Little House in the Highlands

Little House: The Martha Years #1

by Melissa Wiley

Meet Martha the little girl who would grow up to be Laura Ingalls Wilder's great-grandmother. It's 1788, and six year old Martha lives in a little stone house in Glencraid, Scotland. Martha's father is Laird Glencaraid, and the life of the Laird's daughter is not always easy for a lively girl like Martha. She would rather be running barefoot through the fields of heather and listening to magical tales of fairies and other Wee Folk than learning to sew like a proper young lady. But between her dreaded sewing lessons, Martha still finds time to play on the rolling Scottish hills.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Classics, Scotland

271 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1999

About the author

Melissa Wiley is the author of The Nerviest Girl in the World, The Prairie Thief, Fox and Crow Are Not Friends, the Inch and Roly series, the Martha and Charlotte Little House books, and other books for kids. Melissa has been blogging about her family’s reading life and tidal homeschooling adventures at Here in the Bonny Glen since 2005. She is @melissawiley on Twitter and @melissawileybooks on Instagram.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I expected. I still think these "prequels" (or whatever you want to call them) are quite a bit of a stretch in that, I believe, they are all pretty much fabrications based only on the time and place where Laura's mother, grandmother or great-grandmother grew up. Personally, I really just regard them as historical fiction and I suppose if the thread to the Little House books gets young readers reading, that's worth it. Author Melissa Wiley had this to say: "We don't know much about the real Martha; what little we do know is from a letter written by Laura's sister, Grace Ingalls Dow. Grace wrote that her great-grandmother, Martha Morse, was the daughter of a Scottish laird who married someone the family considered beneath her station. We know that Martha and Lew married in Boston on Jan. 1, 1799."

So, as for a work of historical fiction, this is a pretty good read for the younger chapter book crowd. I personally enjoyed the Highlands setting as my own great-grandmother's family was from Scotland and I visited Scotland some years ago. Some of the accents may be a bit tricky for read aloud, or for emerging readers to decipher on their own, but they sure add a lot of "local color" to the story. It was interesting to read about some of the customs and superstitions of the day. Martha is a likable character and no doubt modeled a bit on Laura since she enjoys being outside and getting a little muddy sometimes, even though she's not supposed to. I also found it fascinating how truly modest by today's standards was the Scottish laird's life and home. It's a fairly quick read and some of the side characters really made an impression. My 6 1/2 year old son really enjoyed this and wants to read more in the series.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little skeptical about this imagining of Laura Ingalls Wilder's great-grandmother's Scottish childhood, but it turned out to be quite lovely. I have no idea how much of it is based on fact, other than the character names, location, social position, but if it's just "this is the way her life might have been," that works as well. The author put in a lot about daily life in 18th century Scotland, including not just how to spin, but beliefs about fairies and brownies, and recountings of tales and songs. Her descriptions of the countryside are simple but lyrical, and don't make the mistake of seeming nostalgic; this is a little girl reporting her life at the moment, not as she remembers it when she's an adult. (For example, although I love Richard Peck, I think his books often fall into that trap.) The only thing I would have changed about this book would be to add some kind of main story arc to all the episodes, just to make it more cohesive, although since the original Little House books didn't completely have that I suppose I shouldn't complain!

[Sheetal Dash · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to be a young girl to enjoy the Little House books. I started as a young boy with Little House in the Big Woods, and have hungerly picked up every book as they became available (Okay, the Laura years were all written before I was born - I am talking about Rose, Charlotte, Caroline and Rose). Now in my 30s, rereading them is like visiting old friends.

As far as continuing series, I love going from Caroline into Laura into Rose, because its like the story just continues. I am sad, though, to hear that there won't be any more Charlotte or Martha years books. Martha is probably the most fascinating of all the girls to me, mainly because they take place in Scottland. The author paints the characters with care and loving, until you feel like you are part of the characters lives.

