, although based on real life, are sometimes too good to be real people. Lots of virtue and hardly any flaws. But I can imagine that Laura chose to remember her family in the best light that she could. Ma was a little more warm in this book which was nice to see. I think that as Laura got older she developed a better relationship with her mother. She still describes Pa as being a wonderful guy in this book as well.

Wilder has a nice writing style. Its easy for kids to read but appeals to all ages. She describes the time well and its easy to see the type of life they led. There are some offensive parts in this book though. Ma is not a big fan of Native Americans and doesn't mind saying so in this book. Despite it being the times where this was widely accepted, it could definitely be offensive for some people.

This is a wonderful series that I enjoy reading many times over. This book especially is a great one because it shows Laura a little older and growing up as opposed to being younger and more child-like. It could really resonate with kids who are also at this age. Overall this is just a great book for family reading time and a classic in its own right.

By the Shores of Silver Lake
Copyright 1939
291 pages + pictures

Review by M. Reynard 2010 (less)

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Mar 25, 2013 Gale rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: prairie-rural-young-adult

“Putting Down Roots as a Family”

This fifth book in the Little House series relates Laura’s memories as a young teenage girl, as her family is on the move yet again: from Plum Creek to Silver Lake and town yet to be built. Eager to find “the real west” Laura struggles with the chores of a prairie woman while inside she longs to rush headlong into the new landscape with childlike enthusiasm. Pa’s cheerful fiddle music and Ma’s quiet maternal authority provide a warm, stable foundation for family...more “Putting Down Roots as a Family”

This fifth book in the Little House series relates Laura’s memories as a young teenage girl, as her family is on the move yet again: from Plum Creek to Silver Lake and town yet to be built. Eager to find “the real west” Laura struggles with the chores of a prairie woman while inside she longs to rush headlong into the new landscape with childlike enthusiasm. Pa’s cheerful fiddle music and Ma’s quiet maternal authority provide a warm, stable foundation for family life.—whether in the big woods, in a bustling town or on the wide prairie.

Ma longs to settle down for good—not just because she craves social stability, but she wants to provide real schooling for her young daughters, who of whom she hopes to groom as teachers. Laura--known affectionately as Half Pint and Flutterbudget by her merry Pa—recognizes her gypsy nature; like Pa she eagerly longs for new adventures westward. Can she settle into future De Smet?

Blinded as a result of scarlet fever May, the oldest, is reduced to holding 2-year old Grace in a rocker for most of the book, though she quietly reprimands Laura’s grammar, ideas and behavior. Carrie is half child-half girl, almost forgotten in the middle, who both needs and gives care; she has a choice of role models to observe in her two older sisters. The family faces many challenges on the prairie wilderness and unsettled territory: a railroad riot on payday, horse thieves, wolves, an onslaught of spring rushers, murderous claim jumpers and a lost baby.

But the family enjoys many good times as well, with warm music-filled evenings by the fire. They use their talents and ingenuity to provide each other with precious Christmas gifts even without out a tree. Basic hospitality is sometimes strained, but an undercurrent of Christian obligation pervades. They are blessed by the loyalty of old friends Like Mr. Edwards, and new friends like Mr. and Mrs. Boast.
Combined with Garth William’s charming pen and ink illustrations this book continues the saga of the lively, pigtailed girl from the Big Woods, who shared her life story with 20th century America—demonstrating the importance of traditional family values.

(March 25, 2010. I welocme dialogue with teachers.)(less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Ellie Sorota rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-lit

