Little Town at the Crossroads (Little House) [Hardcover]

Maria D. Wilkes (Author), Dan Andreasen (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Little House

Meet Caroline Quiner...the little girl who would grow up to be Laura Ingalls' mother. Caroline watches eagerly as new beginnings spring up overnight and more and more families move into the growing town of Brookfield, Wisconsin. There are all sorts of new, exciting things for Caroline to do! She marches in her first Independence Day parade, a circus comes to town, and new neighbors become special friends. But then the family has a chance to move to another farm. Will Caroline have to say ggod-bye to the little town of Brookfield?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6. Fans of "The Little House on the Prairie" books (HarperCollins) will probably enjoy this new series based on the notebooks of Caroline Quiner, who later became the mother of Laura Ingalls. The stories are centered in Brookfield, WI, and spill over with details of life there in the 1800s. Wilkes's descriptive prose style sets an appropriate tone for this episodic tale in which chapters are strung together like a series of vignettes. The hard work of farming, family life, and the ongoing struggle to support the family from the land are vividly conveyed. Throughout, the underlying strength and importance of a loving family is emphasized. Characters are somewhat two-dimensional. Caroline is sensitive and wise for her years. Her mother, a widow, is a strong, understanding woman who struggles to raise her four children and run the household alone. The Quiner children get into mischief at times, but it's all very tame. Caroline's mother demonstrates her determination and courage at the end of the book when she announces that she will find land of her own after learning that she must leave her present home. This seems to set the stage for a sequel. The book offers extensive historical information and presents the possibility for interdisciplinary teaching.?Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-6. This sequel to Little House in Brookfield (1996) continues the fictionalized story of six-year-old Caroline Quiner, the mother of author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Set in the small town of Brookfield, Wisconsin, in 1846^-7, Wilkes' episodic saga highlights a Fourth of July celebration, the departure of Caroline's beloved grandmother, a school bully, a maple syrup festival, and the uncertainties surrounding an impending family move. Based on letters written by Caroline Ingalls' sister Martha to Wilder, these reminiscences portray a lifestyle similar to that of the Ingalls family in Wilder's Little House in the Big Woods (1953). While some may question the need for yet another Little House spin-off, the vignettes flow smoothly and the characters (especially Caroline) have a spark that will endear them to fans of the original Little House. Kay Weisman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 17, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060269952
• ISBN-13: 978-0060269951
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,050,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little Town at the Crossroads, March 18, 2000

By 

Daniel A. Miller (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little Town at the Crossroads (Little House) (Paperback)

The main idea is that Caroline Quiner, Laura Ingall's mother, has to move to a different house. Caroline was the main character. The story takes place at a frame house in Brookfield, WI from 1845-1846. I liked this book, because at the end of each chapter it gives you something to look forward to in the next chapter. There weren't too many things going on all at once and the book was focused on Caroline's family. It made me feel sad when they decided to move away and very excited when the parade and circus came to town. I recommend this book to girls who like the little house books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best childrens books ive read in a long time, July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Town at the Crossroads (Hardcover)

turn back the time and enter into a world of long ago and see how people survied in day of old i have all th books that are out there so far and all of my grand children are taking turns reading my books its a nice way to spend time together

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The little town of Brookfield grows, February 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Town at the Crossroads (Little House) (Paperback)

In this book, Brookfield grows into a regular town. The school is overcrowded, Caroline goes to a Maple Folice, and a circus comes to town. Caroline sees white bears at the circus! She never saw white bears before, and she thought she saw two white bears when it was really her brother and a friend in their underwear in a tree! Caroline and her family, at the end, had to move to a place called Concord...