I hope that HarperCollins rethinks their decision to abridge the books, and offers them again in their original forms, and that the author comes back and finishes the story. Its quite jaring to read about Martha becoming a preteen, and this carefree spirit, then suddenly you start reading Charlotte, and Martha is this strict mother, living in the US. There is just a hole in the story.

[Lydia Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is completely adorable. From the time I set eyes on it, I knew I was going to love it! The whole Martha series is amazing, but this book is the best one in the series. I've read and re-read this book over and over again, it's so cute and feel-sy good-y, and so easy to read too!

I think I actually might like this series better than the Laura series (but by only a little, mind you.) Martha is so love-able, and all her family. The Stone House sounds exactly like somewhere I would want to live, with the high bed and cosy kitchen, and right next to a big lake.

The stories that are told about faeries and brownies are so much fun to read, I've actually used them to entertain my little sister when we were waiting for something and she was getting restless.

So yes, I totally recommend this book. It's simply charming.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revisiting this dear book reminded me how much I adored this series as a child. I love Wiley's cozy Morse family and her investment in the setting and way of life. In addition to the "how they lived" aspect of the book (which is the real magic of the Little House books for me), Wiley is strong on the folklore--perhaps not the most accurate, but palatable for young readers, and sure to awaken an interest in the eerier versions of the stories. The character of Laird Alroch was especially fun for me this time around. Finer words nivver were spoken!

While Martha is an active girl and doesn't like sewing, she desperately wants to spin and likes to knit. This appeases me, because I don't like it when "hates all needlework" is shorthand for tomboyishness. Wiley does something creative with it. I also don't care for sewing (and I use a machine!) but I still do it because it's practical and the results are pleasing. I do love knitting and embroidery and many other types of fiber arts (someday, will I learn to spin?) so it was fun to read about Martha gaining new skills that she liked more than sewing. Also, Duncan's gift to Martha has lived rent-free in my head for well over 20 years now, and might be where my affection for miniatures started.

[Natalie Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much as I love the original Little House books, this one just didn't seem to measure up all the way.

The most annoying thing what that there were so many fairytales. I'm alright with an occasional fairytale, but this book just had too much. Not only was Martha fascinated by the fairytale at the beginning (which is believable since she was only six), but the cook and maids also firmly believe in fairies. There is also a good amount of superstitious practices such as "the first person to set foot in the house after midnight (on New Year's Day) would have extra good luck in the new year." Another thing I found annoying was a slight feminist leaning in the book. There was also a bit of sibling conflict, but it was generally resolved.

I did really enjoy the characters - especially Martha's family. My favorite scenes were of her playing with her siblings. And the book did get better towards the end; there were less about fairies and more about Martha and her family.

All things considered, I'd give this book 2.5 stars, but I'll round it up to 3 stars because there were some really good scenes.

And yes, I just had to share my favorite part! 😉

Robbie was sitting dazed against the stone wall, glaring at Alisdair, who was doubled up with laughter.
"Dropped you like a rabbit, she did!" Alisdair crowed.
"I'll drop you if you don't watch out," Robbie said sourly. Then catching sight of Martha's tousled hair and torn dress, he shook his head and gave a slow grin.
"Now, what kind of lady jumps off walls onto poor unsuspecting soldiers?" he said.

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as good as I remembered it.

[Sydnee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My children and I have enjoyed reading this series. Of course, it isn't written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, but the book does catch much of her spirit.

[Jaime K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very fictionalized story of Laura Ingalls Wilder's great-grandmother Martha Morse. She's the daughter of a Laird (which is true) in Glencaird, on Loch Caraid (neither of which is a real place).

Her four siblings are all older than her. Thus, being the youngest and only 6 years old, it makes sense that she's confused when it comes to pregnancy talk!

This book takes place in 1788, so America is nearly as old as Martha. I do think it's odd that they call it America. Not the United States of America?
I'm not a history person, so I could be wrong, but I think the book should have included the entire name.