"By the Shores of Silver Lake" is the fifth book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling and beloved series. In this book, the Ingalls family moves for the last time to De Smet, South Dakota. There, they experience many "firsts". They are the very first residents of the yet-unsettled town. They run the town's first boarding house, build one of the first stores. Laura teaches a few lessons to the town children and her siblings, holding what truly was the town's first school around her family stov...more "By the Shores of Silver Lake" is the fifth book in Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling and beloved series. In this book, the Ingalls family moves for the last time to De Smet, South Dakota. There, they experience many "firsts". They are the very first residents of the yet-unsettled town. They run the town's first boarding house, build one of the first stores. Laura teaches a few lessons to the town children and her siblings, holding what truly was the town's first school around her family stove.
These books always surprise me with the wildness of everyday pioneer life. Laura and her sister, Carrie, go outside at night to play on the frozen lake, running across the ice by moonlight to discover howling buffalo wolves. They awake one morning to their father shoveling a foot of snow off their bed, having fallen all night through the cracks of the unfinished building. Night after night, they house other pioneers, rowdy strangers, seeking fortune on the vast prairie farm land.
In this book, the reader sees a more distinct division between Laura and her sisters. Laura mentions many times her desire to continue on West. She'd be content living in a wagon, always moving, always seeing what's around the next bend. When the town starts to be built, she feels the world closing in on her and itches to put acres between her and her neighbors. Her sisters and mother, meanwhile, are thrilled to be settling down at long last. This division is the very reason that it is Laura Ingalls Wilder who sits down to write these stories years later and not one of her siblings. While they are stories about family and coming of age, they will always be - first and foremost - stories about the wild, unsettled West.
My favorite passage in the book is after Christmas morning. The Ingalls enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner of corn meal mush, reminiscing on all the wonderful Christmases of the past. They awake eagerly the next morning to open a gift each - all lovingly sewn from scrap fabric. After their daily chores, unexpected company, and a few songs around the stove to Pa's fiddle, the chapter ends with Laura's thoughts: "Every Christmas is better than the Christmas before. I guess it must be because I'm growing up." (less)

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Dec 12, 2012 Amy Flink rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Little House series was my alltime favorite series as a child. I started reading this when I was 10 and I read the whole series in order, and after Plum Creek, this book was a totally unexpected turn of events so it was a shock. There was such a gap between the Plum Creek book and Silver Lake book. Laura must have been about 9 when we left off in Plum Creek. At the beginning of this book she is a pre-teen. The rest of the series from this book on were written for older kids. I struggled with...more

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Nov 30, 2012 Kathy added it

Shelves: king-s-korner

By the Shores of Silver Lake, Review by Ruth Mercedes

By the Shores of Silver Lake is a wonderful book that illustrates a Pioneer family’s life.
The characters are unforgettable theres Pa the hard working father who always manages to bring laughter to the house. Ma gentle and clever she is the glue that holds the family together. Mary Lauras older sister firm and smart but sightless,Laura is the main character shes full of excitement and spunk and is always looking for and adventure. Carrie and G...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Delicious Strawberry rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: laura-ingalls-wilder, autobiography

Plum Creek had seemed such a haven in the last book. After moving out of the Big Woods and the Prairie, Plum Creek apparently is no longer the right home for them anymore, thanks to poor crops and other junk in Minnesota. So onward they move!

There were plenty of hard times not covered in this book, though just a couple of things were mentioned. There is a wider gap of years between this book and Plum Creek than with the other books, I guess Laura Wilder didn't want to write out about these harsh...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: children, little-house

This story opens 4 years after On the Banks of Plum Creek ended. Laura is 12 now, and she has a new baby sister, Grace. The family has suffered the past four years. They were all ill with scarlet fever, and Mary was blinded by the sickness. Pa was never able to grow a profitable crop of wheat. They are a sad and almost hopeless lot at the beginning of the book when Pa's sister, Docia, drives up and offers Pa a job as storekeeper and bookkeeper on a railroad building site to the west. There reall...more

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Jun 26, 2012 E.L. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads-and-rereads

This book is a rarity as far as series go - it is a transition book in which not much happens, and yet it is one that most people list as their favorite. For me, it's a three-way tie between this one, Little Town on the Prairie, and These Happy Golden Years.

Laura is not a carefree child anymore, but she's not the mature young woman we see in The Long Winter. The Ingalls are done moving, but not quite ready to settle on their own homestead yet (not until the very end, anyway). This is the book wh...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Terzah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My kids' and my journey through Laura Ingalls Wilder's books continued with By the Shores of Silver Lake, and once again none of us (age five or age 39) were disappointed. This book, in which Laura's voice noticeably shifts from that of a child to that of a pre-adolescent girl, opens a few years after the conclusion of On the Banks of Plum Creek and on a sober note. Still on their farm in Minnesota, her entire family, barring her and her father, has suffered scarlet fever. Her beloved sister Mar...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, middle-grade

