Farmer Boy Reviews
In
this novel Laura Ingalls Wilder recounts the boyhood adventures of
Almanzo Wilder, who later in life became her husband. It is the
1800's and Almanzo and his family are living on a prosperous farm in
Malone, New York. It is winter time and the New York winters are
notoriously cold.
Nine year old Almanzo must endure the long, frigid one and a half mile walk to the schoolhouse with his older brother Royal and his two older sisters, Eliza Jane and Alice. Although Almanzo isn't fond of school, he realizes that getting his education is a necessary tool in life. Almanzo tries to hide his fears the older Hardscrabble Settlement boys arrive at the school to make trouble for the new teacher, Mr. Corse. Almanzo and his siblings help out around the farm doing chores such as feeding the livestock, milking the cows, mucking out the stalls and cleaning out the barns. Almanzo's father teaches him the importance of honesty, patience, integrity and the value of a hard day's work.
The novel takes the reader through the various
seasons and demonstrates the various aspects of keeping a farm
running all year round. Whether it is picking ice from the river for
storage or aiding with the summer harvesting, the entire Wilder clan
works together to keep their farm prosperous. It is at dinnertime
that the Wilder clan gathers together at the table and enjoy's
mother's wonderful home cooking. Almanzo is a bit of a dreamer. His
most fervent desire is to break in one of his father's Morgan colts.
Almanzo's father has warned him against trying to break in one of
the colts due to his inexperience and the dangers involved in the
process. Although Almanzo practices breaking in his two calves Star
and Bright, he is tempted by the wild, beautiful horses. When
Almanzo learns the value of honoring his promise to his father, he
is rewarded for his integrity with a gift beyond his wildest dreams.
By: Sandra Calhoune of allreaders.com
Children's Literature -
Pat Trattles 0060522380
If you picked up this book expecting to learn more
about the pioneering adventures of the Ingalls family, you won't find it
here. This story is about Almanzo Wilder, who as a young man will marry
Laura Ingalls, but for now is a boy growing up on a large farm in New
York. While his older brother, Royal, can't wait to move to the city and
begin life as a shopkeeper or clerk, Almanzo loves the farm, and can't
imagine any other life but farming. He especially loves the horses and
desperately wants a colt of his own. But before he can have one he must
prove he is ready for the responsibility.
This book is rich in details about farm life in the late 1800s. Leather for boots, tallow for candles, fat for soap, and of course, meat for the dinner table, all come from the Wilders' slaughtered cattle. Not even the tiniest part is wasted. It puts our current throwaway society to shame. Wilder describes in great detail the process Almanzo uses in completing his chores, so readers can feel that they are making candles, growing a prize-winning pumpkin, or helping with the sheep shearing right along with him. Part of the "Little House" series, this book is not only enjoyable, but it would make a great addition to a classroom discussion of America's frontier past.