I like the simplicity of the times. Martha's father is a Laird who won't even add more rooms to their stone house (something Martha thinks is above and beyond, even knowing stories of other Lairds) until it's necessary. He is kind to the cottagers who live on his land; when there is a new bairn, the females in his family go to visit them. Martha and her siblings play with their children.

The Gaelic language makes me smile.

I find it strange that they call the cook Cook.

I have to chuckle at how superstitious they all are, even the adults. They believe fairies may take away beautiful babies (a fear I understand), that Brownies live in homes and can turn into boggarts (which I also get), but believing a baby who holds onto a coin will grow up to be a miser makes me roll my eyes.
They're probably misers because everyone told them they would be as they grew up. Yeesh.
I completely understand why they wouldn't bring the baby out of the home immediately, or even say the name aloud before the christening. The latter is even seen with Saint John the Baptist in the Bible (coincidently, it's the Solemnity of the Nativity of him on the day I've begun the book).

That there may be changelings made me laugh.

I love that Lairds had their own personal piper. The thought of bagpipes sweeping over the shepherd lands makes me feel peaceful.
And I feel gay (that's the best word I could come up with: gaiety) reading of the traditions surrounding a baby's christening. It's just beautiful.

Brownie Pete makes me laugh.

I like that the tenants' daughters were allowed to be in school during the summer with the boys. I wonder if that was truly the case in the 1780s.

According to Melissa Wiley, Martha married "beneath her station." (http://melissawiley.com/faq/). So it makes sense that she's a bit rebellious and much like Laura in that she tends more towards "boyish" things and hates to sew. Still, sometimes the parallels are sometimes tiring.

The mention of Culloder and Rising of 1745 was like clickbait for me. I'm not a history person at all, but all the Little House books have me wanting more. I relearned some things and fully learned of others. For example, I don't think I ever knew that the clan system and tartan had been banned for almost 40 years in the 1700s.
It was the Martha books that made me think I would enjoy series like "Highlander" [meh] and Scottish things overall [another meh].

Laird Alroch absolutely wins.

Every time I read this (this is my third or fourth time), I want a spindle. Even though I'm not inclined to sewing or knitting, I'd love to learn!

[Ejayen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say about this book. Very fun, but...

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Rose Wilder's series left me disappointed with its conclusion, Wee Martha certainly picked up by my bootstraps with her Little House Legacy series. Scottish books always make me giddy and this book was no exception. Little House in the Highlands focuses on the childhood of Laura Ingalls Wilder's great grandmother Martha in Scotland. This book was so bright and cheerful. You could practically feel Martha's joy radiating off the pages. It was lovely to see the Highlands through her eyes as I typically see them through adults in my historical romances. I liked seeing the various parts of her house like the spinning wheel, box bed, and all her fairy adventures out in the glen. It was a splendid experience and I thankfully have the sequel in my possession. Unfortunately, I'm still on the hunt for the rest of the series, but they're going online for over $50! Perhaps because they're rare or no longer in print, but that's absolutely ridiculous. Hopefully I'll find luck in my book sale ventures or I'll bite the bullet for my prairie girls. Absolute madness! I love my Little House Legacy and everything it entails, from bonny Scotland to wilds of Missouri!

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet little story! 🌿 This one follows Martha, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s great-grandmother, as a young girl growing up in the Scottish Highlands. It has the same cozy, everyday-life feel as the Little House books, but with a Scottish twist—stone cottages, bagpipes, and family traditions woven through the pages.

Martha is curious and a bit mischievous, which makes her easy to love. The story isn’t fast-paced, but it’s charming and comforting, like settling in with a cup of tea and hearing tales from another time.