This wasn't my favorite book in the series, but it was still an interesting installment. It opens a few years after Plum Creek, the previous book, ends. Scarlet fever has hit the Ingalls family, leaving Laura's older sister blind, and life overall has been quite hard on the family. Pa is offered a job out West, so after he accepts, the family heads West (by train!) and looks for a homestead on the new land there while railroads are being built and civilization is growing, teeming with new settle...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Olivia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-with-the-boy

If patience is a virtue, than Ma has got to be about the most virtuous woman out there. She leaves civilization in Wisconsin to travel with Pa to Indian Territory to start a household and raise her children from scratch. That doesn't work out so they head back to civilization in Minnesota. That doesn't work out, so they chuck everything and leave civilization once again and head out to the Dakota territories to make their fortune. Based on her daughters books, she does all of this with a smile o...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Man, oh man, again I start out feeling disappointed by Pa and Ma's life choices. Since we last left the Ingalls family, they have come down with scarlet fever and Mary is now blind. To be fair, they could have gotten sick any ol' place, but Pa, Plum Creek was clearly a bad decision for your family. Locusts, blizzards, BLINDNESS. The scary thing is, Laura's now 13, which means it's been a couple years since the last book left off. What the heck other crazy things happened that Laura doesn't want...more Man, oh man, again I start out feeling disappointed by Pa and Ma's life choices. Since we last left the Ingalls family, they have come down with scarlet fever and Mary is now blind. To be fair, they could have gotten sick any ol' place, but Pa, Plum Creek was clearly a bad decision for your family. Locusts, blizzards, BLINDNESS. The scary thing is, Laura's now 13, which means it's been a couple years since the last book left off. What the heck other crazy things happened that Laura doesn't want to tell us? Maybe nothing happened, life was boring those years, you say. I have serious doubts about that theory. Poor Laura.

Luckily, this book opens with Pa's sister who comes to the house and offers Pa a job with her husband's railroad business. Thank God--see, Pa, what can happen when you stick to family?

Then Jack the dog dies. OMG. This is so terribly sad. I kind of relied on Jack, like he was Nana from Peter Pan. He would at least take care of the children. RIP, Jack. I'm glad Laura fluffed your bed before you died.

Anyway, the family moves to follow the men who are building the railroad, and again, I'm worrying about the family because Laura and cousin Lena are allowed to run around like hooligans jumping on and falling off horses. Your first child is blind, are you at all worried your second one might break something? UGH.

I become pretty convinced reading through this book that after Jack dies, Laura's the one in the family that has to step up and keep things together. Like when Ma and Pa let Laura and Carrie play outside at night, Laura sees a wolf and without freaking out Carrie, hauls ass out of there, pulling her little sister along. When they burst into the house, Pa's 'aw, shucks, I thought those wolves were gone' reaction just slayed me. I felt like he had turned into Homer Simpson or something. And Mary, again, is blind, so Laura's the one always explaining things to her. And baby sister Grace wanders off and Ma and Pa do a whole, 'I thought she was with you' bit and run to the water to look for her, and Laura's the only one thinking, Where would I go if I was a baby? And then finds her of course.

Anyhoodle, for all that I'm making fun of them, I of course love the Ingalls family and these books. Christmas again was awesome, and when I really just felt like, Oh, you are the cutest, sweetest family ever. A couple of special moments: Driving to their homestead, Laura gets a glance at her future hubby Almanzo and his brother Royal. I wanted to give Laura a high-five and shout, "Oh yeah, get it, girl!"

Another moment from the beginning--as Pa is driving away to begin their new life, right after Jack's death: "Jack was not standing besides Laura to watch Pa go. There was only emptiness to turn to instead of Jack's eyes looking up to say that he was there to take care of her.
Laura knew then that she was not a little girl any more. Now she was alone; she must take care of herself. When you must do that, then you do it and you are grown up."(less)

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Mar 15, 2011 John rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

About a year and a half ago, I was reading Kim Stanley Robinson’s 50 Degrees Below and he made a reference to Laura Ingles Wilder’s The Big Winter. I soon tackled it and was amazed, and since I have been reading the series. I am not sure how I never read them as a kid. I don’t think my family owned them….which is odd since my parents put a premium on reading and we used to watch the TV show all the time after school. I am pretty sure I had a crush on Melissa Gilbert as Half Pint. But I digress.
W...more

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Aug 25, 2010 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I re-read this book after my sister and I talked about the scenes w/ Mary going blind. I remember the family being in dire straights, and was interested to read it as an adult. The only Laura I.W. book I have read as an adult is the Long Winter. I read them all about a hundred times each growing up.

