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Title:
Farmer Boy
Series: Little House #3
Author:
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre:
MG Historical Fiction
Pages: 143
Words:
52K
Publish: 1933
I
enjoyed this as much as the previous entries. My vague earlier
memories were that this all took place out in the west, on the
frontier, just like the previous Little House stories, so imagine my
surprise when I found out this took place in New York, deep in Yankee
Country. I also hadn’t remembered that the main character (Almanzo)
was the son of a very successful farmer, so there was no hardship
beyond what was inherent to farming in the 1800’s.
Almost every story involved food in one way or another. By the book’s end I wanted to go eat and eat and eat! It wasn’t really surprising though. Almanzo is 9 turning into 10 during this book and he works hard, so he needed that food. Since his family was successful, they had plenty of food and didn’t stint.
There was one funny incident where Almanzo’s father refuses to use some piece of new farm equipment (maybe a corn husker or wheat berry stripper or something) because he claims it will make people lazy and it will waste some of the corn/wheat. Then the next paragraph is the father using some other form of new farm equipment that makes their lives much easier. I’m sure that was included deliberately to make his father more human. It made me laugh though, because I think the exact same thing about some stuff today and act exactly like the father. So I’m definitely living in a glass house as it were.
The cover I’m using here isn’t the one I grew up with or that fits with the previous books, but it really shows how much horses were a part of Almanzo’s life. He wanted to raise and train horses and in this book, he wasn’t old enough and was strictly forbidden from it. So it is a big focus for him and all he wants is to become a farmer so he can train horses. We’ll be meeting Almanzo again in later books, so we’ll see how he turns out then :-)
★★★★☆
From Grokipedia
Farmer Boy chronicles the daily life of nine-year-old Almanzo Wilder on his family's prosperous farm in upstate New York during the winter of 1866 through the following year. The narrative centers on Almanzo's experiences with farm chores, family responsibilities, and personal milestones, portrayed through a series of seasonal activities that highlight the rhythm of rural existence.[15]The story opens in winter with Almanzo attending school for the first time alongside his older siblings—thirteen-year-old Royal, twelve-year-old Eliza Jane, and ten-year-old Alice—trudging through deep snow to a one-room schoolhouse. There, a confrontation arises when older boys attempt to bully the new teacher, Mr. Corse, but he subdues them with a blacksnake whip, establishing order. At home, the family engages in essential winter tasks, such as cutting blocks of ice from a nearby pond with hired workers French Joe and Lazy John, hauling them to the icehouse for summer use. Almanzo assists Father and Royal, narrowly escaping a fall into the icy water, and learns the value of caution from Father's stern but fair discipline. Evening routines include carding wool by the fireside, where Mother supervises the children, and maple sugaring, during which the family boils sap into syrup over an outdoor fire, sharing the labor and the sweet rewards.[16][17]On his ninth birthday in February, Almanzo receives a special gift from Father: a yoke for two young calves named Star and Bright, marking his growing trustworthiness. He spends the spring training them to pull a bobsled and later a wagon, demonstrating patience and skill as they mature into reliable draft animals. Family dynamics shine through Mother's meticulous cooking—preparing vast meals from farm produce—and Father's emphasis on hard work and honesty. Siblings contribute uniquely: Royal handles heavier tasks with a mischievous streak, Eliza Jane focuses on studies and household duties, and Alice helps care for the younger children while tending the baby. Spring brings planting season, with the family harrowing fields, sowing corn, potatoes, and other crops, and tending to calving; when one cow's calf weakens, Almanzo helps revive it, fostering his bond with the animals. Occasional visitors, like neighbors or the peddler, add variety, but the core revolves around collective farm maintenance.[15][17]Summer intensifies with haying and harvesting, where Almanzo drives the team of oxen to mow fields under the hot sun, enduring long days but reveling in the farm's bounty. The Fourth of July celebration in town offers a rare break, with parades, fireworks, and family outings. As fall arrives, the narrative shifts to the county fair, where Almanzo exhibits a massive pumpkin he cultivated, winning a blue ribbon and a silver dollar, while his sisters display needlework and preserves. He also returns a lost pocketbook containing $1,500 to its owner, earning a $200 reward and Father's commendation for integrity. School resumes with disruptions when a harsh new teacher arrives, leading to tensions, but Almanzo prioritizes farm duties like potato digging and apple picking. In a pivotal moment, with parents away, Royal's poor management of the household—allowing pigs inside and wasting food—contrasts with Almanzo's steadier approach, teaching lessons in responsibility.[18][19][20]The year culminates in late fall with logging operations to harvest timber for a new barn, where Father teaches Almanzo advanced ox-driving techniques. Thanksgiving brings a grand family feast, reuniting extended relatives and reflecting on the harvest's success. Turning ten, Almanzo faces a choice from Father: an apprenticeship as a wagon-maker or continuing on the farm. Opting for farming, he earns the colt Starlight as his own horse, symbolizing his readiness for greater independence and foreshadowing his future as a farmer. The story closes on this note of achievement, encapsulating a full cycle of growth amid unyielding farm labor.
