Plot: An autobiography of Laura Ingalls, a six-year-old girl growing up in the pioneer days of the United States. Throughout the year, Laura experiences preparing for winter, listening to her father's stories, helping her mother, and trying to get along with her sister.
Reading Level: 9-11
Genre: Non-Fiction, Autobiography, History
Similar Titles: Little House on the Prairie
Personal Thoughts: While Little House on the Prairie has been dismissed by most school districts due to racist undertones, I'm surprised schools haven't pushed Little House in the Big Woods more. It really is an enlightening book. It reminds readers that history was not built solely on the backs of politicians, warriors, and rebels. The book also makes readers realize how much has changed since those times.
Young readers can easily relate to Laura's relationships with her older (and much-admired/resented) sister, "wild" uncle, and spoiled cousin. At the risk of sounding like a museum commercial, the book does make history come alive. Just be aware, though, that a pig is butchered and the bladder is used as a ball. That part of the book kept me from reading it for years.
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