By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House)
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
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Book Summary Information
Author: Laura Ingalls WilderBrand: Harper Collins Publishers
Illustrator: Garth Williams
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-05-11
ISBN: 0060581840
Number of pages: 304
Publisher: HarperCollins
Book Reviews of By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House)
Book Review: Laura meets the Wild West
Summary: 5 Stars
By the Shores of Silver Lake is a bit darker and more dangerous than the books preceding. It opens with the family recovering from the scarlet fever that took away Mary's eyesight, and with a surprise offer of a well-paying job for Pa at a railroad building camp. The difficulties of farming at Plum Creek and Pa's thirst for the road override Ma's wish for a permanent home, and the family is off again: Pa by wagon and Ma and the kids on the train. Railroads were brand new and a train trip was seen as quite risky, but the only way that Mary could make the journey.
The railroad camp that eventually became the town of DeSmet, South Dakota, was a rough place filled with coarse men. The area was about to be opened up to homesteaders, and a boomtown was about to rise up from the prairie. Pa's job was to issue the men's paychecks every two weeks, a more dangerous occupation than it sounds. Ma spends much of the book worrying about exposing the girls to coarse language, drunkeness, and various other forms of heathenism. (Ma is really a bit of a prude, objecting even to Pa singing a song about a lucky horseshoe). Two men are killed, offstage, in the book and Pa gets into some close calls himself. As the land rush proceeds, Ma finds herself running a hotel for the men who come to settle the land. She really has no choice but to accomodate the travelers, and wisely begins to charge them for their meals and a space on the floor to sleep.
There is also much in this book that is warm and lovely. Pa's tender gesture to Ma of bringing some trees to plant on the homestead. A happy and coindidental reunion with Reverend Alden, and his sweet suggestion that Mary might someday attend college. Laura making a new and adventurous friend in her cousin Lena at the camp. And of course, Pa's reassurance to Laura that Jack will be happy in dog heaven. The family also takes delight in making special Christmas gifts for each other, and sweet Ma gives up something special of her own to make an unexpected Christmas houseguest happy. We also see Laura honing her storytelling talents as she becomes Mary's "eyes", trying earnestly to help her sister share in everything the family experiences.
As with the other Little House books, the historical context of Silver Lake is rich and detailed. Excellent reading for children and adults.
Summary of By the Shores of Silver Lake (Little House)
For the first time in the history of the Little House books, this new edition features Garth Williams? interior art in vibrant, full color, as well as a beautifully redesigned cover.
The adventures of Laura Ingalls and her family continue as they move from their little house on the banks of Plum Creek to the wilderness of the unsettled Dakota Territory. Here Pa works on the new railroad until he finds a homestead claim that is perfect for their new little house. Laura takes her first train ride as she, her sisters, and their mother come out to live with Pa on the shores of Silver Lake. After a lonely winter in the surveyors' house, Pa puts up the first building in what will soon be a brand-new town on the beautiful shores of Silver Lake. The Ingallses' covered-wagon travels are finally over.
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