SOLVED. Children's book: Pioneer time period? Girl grows an apple tree and protects it from harm/theft. Possible Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Anne]

This is a book I remember reading when I was younger, so probably early 80's (ish).

I believe that the book is set in pioneer days. Main character is a girl who gets a young apple tree and over the course of the story she learns how to care for it so that it grows strong and tall before bearing fruit.

I remember that at one point, there is a rich adult woman who tries one of the apples and declares that she needs to have them. She picks the apples against the protests of the girl, offering money and/or trinkets for the apples. The girl continues to refuse, eventually winning the argument, but now has to do something with the apples and I think ends up making them into a pie?

I think there was also a locus swarm that threatened the apples, possible wild fire (but I could also be misremembering these as part of this story when they were, in fact, from one of the Little House books, but the locusts sound right. I think there was a description of them eating the apples and making juicy happy sounds...)

[Rosa]

A Chance Wild Apple?

[Anne]

I don’t believe so. I remember specifically that the apple tree was planted by their house.

I remember that one character in the book declared that he (?) was sure that they were Winesap apples.

I believe that I remember a part of the book describing them getting the apple tree ready for transport in their wagon. This involves carefully digging it up and layering mud around the football, then hay and a sack?

(I’m just remembering that bit, but if I remember more, I’ll post it.)

[Anne]

Root ball, not football, as my phone “helpfully” inserted.

[Rainbowheart]

The Middle Sister

[Anne]

That description sounds like it might be it. Let me check a bit more!

[Rainbowheart]

That's definitely it. Everything matches. Here's the line you mentioned....

"I think they are Winesap apples," said Sarah Samantha's father.

[Anne]

I think you are right! There aren't a lot of mentions of the book anywhere, so I managed to find a copy that wasn't listed at $850 and have it on order now. :)

Thank you!

[Rosa]

You can read it on the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/middlesis...

[Rainbowheart]

Glad to help out!

[Renee Kurdzos]

I just found this chain and I wanted to add my thanks - I have been looking for this book for years and decided to try searching again! So excited to read this book again. Will be checking it out on the archive. Thank you!!

[Marianne]

Thank you! Thank you!
I’ve also been looking for this book for years. Read it in 1966 when I was in the third grade. Could not remember the title. Every time I described it, people suggested the Little House books.
Just ordered a copy so I can read it again.