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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.