If you love the Little House series, this is a fun way to go further back into the family history. Simple, wholesome, and rich with a sense of place. 💕

[Shuk Pakhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

লরা ইঙ্গলস ওয়াইল্ডারকে ত মনে আছে?
সেই লরার নানীর মাকে নিয়ে লেখা হয়েছে এই বই / সিরিজ। যিনি থাকতেন স্কটল্যান্ডে। তার সম্পর্কে খুব সামান্য তথ্যই পাওয়া যায়। সেই সামান্য তথ্যের ওপর নির্ভর করে লেখক নিজের কল্পনার রঙ মিশিয়ে দাঁড় করেছেন এই সিরিজ।
পড়তে কিন্তু বেস ভালো লাগছে।

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge Little House fan, and somehow, I still have not read the Martha or Charlotte series. I think part of the reason I decided to wait was because I was disappointed after the publishers started to abridge these series and Melissa Wiley made the correct decision, I think, to quit writing the series. You can read more about this at the following links:

http://melissawiley.com/blog/2007/09/...
https://melissawiley.typepad.com/bonn...

However, I finally decided to start reading the Martha series, and then I will continue reading all the rest of the five generations: Martha, Charlotte, Caroline, Laura, and Rose. I must say Martha is a charming young girl. She is about six years old for this first installment, and she is the laird's daughter in the Scottish Highlands. I don't know for sure how much of this story is true since I think we have little historical information about Martha, but I can tell Melissa Wiley did her research on the time period, and I did feel transported to Scotland. It is very interesting to see some of the language and accents too. Here's one example: "Och, there's no tellin'. I've heard o' people driven from their homes by boggarts" (64).

Some of my favorite chapters were about the stone house (where they described all the rooms and land), the new baby (where they described different Scottish myths such as if a baby clutches a coin he will be greedy, but if he drops it, he will be generous), and Hogmanay (which is a Scottish holiday to celebrate the new year). I am excited to read the next book in the series and see how Martha matures, and I wish I would have read these when I was younger so I could have appreciated them more.

Also, if you are interested, here are some resources about the history of living in Scotland during the late 1700s. I was very interested in the box beds in particular.

https://www.electricscotland.com/life...
http://melissawiley.com/blog/2006/04/...

[Rea K · Rating 4 out of 5]

N'aw. Guys, I want to go to Scotland.
Martha Morse is Laura Ingalls' great-grandmother. E'erone knew that already.
I attempted to read it in my best Scottish accent, which means that I forgot until they started using dialogue and then I remembered. And now I want to speak Gaelic and with a Scottish accent.
It's a lot whimsical, but then, Martha is six in this book. Six-year-olds tend to focus on the fun things.
The superstitions were fascinating. I'm intrigued by the haggis.
But really, now I want to know how Martha Morse, the youngest daughter of a Laird, ended up married to (I believe) Lewis Tucker and in the States. This little girl couldn't imagine never seeing her family again. It's hard to imagine that she ended up in the US and not Scotland with them.
Will be reading the next books. Trying to do a reread of the Little House series and I want to read everything.

[Kristen Luppino · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best first books in the series sets. And it's set in Scotland adding a new twist. Super fun!

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun look at how Laura's Great-Grandmother's life might have been when she was but a wee lass in Scotland.

[Pernille Anette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Så hyggelig en bog😍! Årh, I love it!