Anyway, Mary goes blind before the book begins, and the story is very tragic. Of course, being optimistic pioneers, the family persevere, sell the tired farm in Minn. and move west to the end of the...more

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Jul 11, 2010 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amer-culture, classics, j, history

Before picking this up on a whim, I hadn't remembered how well-written the Little House books were. In this book, Mary is just recently blinded, Ma is enjoying living in town, and Laura and Pa are antsy. When the chance comes to move west again, Pa jumps at it and they are soon living on the edge of civilization, working on the railroad, and then in a newly created town.

The book has amazing historical detail painstakingly described for young readers and a lovely sense of life on the prairies in...more

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Jan 14, 2010 Poshm rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my least favourite of all the books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It is an ok read but doesn't have the warmth and charm of the other books. Where are all the mouth-watering descriptions of food and little heartwarming tales?

It starts out on a depressing note with times being hard for the Ingalls family. Pa comes across as being quite selfish in this book as he forces yet another move on them all which you can see is very much against what Ma and Mary want to do. The rest of the famil...more

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Sep 30, 2009 Ferrett Steinmetz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 19, 2013 Tori Turner rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'll keep this short and sweet again as it's hard to review these books without repeating yourself!

This book looks at Pa making more money to finally get the Ingalls family settled on their very own homestead. A sad start to the book which made it quite difficult to get going really, and which changed the dynamic of the family somewhat.

The story and lives of the family progress nicely, with a few scary moments which keep the book moving and flowing and of course some old friends show up again,...more

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May 22, 2011 Dawn Trlak-Donahue rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-classics, children-non-fiction

Another move to a railroad town of De Smet in the Dakotas. More nonsense from Papa. Papa is getting $50 a month to do the bookkeeping and payroll for the railroad. They are able to save up several hundred dollars, though they do have to live in a shanty for months. They intend to use the money to set up a homestead in the area, but Papa doesn't pick out the homestead until the railroad has moved on and the family almost has to use the money to pay for travel expenses back east and make another a...more

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Aug 18, 2009 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kids, social-studies

I think this was my favorite book yet. You gotta love an economy where they can sell their place for the same amount as a horse. The book did start out pretty depressing. I cried when they talked about the dog dying. I was really amazed in this book at all the work that went into building the house and the railroad. It is also amazing how quickly everything went up.

The only thing I didn't like is the one place in this book where there were some racist remarks. I looked at my book and found that...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Bellaevansleslie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lit-project

durring the days of the building of the railroads and final settlement of the west,the ingalls family moved from minnesota to dakota territory.pa became a railroad man for a time until he found a homestead and filed a claim.the family spent the winter in a surveyors' house sixty miles from the nearest neighbor.there was excitement when laura and marry took a thrilling train ride and when the attempeted payroll robery took place.that winter the family spent their happiest christmas ever.in the sp...more

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Sep 13, 2011 sabisteb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buch, classics

De Smet, South Dakota 1879. Zwei Jahre sind vergangen seit den Ereignissen von “On the Banks of Plum Creek” und es gab Familienzuwachs: Grace ist nun das Nesthäkchen der Familie, die Mitglieder sich gerade erst mühsam von einer Scharlachinfektion erholen, die Mary, Lauras ältere Schwester, das Augenlicht raubte. Da bekommt die Familie Ingalls unerwarteten Besuch. Tante Docia arbeitet mit ihrem Mann Henry für die Eisenbahn und sie macht Charles Ingalls ein Angebot, dem er nicht widerstehen kann....more De Smet, South Dakota 1879. Zwei Jahre sind vergangen seit den Ereignissen von “On the Banks of Plum Creek” und es gab Familienzuwachs: Grace ist nun das Nesthäkchen der Familie, die Mitglieder sich gerade erst mühsam von einer Scharlachinfektion erholen, die Mary, Lauras ältere Schwester, das Augenlicht raubte. Da bekommt die Familie Ingalls unerwarteten Besuch. Tante Docia arbeitet mit ihrem Mann Henry für die Eisenbahn und sie macht Charles Ingalls ein Angebot, dem er nicht widerstehen kann. Charles soll für 50 Dollar pro Monat den Laden des Bahnarbeitercamps leiten und die Löhne berechnen. Die Familie soll, sobald sich Mary erholt hat, nachkommen und ein Stück Land im noch unbesiedelten Dakota für sich beanspruchen.
Für die nun dreizehnjährige Laura beginnt eine neue, spannende Reise in den Westen, an der Spitze der Siedlungswelle. Diesmal jedoch reist Laura nicht mit dem Wagen über die Prärie, sondern zum ersten Mal in ihrem Leben mit dem Zug.

