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Little House: The Caroline Years #6
Little City by the Lake
Spirit of the Western FrontierFifteen-year-old Caroline is leaving her Concord home for the first time to live with her aunt and uncle in Milwaukee, where she will attend Milwaukee Female College. At first, Caroline is frightened by the big, bustling city, and she finds school more challenging than she expected. But she soon begins to enjoy all the excitement Milwaukee has to offer. As the school year comes to a close, Caroline wonders if living in the city is the life for her.
Little City by the Lake is the sixth book in The Caroline Years, an ongoing series about another girl from America's favorite pioneer family.
Little City by the Lake is the sixth book in The Caroline Years, an ongoing series about another girl from America's favorite pioneer family.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 23, 2021
Little City by the Lake was my favorite of the Caroline series growing up, because we used to frequent an "Old Towne Milwaukee" exhibit, and I would imagine Caroline's life in that world. As an adult, and historian of the antislavery movement, I found this installment particularly stimulating. One chapter of my thesis was devoted to Catharine Beecher's antislavery sentiments and her public disagreements with a female abolitionist, about 20 years before the events of this book. The distinction between antislavery (advocating for the end of slavery, often through gradual emancipation and deportation) and abolitionism (immediate abolition of slavery) isn't made here. Yet, the characters show a range of opinions about American chattel slavery, rather than perpetuating the false narrative that all people in "nominally free" states were against the peculiar institution. Kansas, particularly, is a subject of contention, which is doubly interesting given that real-life Caroline ended up there herself.
While at the Milwaukee Female Seminary, the students perform calisthenic exercises sans corsets. Of course, I had to look up whether Beecher advocated corsets or not. In her 1856 book, Physiology and Calisthenics, she says: "Wherever any portion of the body is compressed by tight clothing the blood can not run freely into the muscles of that part....This shows the folly of attempting to cure crookedness or round shoulders by corsets or bracers." (83) While Beecher doesn't specify that exercises should be done without corsets, loose clothing was important to her vision of wellness. Later in the 19th century and into the early 20th, exercises designed to be performed while wearing a corset grew in popularity (see here). Some of the exercises are similar to what's described in Little City. I imagine they're drawn straight from Beecher's book, which was published the year following the events of this novel.
Definitely one of the more fascinating installments of the Caroline books for me.
While at the Milwaukee Female Seminary, the students perform calisthenic exercises sans corsets. Of course, I had to look up whether Beecher advocated corsets or not. In her 1856 book, Physiology and Calisthenics, she says: "Wherever any portion of the body is compressed by tight clothing the blood can not run freely into the muscles of that part....This shows the folly of attempting to cure crookedness or round shoulders by corsets or bracers." (83) While Beecher doesn't specify that exercises should be done without corsets, loose clothing was important to her vision of wellness. Later in the 19th century and into the early 20th, exercises designed to be performed while wearing a corset grew in popularity (see here). Some of the exercises are similar to what's described in Little City. I imagine they're drawn straight from Beecher's book, which was published the year following the events of this novel.
Definitely one of the more fascinating installments of the Caroline books for me.
September 26, 2015
This could certainly have gone on for another hundred pages, but in the end, I'm also pleased that it was as short was it was. Caroline moves to Milwaukee to go to college, which is more like a secondary school because she's only sixteen. well, fifteen going on sixteen. She deals with mean girls and nice girls. I really enjoyed reading about Milwaukee when it had 45,000 people.
I liked being able to see something different than living on the farm. Oh, don't get me wrong, the farm is lovely, but it's easier to cram more exciting *new* things into the book when she's not at home, even though the folks at home probably did just as many interesting things as they did previously. It was nice to see how different people lived.
My biggest irritation is there isn't a straight story on Charlotte. I could have sworn that in the earlier books it was stated that she moved to Milwaukee with an uncle and then met Henry Quiner there, while in other ones she moved from Boston with Henry Quiner and the rest of the Quiners moved, too. I dunno, man. It's confusing. Can't we get a straight story?
