The First Four Years

Book cover: 'The First Four Years'
Author(s): 
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Number of pages: 
134 pages
Copyright: 
1971
Publisher: 
HarperTrophy
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Laura and Almanzo's first four years of married life and the difficulties of starting out as farmers. This book seems to have been written quite a bit later than the other books of the series and has quite a different flavor. When I first read the series in grade school I found this difference a little disappointing and confusing. The story is quite a good one, though, but geared more for older children (perhaps 12 and up).
Additional Comments: "According to a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the book was begun shortly before Almanzo's death, and afterwards Laura lost interest in it; thus it was published "as is" some years after her death. The different tone is due to the fact that it is a first draft - she did not do the revising and "fleshing out" she did with the others."
(Contributed by Pat Dixon)

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-15-01