Dieser Band beginnt traurig und melancholisch. Mary ist erblindet und der treue Hund Jack stirbt kurz darauf. Mit Jack stirbt auch Lauras Kindheit symbolisch, denn nun ist sie die Älteste, die für alle jüngeren Geschwister sorgen muss, denn Mary kann es nicht mehr. Laura muss nun für Mary die Augen ersetzen und ihr beschreiben, was diese nicht mehr sehen kann. Eine wichtige Zeit in Lauras Leben, denn sie lernt hier Fähigkeiten, die in ihrer späteren Zeit als Schriftstellerin wichtig sein werden: Laura lernt, für ihre Schwester mit Worten Bilder zu erschaffen.
Die Familie Ingalls reist in diesem Band erneut Richtung Westen, um eine Farm gemäß des “Homestead Act” von 1862 zu erwerben, nachdem jeder, der 5 Jahre von seinem Land leben kann, dieses auch behalten darf. Der Winter jedoch ist lang und im Haus der Landvermesser, das die Familie über Winter bewohnen durfte, treffen immer mehr neue Siedler ein, die übernachten wollen, so dass Charles nicht losziehen möchte, und seine Familie alleine mit diesen vielen Durchreisenden lassen möchte. Daher bricht Pa erst sehr spät auf, nachdem schon viele zuvor sich auf den Weg gemacht haben, um seine Parzelle zu beantragen. Wird er noch rechtzeitig eintreffen, oder muss Laura erneut weiterziehen?
Ein spannendes Buch, und das vor allem daher, weil es autobiographisch ist. Es liest sich wie ein Roman, aber Laura hat all das wirklich erlebt, das macht diese Bücher so besonders.
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Jul 19, 2011 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-with-kids

Is this a perfect book? Probably not. But it sure is good.

I had completely mis-remembered the plot line for this particular book, drastically and appallingly, and i'm not sure how. And i definitely appreciated reading it again.

It was true to my memory that the subject matter gets a bit more difficult than it was in the earlier books (although perhaps not as controversial as the Prairie book), and this books starts off with illness and death and hardship. And it continues with the romance of a tr...more

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Jan 07, 2010 Geosynch rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-aloud

I read all the Little House books to my daughter, Katrina over a period of a couple of years starting about the time she was n first grade. She is now in high school. I loved the Little House books and was sad when we got to the end. The reason I enjoyed these books so much was the shared time with my daughter, but also because I felt I got to know Ma, Pa and the rest of the family. I found myself looking up the actually history online, "visiting" sites on Google Earth and so on. When faced with...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was surprised by how little of this story I remembered from having read it when I was young. It's really in this installment in the 'Little House' series that one begins to see Laura's young adult voice come into being for the first time. From the opening of the book when the trusty bulldog, Jack, dies of old age just before the family moves again (for the final time) to the Dakota territories, Laura herself senses that she is no longer the same little girl who Pa called his half-pint. Then th...more

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About Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ingalls wrote a series of historical fiction books for children based on her childhood growing up in a pioneer family. She also wrote a regular newspaper column and kept a diary as an adult moving from South Dakota to Missouri, the latter of which has been published as a book.

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Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #2)

The Little House Collection (Little House, #1-9)

Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, #1)

On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House, #4)

Little Town on the Prairie (Little House, #7)

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“We'd never get anything fixed to suit us if we waited for things to suit us before we started.” — 32 people liked it

“Roma tidaklah dibangun dalam waktu sehari. Begitu juga sebuah jalan kereta api. Atau hal-hal lain yang menyenangkan dalam hidup ini. - Charles Ingalls” — 1 person liked it

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By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House #5)

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