Farmer Boy (Little House #2) by Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

Summary (from the publisher): The second book in the treasured Little House series, Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams. 

The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America’s frontier history and as heartwarming, unforgettable stories. The Little House series has captivated millions of readers with its depiction of life on the American frontier.

While Laura Ingalls grows up on the prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Here Almanzo and his brother and sisters help with the summer planting and fall harvest. In winter there is wood to be chopped and great slabs of ice to be cut from the river and stored. Time for fun comes when the jolly tin peddler visits, or best of all, when the fair comes to town.

Almanzo wishes for just one thing—his very own horse—and he must prove that he is ready for such a big responsibility.

Review: This was such a nostalgic reread for me but this time getting to experience reading it with my three children! I have always loved that Laura Ingalls Wilder pauses in telling the fictional story of her childhood to give us a book about her husband's childhood. 

Growing up, I remember being very struck by the differences in Laura and Almanzo's lifestyles, despite both growing up on farms. Almanzo lives with his parents, brother, and two sisters on a very prosperous and large-scale farm in New York State. Alamanzo works extremely hard and misses school frequently to help with the harvest and other critical tasks around his family's farm. Yet compared to Laura and her family, Almanzo's family is incredibly prosperous. They have multiple barns, lots of cash in the bank, countless animals, a well decorated parlor, a table that is daily straining under the weight of dozens of different dishes and indulge in luxuries like the county fair and other costly items. 

Almanzo is very passionate about animals, especially horses, and much of the book is devoted to his longing for a colt of his very own to train and raise. He is also a very enthusiastic eater. There are so many rich descriptions of all the food (and especially the pies) that his mother serves the family on a routine basis and Almanzo has no problem tucking in. As a modern-day reader, it's wild to imagine a young boy working full days out in the fields. Almanzo helps harvest and thresh wheat, haul logs, collect ice, all in addition to daily chores for caring for the family's many livestock. 

Early in the book, there were several very tense scenes where older teenagers are challenging the one-room schoolhouse teacher and trying to run him out of the classroom. This sort of physical violence and defiance was really difficult for my children to understand or believe and truly it is shocking! 

I enjoyed this one just as much rereading this as an adult as I did as a kid. This is really a snapshot of a way of life that has passed us by. His family is so hardworking and intent on being largely self-reliant and have strict expectations for their children's behavior and contributions to the household. I also liked the many scenes in town at the country fair, the fourth of July celebration, and when interactions with cobblers and peddlers and other individuals. While Laura's family seems much more tightknit, largely due to having to rely solely on each other, I loved seeing the inner workings of a large and prosperous farm and learning more about how they managed different animals and crops. 

Stars: 5