On The Banks of Plum Creek
Imagine being in a wagon traveling from the prairie to Minnesota for a new place to live. Don’t forget there’s no Nintendo DS’s or PSP’s and your Pa’s in the front driving the horses so you must sit and keep quiet. This is what Laura Ingalls, and her sister, Mary, had to do when they were moving with their family.
They have to leave the prairie because more people are coming and it would become crowded. So many bad things happen when they settle down, like raining grasshoppers, bad crops, and a bad snow storm that causes Laura’s Pa to go missing.\
It’s here at Plum Creek Laura and Mary start going to school, and Laura meets a very bratty girl named Nellie. Nellie invites Laura to her party but she is so rude to Laura. Laura’s ma then tells Laura that she shall have a party, and of course she must invite Nellie. Nellie comes but is still rude and calls Laura’s party a ‘country party’. How will Laura stop Nellie from making fun of her at Laura’s party?
Would you want to live in a hill that has been dug out of? That’s what a dugout is, and when Laura moves to Plum Creek, a dugout is what she lives in. A while after her family has been living in the dugout made of sod; Laura’s Pa builds their very own house! With a stove and actual glass windows, Laura and her family are so happy. The moral is to stick together, even when hard times come. Laura’s family has many misfortunes while living in Plum Creek, but they stick together and go through life.
Do you travel in a wagon? Is the nearest town from your house three miles away? This book takes places in the 1870’s, so it is historical fiction. People who like to learn about history, but don’t like the huge textbooks would like this book. This book is for ages 9-12 because although the words are fairly easy, they speak differently than people do now. Some second and third graders would be able to read this book also.
This is the fourth book in the Laura Years series and if you have read the other books in the series like “Little House on the Prairie”, I think you will like this book. After you read the book, imagine riding in that wagon again, will it be so hard to imagine?