Also, there's a bitty note in the front about Laura getting the information about her ma's childhood from her aunt Martha. I wonder if losing her father had anything to do with Caroline not talking about her childhood. My parents talk about growing up and so do my grandmas. Okay, mostly my parents (and when they get together with their siblings) talk about the crazy things they did as kids (boy, you find out a lot of things if you listen). My dad doesn't tell all about his time he spent hitchhiking across the country. I guess maybe there are just some stories that you don't want to tell. Probably Caroline thought her life wasn't interesting enough to tell her daughters about. If she was really this great writer, why wasn't she writing novels and memoirs, not just Laura?
Minor quibbles. I'm really excited to get to the final Caroline years book. I can't believe I've read them all. Well, aside from the two pages that were ripped out. Children. I swear. This is why we don't have nice things at the library.
I liked being able to see something different than living on the farm. Oh, don't get me wrong, the farm is lovely, but it's easier to cram more exciting *new* things into the book when she's not at home, even though the folks at home probably did just as many interesting things as they did previously. It was nice to see how different people lived.
My biggest irritation is there isn't a straight story on Charlotte. I could have sworn that in the earlier books it was stated that she moved to Milwaukee with an uncle and then met Henry Quiner there, while in other ones she moved from Boston with Henry Quiner and the rest of the Quiners moved, too. I dunno, man. It's confusing. Can't we get a straight story?
Also, there's a bitty note in the front about Laura getting the information about her ma's childhood from her aunt Martha. I wonder if losing her father had anything to do with Caroline not talking about her childhood. My parents talk about growing up and so do my grandmas. Okay, mostly my parents (and when they get together with their siblings) talk about the crazy things they did as kids (boy, you find out a lot of things if you listen). My dad doesn't tell all about his time he spent hitchhiking across the country. I guess maybe there are just some stories that you don't want to tell. Probably Caroline thought her life wasn't interesting enough to tell her daughters about. If she was really this great writer, why wasn't she writing novels and memoirs, not just Laura?
Minor quibbles. I'm really excited to get to the final Caroline years book. I can't believe I've read them all. Well, aside from the two pages that were ripped out. Children. I swear. This is why we don't have nice things at the library.
May 14, 2024
3.5 stars.
It was exciting reading a story set in Milwaukee which was quite the bustling town compared to theQuiner’s more primitive farm, but I found myself missing that familiar setting quite a bit. I read this book much more quickly than the others but I think it’s because I wasn’t savoring every word like I tend to do when I am completely caught up in a story. Nonetheless, I’m glad I read this series and maybe one day if I can find the last book I’ll finish it off!
It was exciting reading a story set in Milwaukee which was quite the bustling town compared to theQuiner’s more primitive farm, but I found myself missing that familiar setting quite a bit. I read this book much more quickly than the others but I think it’s because I wasn’t savoring every word like I tend to do when I am completely caught up in a story. Nonetheless, I’m glad I read this series and maybe one day if I can find the last book I’ll finish it off!
May 8, 2012
Caroline Quiner, mother of Laura Ingalls, is now fifteen, and has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a year in Milwaukee with her relatives and attend a female seminary. Life in the city is certainly a huge change from her home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin. Caroline's uncle prints a newspaper, and he and her aunt are involved in the Temperance and Abolitionst movements, so Caroline learns more about those causes. Mostly, though, she spends her time at school, making new friends, learning, and (somewhat guiltily) enjoying her one and only "season" of outings and dances with other young people. For those familiar with the Laura books, in this book you find out the origin of Ma's lovely 'delaine' dress.
I enjoyed this book, and the description of life in Milwaukee in the middle of the 19th century. After reading so many pioneer books, it's hard to remember that many people were leading completely "civilized" lives in cities with paved roads, restaurants, dressmakers, and dances--no more than a day's drive away from the wilderness. What interested me most was realizing that Laura tweaked the (slight) background she gave her mother in the Little House books; she gives the impression that Ma came from a city life, with her dresses made by dressmakers, when in actuality Caroline was as much a pioneer girl as Laura was, and had only this one season in town. I did think the book was somewhat unbalanced, probably because it was based on a true story. Some storylines-- like the attractive James who liked to talk to Caroline and claim her hand for dances, and his arrogant sister who looked down her nose at a "homesteader"--never had real endings. This is more an account of a year in town than a complete story, but I enjoyed it anyway.
