This
review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained
therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to
copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions.
Crossposted at WordPress & Blogspot by Bookstooge’s Exalted
Permission
Title:
On the Banks of Plum Creek
Series: Little
House #4
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
Rating:
4 of 5 Stars
Genre: MG Historical Fiction
Pages:
172
Words: 55K
Publish: 1937
This
took about two years and it is evident that Wilder is expecting the
target audience to grow with each book, as they’ve gotten
consecutively longer.
I
continue to enjoy each book quite a bit and while the story is very
idealized, it is still a good snapshot into what families went
through in the late 1800’s as they spread out west. Death in its
many forms are showcased and it is no wonder so many settlers died. I
wouldn’t have wanted to live during that time no matter what. They
had to have a certain “spirit” and I know I don’t have what it
takes.
I’ve
had my issues with “historical” fiction in the past, where
writers make up total bullshit on a wholesale level and insert it
into a non-fiction framework thus making it very unclear what is
historical fact and what is the totally made up bullshit from their
sick brains. As you can tell, I am not a fan of that model. This
avoids that by being fiction. This is a story and nothing BUT a
story. It would give a young reader an idea of what life was like but
they wouldn’t come out of these books thinking this was a history
book. Laura doesn’t meet Abe Lincoln or Paul Bunyan or help Edison
invent the telephone or give Mark Twain an idea for a novel. I
approve of that model of historical fiction.
So
Imperator Bookstooge approves this book.
★★★★☆
From
Grokipedia
Settlement and early life in
Minnesota
In the opening chapters of the
book, the Ingalls family travels by covered wagon from their previous
home in Kansas to a new homestead along Plum Creek in Minnesota. Pa
trades their horses Pet and Patty, along with other items, to Mr.
Hanson for the land, a dugout home built into the creek bank, crops,
and oxen. Laura discovers the entrance as a "door in the ground"
at the creek's edge, initially startling her with its unexpected
appearance. The dugout proves snug and clean, with smoothed dirt
walls, a hard-packed floor, a hay ceiling, and grass growing on the
roof. Pa reassures the family that the arrangement is temporary and
expresses strong optimism about the fertile land producing a
bountiful wheat crop to fund a better home.The family quickly adapts
to their new surroundings, with early chores including carrying water
from a nearby spring and fashioning beds from willow boughs to avoid
sleeping directly on the floor. Laura and Mary spend time playing
along the creek, making necklaces and whistles from rush stems,
blowing bubbles, and watching tiny fish nibble at their toes in the
clear water. Pa builds a wooden fish trap under a waterfall to catch
larger fish, which Ma cooks for family suppers, supplementing their
food supply. In the evenings, Pa plays his fiddle inside the dugout,
providing music that creates warmth and contentment for the
household. The family maintains a hopeful outlook, dreaming of
prosperity from the coming harvest and enjoying the beauty of the
wild plum thickets, willows, and rolling prairie.With the arrival of
spring and the wheat sprouting green, Pa buys lumber on credit and
constructs a proper frame house on a knoll near the creek. The new
home features two downstairs rooms, a lean-to, an attic bedroom for
the girls, real glass windows, and a surprise cookstove for Ma. The
family delights in moving out of the dugout into the bright, clean
wooden structure with its fresh lumber smell and gleaming windows. Ma
adds white curtains trimmed in calico and decorates shelves, marking
the transition to a more comfortable life on Plum Creek.
School, community, and family
routines
After settling into their life
near Walnut Grove, Laura and Mary attended school for the first time,
marking an important milestone in their education and social
exposure. The school was taught by Miss Eva Beadle, and Laura
enjoyed learning to read while appreciating the company of other
children, including classmates from the Kennedy family, Maud, and the
Oleson siblings. However, tensions arose with Nellie Oleson, the
storekeeper's daughter, who bullied Laura by pulling her hair,
dictating games, and mocking her as a "country girl" due to
perceived differences in wealth and background. Interactions with
townspeople centered heavily on the Oleson family, whose general
store made them prominent in the community. Nellie frequently
bragged about her possessions and insulted Laura and Mary's clothing
or circumstances, such as flaunting a fur cape while taunting Laura
that her father could not afford one. Social reciprocity emerged
when Laura and Mary attended a party at the Olesons' luxurious home,
where Nellie selfishly guarded her toys—including a lifelike wax
doll—and grabbed the largest piece of cake. The Ingalls family
returned the invitation with a country party at their home, where
Nellie's rudeness prompted Laura to lure her into Plum Creek,
resulting in leeches clinging to Nellie's legs as a form of childish
revenge. The Ingalls family incorporated regular church attendance
into their weekly routine, traveling to the new church in town every
Sunday for services led by the gentle Reverend Alden, with hymns sung
by the congregation and Sunday school taught by Mrs. Tower.
