Customer Reviews

Young Pioneers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went into reading this book not sure what to expect. It was reflective of the Little House books, but I was instantly hooked by the suspense of the plot and the events. Although this was meant for children, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a huge fan of all the Little House books, and this one just earned a spot on my bookshelf.

There is a reason that Rose Wilder Lane, once a hugely famous journalist and novelist, is now largely remembered as an afterthought when her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder is mentioned. After reading claims, that Rose took a more than 'editorial' part in her mother's Little House series, and then finding out that this was book was somewhat modeled after her grandparents, Charles and Caroline Ingalls, I had to read it. Luckily, this one is still often reprinted. Here are my thoughts, however educated or not so, they may be: I think this book was tremendously interesting. I startled time and again reading things like "Wild Plum Creek", and about the grasshopper plagues, so familiar from Laura's "On the Banks of Plum Creek". I was suprised (in almost a good way) to read about some of the harsher things that Molly (as she is called in this version) had to do to survive. We definately wouldn't read about some those gory aspects in a Little House book. I actual could have really liked this book if it weren't for the way it was written. Rose's plot line was great (the ending was too abrupt though). But there was absolutely no personalizing her characters here at all. This read like history...this happened and this happened. Oh, and they were madly in love. I never felt like they were madly in love, except for the fact that Rose tells me so in the book once in awhile. In Laura's stories I feel the love between Pa and Ma, in his 'twinkling' eyes as he looks on her..as his first thoughts are usually things to do to make Ma happier wherever they settle. You can feel the love between parents and child(ren) in Laura's books as well. In the soft words, Pa and Ma speak to comfort the children. In the ways Pa and Ma think of their children as they try to soften the blows so frequently felt from the prairie.

There is none of that in Young Pioneers. This story is kind of bland. I think this should be an example pointing to the fact that Rose Wilder Lane perhaps (most certainly in fact) edited her mother's stories, and its never been a secret that she typed up Laura's handwritten manuscripts, but Rose Wilder Lane's writing style would have had to completely changed, to have had a serious authorship of the Little House books.

Young Pioneers is a good book if you love reading about how our country became seltled in the west by the young, brave people like Molly and David. Rose Wilder Lane is a great author just like her mother Laura Ingalls Wilder. If you enjoy Laura's books, you will enjoy Rose's also. Young Pioneers is a great story about how life was like in the 1800s. I really enjoyed this book.

Wonderful story, but much harsher and bleaker than her mother's own writings about settling in the West. A stunning work about a struggle for independence I couldn't even imagine.

This book is a tad more exciting then Laura's books, it gets to the point, I suppose. A reccomended read for those who enjoy adventure and historic fiction as well.

I have always loved the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and when I heard about this book, I wanted to read it. David and Molly in the story were modeled after Rose's grandparents, Charles and Caroline Ingalls. While the book is geared towards young folks, I did enjoy it quite a bit. While the "Little House" books are geared towards a younger set, "Young Pioneers" makes a nice addition to your bookshelves for your older children. I think the "Young Pioneers" is a bit more realistic when it comes to the hardships and dangers that the Pioneers faced, while the "Little House" books sugar coated them a bit because those books were more geared towards younger children. Also, Rose's writing style is different from those that her Mother penned. It's a bit more stark and not as descriptive.

If you've read the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, you will recognize that many of the settings and events in "Young Pioneers" are from Laura's book, "On the Banks of Plum Creek". For instance, David and Molly live in a dugout on the banks of Wild Plum Creek. They also lose their wheat crop through a swarm of grasshoppers. But, you also get a glance at what "Ma" and "Pa" were possibly like before Laura was born. The story starts with David and Molly's wedding. David is 18 and Molly is 16 when they set off on their adventure. From the "Little House" books, I never pictured them being that young. Granted, I know that this is a fictionalized account of Charles and Caroline's early years, but this fact was probably pretty accurate. After reading the book, think about this...how many 16-18 year olds do you know that could survive life as a pioneer in today's age? I enjoyed the book quite a lot, but I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt. I would have like to have had it go on a bit longer to have it feel a bit more complete. I don't think it has the same magic as the "Little House" books, but it was well written and enjoyable.

This book is appropriate for I'd think 6th grade and up. Nothing too violent, just the stark reality of life as a pioneer. Also, there is a mild curse word that is used once when David is upset toward the middle-end of the book.

This book falls right in line with the Laura Ingalls Wilder style and type of book. Any young person who enjoys reading fiction would benefit learning about our country's history and still be entertained.

Honestly, this book is a compilation of some of Laura's best stories and not a very well written one at that. It was a rip off of the high points of the Laura Ingalls Wilder series.

I found the two main characters entirely unlikable. They were bland and boring. We were told to like the characters and sympathize with the characters, but I found myself almost amused when the grasshoppers attacked their crops.

The writing completely dull. Every storyline had been done before. There was absolutely no originality. The only reason it is getting two stars is because she has Laura for a mother. It is no wonder that her books are not nearly as popular as her mother's.

I finished this in several hours; couldn't put it down. Definitely worth the time.

Well written . Being a fan of Little House Books, I enjoyed reading something written by Laura and Almonzos daughter.