I enjoyed this book, and the description of life in Milwaukee in the middle of the 19th century. After reading so many pioneer books, it's hard to remember that many people were leading completely "civilized" lives in cities with paved roads, restaurants, dressmakers, and dances--no more than a day's drive away from the wilderness. What interested me most was realizing that Laura tweaked the (slight) background she gave her mother in the Little House books; she gives the impression that Ma came from a city life, with her dresses made by dressmakers, when in actuality Caroline was as much a pioneer girl as Laura was, and had only this one season in town. I did think the book was somewhat unbalanced, probably because it was based on a true story. Some storylines-- like the attractive James who liked to talk to Caroline and claim her hand for dances, and his arrogant sister who looked down her nose at a "homesteader"--never had real endings. This is more an account of a year in town than a complete story, but I enjoyed it anyway.
March 18, 2013
This book disappointed me after the first several books in the series. It tells the story of Caroline's year in Milwaukee living with family while attending a girl's college in hopes of becoming a teacher. While that is the premise of the book she does not actually start school until the book is nearly half over. The first SEVERAL chapters focus on the town itself and the social and technological setting of the story, which are given much more time and focus than is merited. By the time Caroline gets to school there is little time to develop the character of her friends nor her relationships with them. Another relationship that is annoyingly developed and then left hanging with no resolution is her acquaintance with James who is well to do, eligible, shares many of Caroline's values and clearly expresses more than a passing interest in her. Without a satisfactory resolution to this plot line one wonders why in the world she moved home to the woods of Wisconsin and ended up with Charles Ingalls, especially in an era where practical considerations of wealth were as much of a consideration as "love" or "passion".
November 24, 2015
First off, a big thank you to Miss Jo for getting me this book! It was great!
Caroline keeps reminding me of myself. I don't think I've related to a character this much, like ever! She and I like basically the same things! I loved the descriptions of the dresses! And I loved the newspaper business! Like Caroline, I wasn't sure what I would think of Uncle Elisha, but he was nice and charming! The cousins were nice too! The college sounded like a fun, educational experience, but the calisthenics class was a leetle bit weird. Thanks again Miss Jo for letting me read this great book!
Caroline keeps reminding me of myself. I don't think I've related to a character this much, like ever! She and I like basically the same things! I loved the descriptions of the dresses! And I loved the newspaper business! Like Caroline, I wasn't sure what I would think of Uncle Elisha, but he was nice and charming! The cousins were nice too! The college sounded like a fun, educational experience, but the calisthenics class was a leetle bit weird. Thanks again Miss Jo for letting me read this great book!
November 14, 2017
It's 1855 and Caroline is now 15. She heads to Milwaukee Female College after her Uncle Elisha tells her mother about it - and extends an offering to have Caroline stay with him and his wife Jane for the school year. It's so weird for me, because the Little House books have few cities and opportunities like this, so I feel like there are culture shocks as a reader, even within the same country.
Caroline takes a stage coach in, and I am so grateful for trains.
I like the statement that mentioned someone cursing. It's real.
I find Uncle Elisha fantastic in his forward thinking. He allows his sister [Caroline's Aunt] Margaret to work for him at the print shop for the newspaper Milwaukee Weekly Register, attends abolitionist meetings, and believes women should vote.
In looking him up though, I could only find Edwin Quiner and daughters as a printer on the Watertown Weekly Register, while Elisha C. Quiner was a foreman. I understand that this is a work of fiction, but I'm always interested to know just how much familial history is legitimate. It's kind of like some of Laura's friends who didn't exist.
I had to laugh at there only being one page devoted to advertisements.
Elisha's success allows him to have modern conveniences - gas lamps, running water, a maid, a dumbwaiter, time and money to go to restaurants...and really, the ability to spend money without much thought. I find it very interesting that, even then (maybe), a restaurant meal was hearty.
Of course, Elisha's not as well-off as Caroline's new friend Zilpha. She and two other city girls are continuously wearing new dresses, putting on aires, and Zilpha is even able to receive a hoop skirt the week it comes out. Zilpha is spoiled and rubs it in, yet she doesn't seem to look down on others (like her mother does)...unless she thinks you're flirting with her brother. I want to like her; I want to not like her.
"Prickly" is an apt description of her, and as the school year passes, my frustration with her grows.