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading the "expanded Little House" series(es...). I have to say that I enjoyed this one quite a bit. My family is heavily Scottish, so that was a bonus for me. I honestly loved reading about 18th century Scottish traditions. What I found most fascinating was, even though Scotland was mostly Christian, the pagan beliefs and superstitions about fairies and "bairns" were still so prominent. I know some naysayers would balk at this series as it is pretty much fan fiction, but honestly, it's pretty high quality. The writing is decent, and the characters are all charming. This would honestly be a great read-aloud for young children, especially with the Scottish accents. Martha is a pretty good character; Wiley is clearly trying to make her into "Laura 2.0" (or rather, 1.0, being that she's her great grandma) but it works mostly. It's a simple story, but interesting enough that adults would enjoy it too, particularly if you have an interest in Scotland. I also find it super fascinating to compare Martha's privileged upbringing to Laura's own - and as the series follow the next generations of girls, that wealth just keeps decreasing. It's really interesting.
Unfortunately, I have read online that Martha Morse likely *WAS NOT* born in Scotland, but lived in America her whole life. And... MY LIFE IS A LIE :((( Well, the info about Martha Morse that was the basis for this series came from Grace (Laura's sister) who said that Martha married someone "beneath her station" and moved to America. It's probably possible that the Morse family does go back to Scotland and Grace just fudged up the generations. Maybe it was Martha's mother... or her grandmother... or something. Family stories tend to get embellished/distorted after being passed down. But still, it is a great book on its own, anyway.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Martha the little girl who would grow up to be Laura Ingalls Wilder’s great-grandmother. It’s 1788, and six year old Martha lives in a little stone house in Glencraid, Scotland. Martha’s father is Laird Glencaraid, and the life of the Laird’s daughter is not always easy for a lively girl like Martha. She would rather be running barefoot through the fields of heather and listening to magical tales of fairies and other Wee Folk than learning to sew like a proper young lady. But between her dreaded sewing lessons, Martha still finds time to play on the rolling Scottish hills.
I recommend this book to all ages.
My son and I finished reading this tonight. We both loved this book especially when I slipped into a Scottish accent. The historic and culture aspect of this book always amazes me no matter how many times I read it. I grew up on all the little house books so I am enjoying starting at the beginning of Laura’s family tree with my son. I don’t know how accurate the stories are but I love how similar Martha is to Laura they both remind so much of me as a child.
I really enjoyed this book. Martha and her family are so adorable and comfy feeling. I love all the stories her parents tell. It was such an enjoyable read.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud with my 8 year old daughter who has read all of the Laura years of Little House. At times I thought the writing was too slow and descriptive, but I often find myself thinking that of Laura Ingalls Wilder herself. Wiley's cadence and words have the "feel" of Little House. The same warmth. The same comfort. She wrote a wonderful character in Martha and my daughter related to her and rooted for her. The last few pages, with the description of the "empty space" in Martha's middle and the "filling up" by the sacrifices of her brother, Duncan, brought unexpected tears to my eyes. When I closed the book my daughter exclaimed "Her space got filled up!"

We look forward to reading the rest of the Martha series together and trust Wiley will carry us through with more rich characters, vivid descriptions, and that familiar warmth.

[Sadie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read any of the little house series and thought it would be good to start with Laura's great-grandmother. I was expecting a simplistic story given the age this series is for, but I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. I loved learning about the scottish culture during the 18th century and Martha's story, simplistic as it was, held my attention. I do plan on reading the entire series and hope all of them will be as satisfying as this one has been.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to read about Laura’s great-grandmother Martha. (Or is it just grandmother?)
There were a lot of Scottish traditions and superstitions and fairytales that were really interesting to read about. It did surprise me how intently the adults in the story believed some of them though! A cute book, but didn’t measure up to the original Little House books.

[Wild Wild]

it was very interesting

[Mare · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girls loved this story!

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little house, Martha years. (Lauras great-grandmother)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems strange that all the earlier Laura books, plus the spin offs of Caroline and Rose, all stick around a similar number of books. Then you have this series (Laura’s great grandmother) and the Charlotte series (Laura’s grandmother), which seem truncated at 4 books each. I’m a bit disappointed in that aspect, as I have been eagerly getting the spin offs and these (apart from the first book in each series) have been some of the hardest to source/purchase (due to cost.)

This is the first book in the Martha series, which is set in Scotland. It’s very much in the same vein as the Caroline and Rose first books - very simplistic and aimed at the younger audience, much like the early Laura books were. Of course, how much of this is accurate, we can’t possibly know. Martha was the youngest daughter of a Scottish laird, so you’d think there’d be something out there, but I suppose most of it is just a general imagining what life would have been like for a young Scottish girl in the late 1700s.

