Caroline: Little House, Revisited

Sarah Miller

Sept 2017 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this eBook

USA Today Bestseller!

One of Refinery29's Best Reads of September

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.

Ratings and reviews

Fascinating...lots of "true life" and the ring of historical accuracy. In some ways this book fills in gaps for an adult reader of Laura's books and enhances them. In other ways, this book de-romanticized her version of her childhood in a distressing way...but, perhaps, a necessary way. A good read...

Great retelling of Little House on the Prairie from Caroline's perspective. The writing itself was beautiful and the characterization felt as true to life as historical fiction can be. For the first time I really related to Caroline rather than just Laura, and as a long time Little House fan, this was something I enjoyed very much.

The book was an ok read, it dragged on in alot of places , but was mildly interesting for some chapters.

About the author

Sarah Miller began writing her first novel at ten years old and has spent half her life working in libraries and bookstores. She is the author of Caroline: Little House, Revisited, and Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller, which was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and nominated for numerous state award lists. Sarah lives in Michigan.