I find it annoying that it took almost half the book before Caroline even got to school. I understand her exploration of the city is unique and a great experience, but it was only a week long; the school year is nine months. I like Catharine Beecher's educational theories. The school sounds like a wonderful experience. It's so weird for me to think that one can graduate in a year and then just....teach. Some things were certaibly easier in the 1850s!
I don't know what a lingonberry is, but I want to try them!
Caroline takes a stage coach in, and I am so grateful for trains.
I like the statement that mentioned someone cursing. It's real.
I find Uncle Elisha fantastic in his forward thinking. He allows his sister [Caroline's Aunt] Margaret to work for him at the print shop for the newspaper Milwaukee Weekly Register, attends abolitionist meetings, and believes women should vote.
In looking him up though, I could only find Edwin Quiner and daughters as a printer on the Watertown Weekly Register, while Elisha C. Quiner was a foreman. I understand that this is a work of fiction, but I'm always interested to know just how much familial history is legitimate. It's kind of like some of Laura's friends who didn't exist.
I had to laugh at there only being one page devoted to advertisements.
Elisha's success allows him to have modern conveniences - gas lamps, running water, a maid, a dumbwaiter, time and money to go to restaurants...and really, the ability to spend money without much thought. I find it very interesting that, even then (maybe), a restaurant meal was hearty.
Of course, Elisha's not as well-off as Caroline's new friend Zilpha. She and two other city girls are continuously wearing new dresses, putting on aires, and Zilpha is even able to receive a hoop skirt the week it comes out. Zilpha is spoiled and rubs it in, yet she doesn't seem to look down on others (like her mother does)...unless she thinks you're flirting with her brother. I want to like her; I want to not like her.
"Prickly" is an apt description of her, and as the school year passes, my frustration with her grows.
I find it annoying that it took almost half the book before Caroline even got to school. I understand her exploration of the city is unique and a great experience, but it was only a week long; the school year is nine months. I like Catharine Beecher's educational theories. The school sounds like a wonderful experience. It's so weird for me to think that one can graduate in a year and then just....teach. Some things were certaibly easier in the 1850s!
I don't know what a lingonberry is, but I want to try them!
June 1, 2018
Little City By The Lake is the penultimate book in the Caroline/Spirit of The Western Frontier series, a spin off of the original Little House books.
While this is somewhat better than the earlier books, and is dealing with a 15-16 year old Caroline and showing her in a different environment and out of her comfort zone, boy is this book strangely written!
The whole premise of this, is the fact that Caroline is at a ladies college in Milwaukee, to study becoming a teacher - however she doesn’t actually start classes until roughly halfway through the book. This leaves little time for certain roles to be fleshed out, such as the friends she makes, whilst studying, and potential love interests.
But the ending is madly rushed and so much is left hanging - why does Zilpha have such a problem with Caroline? The potential love interest of James (Zilpha’s brother) is not expanded, and there seems to be some awkwardness, I was almost expecting him to ask her out riding in the carriage or for her hand! We ALL know that Charles is who Caroline ends up with, but surely a little harmless flirtation wouldn’t have gone amiss? After all, the previous book ended when Caroline was 12, and nothing would have promised between her and Charlie at that point.
I feel that the cover of this book is the closest we’ve come to seeing the Caroline from the TV show, it’s quite close in looks!
I think it’s good that the author has finally taken the leap, and moved the story forward by three years, in order to progress the storyline quicker. I still stand by my original assumption that the authors have been given a timeline of events/day-to-day events that they need to include, across seven books, which lots of inspiration plucked straight from the original books, and immense amounts of padding. This series could have quite easily been condensed and edited better, to either be shorter books, or not as many of them!
For me, I’ve always said that the later Little House books are my favourites and I think the same will be for this series. I just have one left to read in the series now, before I read Caroline by Sarah Miller, which is the Little House books, but told from Caroline’s point of view, as far as I can understand. It has been interesting finding out about Caroline’s early years, but if you’ve already read and loved the original books, I think a lot has been lifted from/influenced by those (including the author’s note in each book) and I would recommend starting later in the series.
While this is somewhat better than the earlier books, and is dealing with a 15-16 year old Caroline and showing her in a different environment and out of her comfort zone, boy is this book strangely written!
