A parent’s love of the classic pioneer author presented in a cute and funny way regarding a spirit of Ingalls

Deals with the change of moving. Kids will be able to resonate with the main character if they have gone through a similar experience.

Moving to a new town and trying to find things to do isn’t always easy and an older child who may also go be going through a move will be able to get through it together with the character

Also shows that making new friends isn’t always easy as the main character struggles when doing so. Another issue that children will be able to relate to

Best for older kids who don’t necessarily have gotten into the actual Laura Ingall Wilder books. Even if kids haven’t read them, they can and should look into this book.

This book didn't click with me, but I did appreciate that the author didn't gloss over some of the historical issues that modern-day readers have with the Little House books. Still, I don't know if Laura Ingalls Wilder would have appreciated this attempt at connecting her life to that of a contemporary, "dysfunctional" family. This book will likely resonate better with the middle school crowd- I'll stick with the original books (and the accompanying nonfiction texts.)

The names of the family were nice nods to the Ingalls family, their ancestors and descendants, and of course, their own dog. ( )

As a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, I was so excited to read this book. It ended up being nothing like my expectations, but it was a great contemporary middle grade story with substance and heart. It touches on issues of poverty, racism, bullying, and more in a way that feels neither idealistic nor fatalistic. Charlotte is kind of a jerk sometimes, but I still found myself rooting for her at the end. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll buy this for my little Southwest library because I'm afraid it will be hard to recommend. As other reviewers have said, there are Little House spoilers galore and it's very much tied to its Midwestern location. That said, I'll be sure to recommend it to my librarian friends with the hopes that it's just right for somebody.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley to read in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I knew I needed to read this book the moment I read the title. Laura Ingalls is a nearly lifelong friend of mine. I read her books repeatedly as a child, and recently fangirled mightily upon receiving a copy of her latest biography. So, I needed to know how it was possible for her to possibly ruin anyone’s life, but now I totally get it. Ms. Tougas has written a book with a lot of heart and nostalgia (for an Ingalls fan anyway). The characters become more complex and relatable as the story goes on, and, especially in the case of Charlotte, show tremendous growth. I would recommend this book to middle-grade readers who enjoy character-driven stories, and to Laura Ingalls Wilder fans. ( )