Holidays, particularly Christmas, brought community joy through a
church celebration featuring Laura's first Christmas tree, a sermon,
hymn singing, and gifts sent from eastern church members to the
congregation. Daily family life revolved around chores, with Laura
and Mary assisting Ma with household tasks and helping on the farm
while fishing in the creek during leisure moments. The family
studied lessons together, often with Ma guiding the girls' education
at home. Evenings provided warmth and unity, as Pa serenaded the
family with songs on his fiddle after supper, prompting everyone to
join in singing and creating a sense of contentment. Through these
experiences, Laura navigated personal growth amid feelings of
jealousy toward Nellie's material advantages and social standing.
Her conflicts with Nellie highlighted contrasts between town luxury
and country simplicity, as well as selfishness versus kindness,
reinforcing moral lessons about treating others with respect and
finding satisfaction in family bonds rather than possessions. These
everyday interactions fostered Laura's understanding of friendship,
reciprocity, and self-control despite provocations.
Natural disasters and family
trials
The Ingalls family experiences
profound hardship when a massive plague of grasshoppers descends upon
their Minnesota farm, devouring the promising wheat crop that Pa had
counted on to pay off debts for their new house and stove. The
insects arrive in overwhelming numbers, eating every green thing in
sight and stripping the fields bare despite the family's desperate
attempts to drive them away with smoke and fire. [21] With no
harvest to sell, the family faces financial ruin, prompting Pa to
walk a long distance east to find temporary work on farms beyond the
reach of the infestation in order to earn money and support them. The
grasshoppers soon lay eggs in the soil, threatening future crops. Pa
returns home before winter. A brutal winter follows, bringing severe
blizzards that isolate the prairie. In December, Pa ventures to town
for supplies but is caught in a severe three-day blizzard on his
return journey, forcing him to seek shelter in a haystack and leaving
the family uncertain of his safety. Ma ties a rope from the house to
the stable to navigate the blinding snow while performing chores, and
she keeps Mary, Laura, and Carrie occupied with games, stories, and
household tasks to preserve their morale during the long confinement
indoors. Pa finally returns home safely on Christmas Eve, reuniting
the family in profound relief and joy despite the absence of presents
or festive trimmings, underscoring their endurance through hardship.
In spring, the grasshopper eggs hatch, and the young insects devour
the new crops. After persisting, the swarm mysteriously departs by
flying west together in a glittering cloud, providing relief from
further destruction. The family faces continued economic trials but
maintains hope for recovery.
Characters
The
Ingalls family
The Ingalls family forms the
central focus of On
the Banks of Plum Creek,
depicted as a close-knit pioneer unit navigating life in Minnesota.
Charles Ingalls, known as Pa, serves as the optimistic and
resourceful provider, trading possessions, plowing fields,
constructing the family home, and traveling for work to support the
household during hardships. He maintains a positive perspective,
returning home with reassuring news that severe weather would prevent
future grasshopper plagues. Pa is also musical, playing his fiddle
to lull the family at day's end. [22]Caroline Ingalls, known as Ma,
is practical and nurturing, emphasizing manners, education, and
proper conduct while acting as a steady role model for her daughters.
[23] She approaches difficulties with optimism, performs demanding
domestic tasks tirelessly, and guides the children through gentle
instruction rather than harsh discipline. [23]Laura Ingalls, the
protagonist and narrator, is a curious, spirited, and resilient girl
who observes her surroundings keenly and perseveres through
challenges with an indomitable spirit. [24] She displays impulsive
tendencies balanced by courage and hard work, showing gradual growth
toward maturity. [25]Mary Ingalls, Laura's older sister, is
responsible and gentle, consistently demonstrating obedience,
politeness, and ladylike behavior in contrast to Laura's more
impulsive traits. [26]Carrie Ingalls, the youngest daughter, has a
minor role, appearing primarily within the family context without
significant individual actions or development highlighted. These
portrayals draw from Laura Ingalls Wilder's own family. [27]
Neighbors
and townspeople
The townspeople of Walnut
Grove play significant roles in the community life depicted in On
the Banks of Plum Creek,
with the Oleson family standing out as owners of the general store
and central figures in town interactions. Their children, Nellie
and Willie, serve as rivals and antagonists to Laura, with Nellie
portrayed as a spoiled, haughty girl who brags about her possessions,
fine clothes, and social superiority while frequently looking down on
others as inferior "country" folk. Willie, her brother,
joins her in displaying unkind and exclusionary behavior toward Laura
and Mary. The town features multiple storekeepers, including Mr.
Oleson, who operates the main mercantile establishment central to
community gatherings, and Mr. Fitch, who runs a separate store. Mr.
Beadle manages another store alongside his duties at the post office,
making these figures key points of contact for townspeople and
settlers alike. Reverend Alden serves as the local minister, leading
church services and Sunday school classes that bring the community
together for religious observance and social support. The school
teacher, described as a lovely young woman, instructs the local
children in the town schoolhouse, providing formal education to
Laura, Mary, and their classmates. Nearby neighbors include the
Nelson family, Norwegian settlers living close to the Ingalls, who
participate in community efforts such as livestock trading and
cooperative responses to local challenges. Their daughter Anna and
other local children, including members of the Kennedy family and
individuals like Maud, attend school and contribute to the social
fabric of the area. These secondary characters reflect the diverse
mix of settlers and townsfolk shaping daily life in Walnut Grove.