The whole premise of this, is the fact that Caroline is at a ladies college in Milwaukee, to study becoming a teacher - however she doesn’t actually start classes until roughly halfway through the book. This leaves little time for certain roles to be fleshed out, such as the friends she makes, whilst studying, and potential love interests.
But the ending is madly rushed and so much is left hanging - why does Zilpha have such a problem with Caroline? The potential love interest of James (Zilpha’s brother) is not expanded, and there seems to be some awkwardness, I was almost expecting him to ask her out riding in the carriage or for her hand! We ALL know that Charles is who Caroline ends up with, but surely a little harmless flirtation wouldn’t have gone amiss? After all, the previous book ended when Caroline was 12, and nothing would have promised between her and Charlie at that point.
I feel that the cover of this book is the closest we’ve come to seeing the Caroline from the TV show, it’s quite close in looks!
I think it’s good that the author has finally taken the leap, and moved the story forward by three years, in order to progress the storyline quicker. I still stand by my original assumption that the authors have been given a timeline of events/day-to-day events that they need to include, across seven books, which lots of inspiration plucked straight from the original books, and immense amounts of padding. This series could have quite easily been condensed and edited better, to either be shorter books, or not as many of them!
For me, I’ve always said that the later Little House books are my favourites and I think the same will be for this series. I just have one left to read in the series now, before I read Caroline by Sarah Miller, which is the Little House books, but told from Caroline’s point of view, as far as I can understand. It has been interesting finding out about Caroline’s early years, but if you’ve already read and loved the original books, I think a lot has been lifted from/influenced by those (including the author’s note in each book) and I would recommend starting later in the series.
November 16, 2020
This is possibly my least favorite book in the Caroline series (thus far, we have one left) mainly due to the fact that she was in Milwaukee for the whole book and I so love reading about country life and I rarely love reading about spoiled rich people, vain girls and fancy balls and there's a fair bit about that here. That being said I did love this glimpse into a portion of Caroline's life that I never knew existed. She had this experience that was so vastly different from her life before and from what we all know is to come during her life with Charles. She could have chosen to stay on in Milwaukee, living with her aunt and uncle, having hot baths from a running tap, going to "cultural events", abolitionist meetings, and perhaps marrying a man of means. Her life would have been "easier" in many ways, but then where would we readers be without Laura, America's favorite pioneer girl? And would it really have been better? One can only speculate using our own judgements. She probably would have been warmer, more well-fed and less exhausted from the hard work and all that moving! But, at least according to Laura's stories, her parents seemed happy, they seemed to genuinely love one another, and honestly, that is worth a lot. So, the book on its own would be worth three stars in my opinion, but the interesting insights and "what if's" it brings up make it worth four stars. And we are all looking forward to the next book.
January 2, 2021
This is the sixth book in the Little House books Caroline series. As with the others this sixth book was better than the first due to already knowing the characters and being able to just enjoy the storyline and being 'there in the moment' with them. A simple but heartwarming easy read, perfect to help drift your mind into another time and place before you have to go to bed. Love these books!
In this book Caroline is a little older so this story does have a bit more 'story' to it. In this book she moves into the city to go to college. She lives with her Uncle and Aunt and is exposed to having a maid and having nice things that her mother has talked of having as a child growing up. Things Caroline isn't used to. She enjoyed living in the city but she is ready to go back home to the woods.
When I saw where the later books in the Caroline series was written by a different author than the first few books I was dreading reading them since I had gotten to know the way the first author writes etc. But if you didn't pay attention you would never know a different one wrote these. It was wonderfully done!
In this book Caroline is a little older so this story does have a bit more 'story' to it. In this book she moves into the city to go to college. She lives with her Uncle and Aunt and is exposed to having a maid and having nice things that her mother has talked of having as a child growing up. Things Caroline isn't used to. She enjoyed living in the city but she is ready to go back home to the woods.
When I saw where the later books in the Caroline series was written by a different author than the first few books I was dreading reading them since I had gotten to know the way the first author writes etc. But if you didn't pay attention you would never know a different one wrote these. It was wonderfully done!
July 23, 2025
It was a decent enough story but it felt incomplete. Caroline goes to school and the plot starts to thicken with her feeling like an outsider from the country and a potential love interest in James that is hinted to be forbidden because his family is rich and hers is not… and then it just ends. Like obviously, she doesn’t get with James because she ends up with Charlie Ingalls, blah, blah, blah… but I would have liked to at least see a doomed romance story play out. Or even just some plot for how she adjusted to being back home after the city. But no, just a very abrupt ending with no attempt to even begin tying up loose ends.