There’s a lot of talk about traditions and superstitions (some of which I did not know, and I’m Scottish!) and seems to be about a year in Martha’s life, from about 6-7. She has a very easy life, seen through the rose tinted spectacles in a way only a child can view it. Her main hardships are the loss of her doll (Lady Flora) and being the youngest child and not growing.

I think the remaining three books will be a little older, but still easy to read, if they stick to a similar thread as the Caroline/Rose books. I’m still annoyed that there are only four in each series, but I think the author has done a good job of sticking to the tried and true formula and the feel of Laura’s books. It’s a little over 130 pages, so won’t take long to read and can be read to children. There are a lot of themes that young children will relate to and adults alike will enjoy reminiscing as it invokes the memories of reading Laura.

You may have to hunt around to complete your set, if you want to read the remaining books in the series.

[Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

kuidagi kergekaaluline lugemine tundus.

iseenesest täitsa armas lastekas kuueaastasest Marthast, kes elab aastal 1788 Šotimaal maaomaniku tütre privilegeeritud elu - suurimaks mureks on, kui armastatud nukuga õnnetus juhtub (kuueaastase puhul täitsa arusaadav iseenesest) ja et ema sunnib õmblema, kuigi Martha tahaks pigem kududa. no ja et härrasrahva tütrele on ette nähtud teised tööd ja meelelahutused, kui teenijarahva lastele või ta oma vendadele.

ainult et kogu aeg tiksus mul lugedes taustal võrdlus n-ö originaali ehk Laura Ingalls Wilderi "Väike maja preerias" sarjaga - ilmselgelt müüs viimane piisavalt hästi, et on olnud kasu(m)lik läbi aegade Laura naisliini üht-ja teistpidi uurida ja püüda matkida seda lähenemist, et kuidas siis oli ühe väikese tüdruku elu mingis ajas ja kohas. aga erinevalt Laurast, kes oli päriselt olemas ja kirjutas oma päris elust ise raamatuid, on Martha (väidetavalt Laura vanavanaema), ma kahtlustan, täiesti üleni välja mõeldud (hm, ancestry.com väitel ikkagi oli olemas, aga sündis küll Bostonis, mitte Šotimaal!) ja rohkem selline... muinasjutuprintsess. see ikkagi ei ole päris inimese päris elu, mida seal kirjeldatakse.

samas väga hubane ja kui ise valida saaks, siis muidugi elaks pigem seal hubases Šotimaa lossis kui, ee, preerias. ehkki vennad saavad käia koolis ja Martha ei saa.

[Bekah Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Officially rereading through the Little House books, a series I read for the first time in elementary school. It is definitely different to go back and read as an adult, but the first book of the Martha Years is full of cute moments told from the perspective of a child. It is interesting to see that POV as most of what I’ve read recently has been a more experienced POV. That is to say, the childhood innocence really shines through in the narrative. The only thing that bothers me is that I question the historical timeline and accuracy, as a small amount of online research indicates that Martha- Laura’s great-grandmother- was likely born in the US… I would be interested in researching the timeline more, because I feel like there were probably some big differences between life in the US vs. Scotland in the late 1700s. But if the story is based on the truth and she was a laird’s daughter in Scotland, it makes me wonder how and when she moved to the US. That being said, whether it’s accurate or not, it was a cute story and a good start to the series.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is written more toward a youth, I enjoyed reading. It's an easy read for people like me that my mind is full and can't settle down to sleep. It's nice to pick it up and clear my mind with nice thoughts of Scotland and the history of Scotland and how live was like then. And then loving Laura Ingallas and her stories just adds to this book to know your reading about her great grandmother.... If you like History, Scotland, and just in general a nice read you would like this book. It would also be a good book to help teach about weaving skills and homemade dolls etc. Many online things you can find to go with helping teach your youth about what live was like back in this time frame.