TLC Book Tours Book Review: Caroline Little House Revisited

About Caroline

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (September 19, 2017)

A September Indie Next Pick

One of Refinery29's Best Reads of September

In this novel authorized by the Little House Heritage Trust, Sarah Miller vividly recreates the beauty, hardship, and joys of the frontier in a dazzling work of historical fiction, a captivating story that illuminates one courageous, resilient, and loving pioneer woman as never before—Caroline Ingalls, "Ma" in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books.

In the frigid days of February, 1870, Caroline Ingalls and her family leave the familiar comforts of the Big Woods of Wisconsin and the warm bosom of her family, for a new life in Kansas Indian Territory. Packing what they can carry in their wagon, Caroline, her husband Charles, and their little girls, Mary and Laura, head west to settle in a beautiful, unpredictable land full of promise and peril.

The pioneer life is a hard one, especially for a pregnant woman with no friends or kin to turn to for comfort or help. The burden of work must be shouldered alone, sickness tended without the aid of doctors, and babies birthed without the accustomed hands of mothers or sisters. But Caroline’s new world is also full of tender joys. In adapting to this strange new place and transforming a rough log house built by Charles’ hands into a home, Caroline must draw on untapped wells of strength she does not know she possesses.

For more than eighty years, generations of readers have been enchanted by the adventures of the American frontier’s most famous child, Laura Ingalls Wilder, in the Little House books. Now, that familiar story is retold in this captivating tale of family, fidelity, hardship, love, and survival that vividly reimagines our past.

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Review:  I hang my head in shame and say I never read the original Little House books. I didn't read a lot of books that most young people read. I jumped from Richard Scarry and Little Golden Books straight to adult fiction, it seems.

I do however remember the tv series and I think that was what intrigued me and made me want to read this book.

It was an easy and enjoyable read, told from Caroline Ingall's point of view. I felt the pain of her leaving her home and some of the things she loved to move to Kansas, while pregnant, no less.

I can't imagine making a trip such as this, with two small children in tow and in a wagon.

Yikes!

Reading this for me was like reading any historical novel that took place as people were settling west. It was an enjoyable read, but you really do have to know something of "Little House" to fully appreciate it, because there wasn't a lot of action.

It seemed sad that they uprooted house and home and only stayed in Kansas for a year.

I was truly surprised that a woman as fearful of Indians would have agreed to make the journey without putting up a fight. I know that in that time, the husband had the final say in most things, but her feelings towards Indians were very strong.

The Christmas spent in Kansas with their neighbor Edwards was so heartwarming and bittersweet. Regardless of how well you know "Little House" this part of the book will bring a tear to your eyes.

Caroline is a hard woman at times, but she's a good wife and mother, doing her best with what she has. You see some changes in her, especially when she and Charles have to rescue Mr. Scott and then later when his wife aids in her child-birthing.

I read this book in one day. I simply couldn't put it down. I have now put all the Little House books on my TBR pile.

Rating: 5 flowers

About Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller began writing her first novel at the age of ten, and has spent the last two decades working in libraries and bookstores. She is the author of two previous historical novels, Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller and The Lost Crown. Her nonfiction debut, The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century, was hailed by the New York Times as "a historical version of Law & Order." She lives in Michigan.

Find out more about Sarah at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.