After reading Laura Ingells Wilder’s classic Little House on the Prarie series, and then the sequel inspired by her daughter, The Rose Years. It’s only fitting to go back in time to mid 19th century to see the coming of age of Caroline Quiner, the beloved Ma of America’s famous pioneer family.

1. Little House of Their Own: It’s funny but this top 5 went in reverse chronological order but this had to take top spot because it is so pertinent to the original series. Most specifically the challenge of Charles’ wanderlust to potentially dangerous, unexplored territories in contrast to Caroline’s wish for stability, and how she reconciles that with the man she loves. Unfortunately that is only dealt with in the last 100 pages of the book. Most of it is taken up with her first year in teaching and how much she loves it, which is still relevant as she must also decide if she wants to continue teaching because she won’t be able to after she marries.
2. Little City by the Lake: Caroline heads to college in the ultra modern city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Well, it’s less college and more a year at the teaching seminary but as Caroline stays with her aunt and uncle she gets to experience newfangled inventions like indoor plumbing, and gas lamps and hoop skirts. It’s fascinating to see how technology has progressed and to appreciate how amazing it must have seemed to early Americans. Caroline also deals with her first brush with courting and some class insecurity but overall is a great year of growth for her.
3. Across the Rolling River: As Caroline’s family has settled in Concord, Caroline has new adventures in school and with a certain fiddler boy named Charles Ingells. This got top 5 simply because of the carnival chapters and how Wilkes describes the first camera as a magical object.
4. On Top of Concord Hill: You may be noticing a pattern in which a book gets the top 5 because of how it immerses readers in the amazingness of “new” technology and showing the shifting times between old and new gernations. What can I say, I’m a sucker for history and this gets a spot ot just for the marriage and induction of Caroline’s stepfather but showing a real fire and brimstone preacher and the rise of California gold fever. Which will niely forshadow Caroline’s conflict with Charles in the final book.
5. Little Town in the Crossroads: This was a sweet book showcasing the core traits of Caroline Ingells, her dedication to learning, her caring nature as she helps her immigrant German friend learn English, her love for the homestead and for close family. Just a good a illustration of who Caroline will become and cool to look back in hindisght at seven year old Caroline when you know all that will come to her.

Also some fun things I found out- they called lunch, dinner and supper was dinner. Just a funny note that was hard to wrap my head around at first. Also the popular 17th century hoop skirt in the palace of Versailles has come to America now in the 1856 which I also found fun because it shows how fashions spread across the pond.