January 7, 2018
Continuing to work our way through The Caroline Years...we enjoyed this book about Caroline's living in Milwaukee with her Aunt & Uncle while she attends Milwaukee Female College. I liked hearing about the city and life during the mid-1800s, as well as what college was like for Caroline. My 8 year-old is really enjoying this series as well. I'm finding it so fascinating to watch Caroline grow up, having read so much about her as an adult. I'm almost sad that there is only one book left!
August 12, 2025
This was pretty much my favorite book when I was little, but every time I reread it, I start seeing a little bit more past the whimsy and nostalgia and a little more of the plot holes, inconsistencies, weak characters, and mediocre plot structure.
Still, I can't bring myself to give it anything less than three stars; it's basically my childhood in 200 pages.
Still, I can't bring myself to give it anything less than three stars; it's basically my childhood in 200 pages.
October 22, 2017
A different author, so a slightly different writing style, but once the reader adjusts it was again pleasant reading. Interesting tidbits on the women's school in Milwaukee, the calisthenics classes and hoop skirts! It did end with a several of plotlines unresolved.
August 20, 2019
None of the other "Little House Years" books are as good as the ones about Laura but other then the Laura books I prefer the Martha and Charlotte books. I don't enjoy the Caroline books as much because they are a bit uneven for me with some in the series being really good and others lacking.
September 10, 2023
This one reminded me a bit of Anne of Avonlea, with Caroline going off to school and studying to become a teacher. I liked reading about city life at the time, and the various social and political issues her family talked about and were involved in.
October 21, 2021
A cute story with new challenges and experiences for young Caroline Quiner!
February 5, 2023
My favorite Caroline Years book because it takes place in the city and she goes to a finishing school that was super fun to read about as a girly girl.
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May 15, 2025If you enjoyed the OG series this may be for you. Only read this one because it takes place in Milwaukee.
November 8, 2019
The most interesting thing about the Caroline books (and all of the prequel Little House books) is that there’s always a strong undercurrent of fiction. Though the original Little House books were fictionalized in many places, Wilder was drawing off of her own memory. Here, all we get is a brief author’s note at the beginning stating that some of the events were drawn from Martha Carpenter’s letters to Laura. Yet in this book, Caroline spends a whole 9 months away from Martha, so how much of what happens in here is true?
I don’t really mind one way or another, to be honest. Whether Wilkins is making this up as she goes along or if there’s some sort of letter or memory she’s taking pieces from, the book is still true to the Caroline of the past books, and I had to smile at all the little nods Wilkins gives to the Little House books, particularly Caroline’s delaine and the gold pin. Is this where she actually got the dress, or did Wilkins throw it in because it seemed plausible? While it doesn’t ultimately matter to me, or affect the book, it is something interesting that I pondered briefly.
Anyway, the book itself is fine. I enjoyed the look at Milwaukee and high-society life that it gives—it’s a nice refresher from the previous books. That look also serves to center Caroline as well as to seriously contrast her life with the life she could have had. There’s some deliberate juxtapositions drawn here, and it’s interesting to read this book knowing that Caroline, who (according to the book) could have gotten a successful teaching job in the society and moved into a higher class, chose to go back home and ultimately marry a farmer. There’s even the brief flirtation with James, a sort of “could have” moment that Wilkins explores.
Maybe the book was mainly experimental, maybe it was actually based on parts of Caroline’s life. Either way, while it’s not quite as good as some of the stronger books that came before it, it serves as a good contrast with the earlier books, and a nice bridge to the final book, where Caroline returns home to teach and ends up falling in love with one Charles Ingalls. That book’s probably my favorite because I’m a romantic at heart.
I don’t really mind one way or another, to be honest. Whether Wilkins is making this up as she goes along or if there’s some sort of letter or memory she’s taking pieces from, the book is still true to the Caroline of the past books, and I had to smile at all the little nods Wilkins gives to the Little House books, particularly Caroline’s delaine and the gold pin. Is this where she actually got the dress, or did Wilkins throw it in because it seemed plausible? While it doesn’t ultimately matter to me, or affect the book, it is something interesting that I pondered briefly.
