Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

In this novel authorized by the Little House Heritage Trust, Sarah Miller vividly recreates the beauty, hardship, and joys of the frontier in a dazzling work of historical fiction, a captivating story that illuminates one courageous, resilient, and loving pioneer woman as never before—Caroline Ingalls, “Ma” in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved Little House books.

In the frigid days of February, 1870, Caroline Ingalls and her family leave the familiar comforts of the Big Woods of Wisconsin and the warm bosom of her family, for a new life in Kansas Indian Territory. Packing what they can carry in their wagon, Caroline, her husband Charles, and their little girls, Mary and Laura, head west to settle in a beautiful, unpredictable land full of promise and peril.

The pioneer life is a hard one, especially for a pregnant woman with no friends or kin to turn to for comfort or help. The burden of work must be shouldered alone, sickness tended without the aid of doctors, and babies birthed without the accustomed hands of mothers or sisters. But Caroline’s new world is also full of tender joys. In adapting to this strange new place and transforming a rough log house built by Charles’ hands into a home, Caroline must draw on untapped wells of strength she does not know she possesses.

For more than eighty years, generations of readers have been enchanted by the adventures of the American frontier’s most famous child, Laura Ingalls Wilder, in the Little House books. Now, that familiar story is retold in this captivating tale of family, fidelity, hardship, love, and survival that vividly reimagines our past.

my thoughts:

Little House on the Prairie is one of my favorite TV shows. I still watch it to this day. It comes on in the early evening and I absolutely enjoy watching the residents of Walnut Grove go about their daily lives, enduring hardships and cheering when hard work pays off.  I've gotten to know Caroline (or Ma as she's known to Laura, Mary, Carrie, and Grace) through the show and I've seen her as a strong and determined woman who has definitely taken care of her family through the good and bad times that always seem to pop up during life.  So, I was super excited to receive a copy of Sarah Miller's novel, Caroline: Little House, Revisited - a book that focused on Ma and her perspective on life on the frontier.  How could I resist, right?

Caroline shares her story of her family's move from Wisconsin to Kansas.  She's pregnant, has two little girls (Mary and Laura) to care for, and a husband (Charles) who is set on building their new home in unknown territory.  So many new and terrifying events to endure.  And to have to deal with them on their own - no help from family and friends.  Well, except for Mr. Edwards who does help Charles.  Suffice it to say, life is hard and scary.  So, Caroline digs deep and she makes their new little house their home.  She gets her family settled in.  And she loves them fiercely with all of her heart.

Talk about a fantastic story! I absolutely loved getting to know Caroline through Miller's perspective of this beloved character.  Her retelling of Laura Ingalls Wilder's story is rich, vivid, and utterly gripping. I found myself easily caught up in the adventures, the fears, and the love that this family experienced together out on the frontier.  It was such a fun and lively story, that I couldn't help but fall in love with it.

I would happily recommend Caroline to fans of the Little House series - you will LOVE this book!!
Here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Caroline

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!