Anyway, the book itself is fine. I enjoyed the look at Milwaukee and high-society life that it gives—it’s a nice refresher from the previous books. That look also serves to center Caroline as well as to seriously contrast her life with the life she could have had. There’s some deliberate juxtapositions drawn here, and it’s interesting to read this book knowing that Caroline, who (according to the book) could have gotten a successful teaching job in the society and moved into a higher class, chose to go back home and ultimately marry a farmer. There’s even the brief flirtation with James, a sort of “could have” moment that Wilkins explores.
Maybe the book was mainly experimental, maybe it was actually based on parts of Caroline’s life. Either way, while it’s not quite as good as some of the stronger books that came before it, it serves as a good contrast with the earlier books, and a nice bridge to the final book, where Caroline returns home to teach and ends up falling in love with one Charles Ingalls. That book’s probably my favorite because I’m a romantic at heart.
December 18, 2014
Review Posted at Rachael Turns Pages
In this novel Caroline is 15 and she is going off to the big city of Milwaukee to attend the Milwaukee Female College to study to be a teacher. It was nice seeing Caroline so grown up and exploring a big city when she is used to small country life. I loved her reaction to the modern conviences we take advantage of today. Could you imagine not having running water?
There was a lot of things I liked about this book. Meeting Caroline's aunt and uncle, learning about the printing shop, her interaction with her friends, and her interaction with James. I did miss seeing Caroline's family be part of the story. Charlotte (Caroline's mom) had a very small part in the story. Caroline often talked about how much she missed her family and enjoyed keeping in touch through letters. It was realistic that her family wasn't apart of this novel as they were so far away. Her mother's marriage to Fedrick Holbrook and the birth of their daughter Lottie was mention. By the way this is part is historically correct.
I think as the next book has Caroline married to Charles there will be some plot holes. He wasn't even mentioned in this novel. We will see when I get around to read the final novel. I do hope libraries keep these books around because I would love to read these to my children. As far as buying them goes they are super expensive since they are out of print. I hope that my children will be able to enjoy this novel. I know I did. I enjoyed going back into the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder especially since we recently saw the play in Walnut Grove so I was in the mood for the pioneer lifestyle.
In this novel Caroline is 15 and she is going off to the big city of Milwaukee to attend the Milwaukee Female College to study to be a teacher. It was nice seeing Caroline so grown up and exploring a big city when she is used to small country life. I loved her reaction to the modern conviences we take advantage of today. Could you imagine not having running water?
There was a lot of things I liked about this book. Meeting Caroline's aunt and uncle, learning about the printing shop, her interaction with her friends, and her interaction with James. I did miss seeing Caroline's family be part of the story. Charlotte (Caroline's mom) had a very small part in the story. Caroline often talked about how much she missed her family and enjoyed keeping in touch through letters. It was realistic that her family wasn't apart of this novel as they were so far away. Her mother's marriage to Fedrick Holbrook and the birth of their daughter Lottie was mention. By the way this is part is historically correct.
I think as the next book has Caroline married to Charles there will be some plot holes. He wasn't even mentioned in this novel. We will see when I get around to read the final novel. I do hope libraries keep these books around because I would love to read these to my children. As far as buying them goes they are super expensive since they are out of print. I hope that my children will be able to enjoy this novel. I know I did. I enjoyed going back into the world of Laura Ingalls Wilder especially since we recently saw the play in Walnut Grove so I was in the mood for the pioneer lifestyle.
June 17, 2012
In this book we get to see Caroline grow more confident. Caroline is going into college at Milwaukee. She is next to the lake where her father died during a voyage. Caroline starts to feel closer to her father because of the lake and getting closer to her Uncle Elisha. Even though Caroline misses her family she learns a lot in school and makes new friends. Her closest friend is Millie. She also gets closer to James. But James's sister, Zilpha, does not like this because Caroline is a poor frontier girl and not good enough for their wealthy family. Caroline only thinks of James as a friend. Zilpha and her friend Louvina ignore Caroline anyways. Caroline has learned that some people are "sharp-tongued" and stuck up. Zilpha is one of those people that is too good to be with a common person with less money than her. With Zilpha, whatever she or her family said was gold. Caroline is still nice to Zilpha. I wouldn't have been able to handle her. I would have stuck up for myself to her. At the end of the book Caroline decides that it's time to go home.
May 6, 2013
A childhood favorite re-visited.
Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes
What ages would I recommend it too? – Eight and up.
Length? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Real world, 1855 and 1856.
Written approximately? – 2003.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.
Short storyline: Caroline leaves her mother, stepdad, brothers, and sisters to go off to college to become a teacher. She meets interesting people, makes new friends, and gains the attentions of a first boyfriend. (How she tells him she isn't interested isn't mentioned). Along the way, she learns more about her dead father, and feels closer to both him and her mother so far away.
Notes for the reader: While reading this novel, you feel so close to the mother of Laura, and what helped her become the woman she became.
Is the story as good as I remember? – Yes
What ages would I recommend it too? – Eight and up.
Length? – Most of a day’s read.
Characters? – Memorable, several characters.
Setting? – Real world, 1855 and 1856.
Written approximately? – 2003.
Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? – Ready to read more.
Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? No.
Short storyline: Caroline leaves her mother, stepdad, brothers, and sisters to go off to college to become a teacher. She meets interesting people, makes new friends, and gains the attentions of a first boyfriend. (How she tells him she isn't interested isn't mentioned). Along the way, she learns more about her dead father, and feels closer to both him and her mother so far away.
Notes for the reader: While reading this novel, you feel so close to the mother of Laura, and what helped her become the woman she became.
September 28, 2013
I liked it. It was a bit slow at first, but got moving quickly. The writing wasn't the best I've ever read, but it was good. Simple. It had a satisfying end. However, when Caroline overhears gossip near the end... I don't know. I just didn't like that. It didn't go anywhere. It was just adding on to a pile of details about the girl who didn't like her and why. It was as if the author trusted us to infer and then decided to make sure we got it and throw in some gossip that had nothing to do with the story line. But I really did like the book. I honestly did. It was great. But I read all of these other books when I was younger. Perhaps that explains why this one didn't have the sparkle I remember in all if the other Little House books.
March 26, 2010
I didn't like this book as much as I liked the other books in the Caroline Years simply because she was away from home and her family was not in it. I did like seeing how Ma became a teacher and the schooling she went through back then. I would greatly encourage Little House fans to read the whole little house series beginning with Laura's great grandmother, Martha, and ending with Laura's daugher, Rose. It was so much fun reading about the different times these women lived in. Rated three stars because it is way below my reading level so it is a entertaining fast read.
January 6, 2015
This was an accidental read...my six-year-old picked it from the library as a bedtime read. I read snippets of it to him each evening before he went to read on his own, and I decided I wanted to read the rest. While I think temperance, abolition, and a sixteen-year-old girl's relationships are definitely above a six-year-old's level, I thought this was an excellent glimpse into nineteenth-century life for an older child (or an adult!). I only wonder how detailed those letters from Laura's aunt really were, that they were able to base an entire "young Ma" series on them...
October 29, 2015
Caroline moves to Milwaukee for a year to study at Miss Catharine Beecher's women's college in order to prepare to become a teacher. Caroline stays with her uncle and his family and learns what it is like to live in town and attend balls and literaries and see the latest fashions (hoops skirts). Her uncle owns and runs a newspaper, so she stays abreast of current events such as the battle in Kansas over whether or not it should be a free state. Caroline experiences the snobbery of another well-to-do student/friend, but developes a special relationship with that student's brother.
September 27, 2008
Not particularly deep or life-changing, but a pleasant and enjoyable read. It covers the 9 months that 16-year-old Caroline Quiner (Laura Ingalls' future mother) spent in Milwaukee. The author clearly did her research and I don't think any LIW fans would have any authenticity problems with the story. I enjoyed learning more about Milwaukee, especially the part where Caroline visits the German part of town. BT fans will have fun making comparisons to Tib's 1907 Milwaukee.
October 30, 2012
Not as dramatic as some in the series, but for a fascinating look at pre-civil war Milwaukee, this is an excellent start. Some good introductions to abolitionists and the Kansas Territory conflicts as well, this might be great for older (10 and up) kids who want to learn more about events leading up to the civil war in a soft setting.
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