Module 5
Historical Fiction
Patricia Reilly Giff
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1988. LAURA INGALLS WILDER, GROWING UP IN THE LITTLE HOUSE. Ill. by Eileen McKeating. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
Giff, Patricia Reilly. 1988. LAURA INGALLS WILDER, GROWING UP IN THE LITTLE HOUSE. Ill. by Eileen McKeating. New York, NY: Puffin Books.
ISBN 0140320741
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Giff has written an insightful historical novel of pioneer life. The life included hardships, trials, and struggles just to get through one day to the next. The story begins with Laura reflecting on her past of memories of her father. His laughter and enduring nickname for her was “Little Half- Pint of Cider Half Drunk Up” came to mind, as she admires the view from the kitchen window of her farm in Rocky Ridge. She is now sixty-three years old and in the year 1930. As she reaches back in her thoughts over the past years she compares them to today. Laura is inspired to write as she remembers beginning with what her mother and father has told her about the Big Woods. She was sixty-five years old in 1932when her first book was published, “A Labor of Love.” This story was a memorial to her father. Some of her hardships growing up were that she experience hunger, cold, and death as she watched her mother and father struggle just to exist. As an adult she worked hard along with her husband, Manly. Laura burned down their house in 1889 and staring over after the fire was a reality for Laura. Her sister Mary, who was also a writer, had a stroke that robbed her of her eyesight. Laura decided to write words that would paint a picture for her readers. She planned to write eight books to tell all about the different stages of her life. It was a few days past her ninetieth birthday when she passed away at her farm in Rocky Ridge, but she lives today through her many books. The last book, The First Four Years, was published fourteen years after her death. The book was Laura’s diary that told about her early years before she started writing. Her daughter Rose had it published and added an introduction and an ending.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This factual story about Laura Ingalls contains interesting facts and paints a vivid picture using words about her life as young pioneer girl and woman. The struggle to survive is described in easy to understand sentences for the young reader. This is an east read book. Laura’s main interest in writing was to tell children how it was to live in America long ago. The setting of the Big Woods of Wisconsin is described enough to give the reader a factual picture of what the pioneers had to face. It mentions other states they lived in and passed through. The life of a pioneer is east to visualize as the story progresses.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Giff has written an insightful historical novel of pioneer life. The life included hardships, trials, and struggles just to get through one day to the next. The story begins with Laura reflecting on her past of memories of her father. His laughter and enduring nickname for her was “Little Half- Pint of Cider Half Drunk Up” came to mind, as she admires the view from the kitchen window of her farm in Rocky Ridge. She is now sixty-three years old and in the year 1930. As she reaches back in her thoughts over the past years she compares them to today. Laura is inspired to write as she remembers beginning with what her mother and father has told her about the Big Woods. She was sixty-five years old in 1932when her first book was published, “A Labor of Love.” This story was a memorial to her father. Some of her hardships growing up were that she experience hunger, cold, and death as she watched her mother and father struggle just to exist. As an adult she worked hard along with her husband, Manly. Laura burned down their house in 1889 and staring over after the fire was a reality for Laura. Her sister Mary, who was also a writer, had a stroke that robbed her of her eyesight. Laura decided to write words that would paint a picture for her readers. She planned to write eight books to tell all about the different stages of her life. It was a few days past her ninetieth birthday when she passed away at her farm in Rocky Ridge, but she lives today through her many books. The last book, The First Four Years, was published fourteen years after her death. The book was Laura’s diary that told about her early years before she started writing. Her daughter Rose had it published and added an introduction and an ending.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This factual story about Laura Ingalls contains interesting facts and paints a vivid picture using words about her life as young pioneer girl and woman. The struggle to survive is described in easy to understand sentences for the young reader. This is an east read book. Laura’s main interest in writing was to tell children how it was to live in America long ago. The setting of the Big Woods of Wisconsin is described enough to give the reader a factual picture of what the pioneers had to face. It mentions other states they lived in and passed through. The life of a pioneer is east to visualize as the story progresses.
The book is divided into six
chapters and includes a Table of Contents.
It closes with a page that tells about the book. Kids may not relate to Laura’s hard life, but
this book is written in a way that it brings to life the 1800’s as Laura
actually lived in the Big Woods. They
will feel the emotions of the pioneer’s struggles. The story will pull on the heartstrings as
the pain and suffering is felt yet fill the readers with admiration for their
endurance and will to survive.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Parents Magazine: “Highly regarded authors… appear in the roster of contributors to ‘Woman of Our Time’ ”
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Parents Magazine: “Highly regarded authors… appear in the roster of contributors to ‘Woman of Our Time’ ”
Horn Book: “Provides insight
into diverse personalities… Accessible, attractive, and balanced… A welcome
resource.”
Good Reads: “It was really telling about
her life. Patricia Reilly Giff really captured the life of her. I recommend
kids reading this book too.”
5. CONNECTIONS
5. CONNECTIONS
*This would be a good book if you wanted to your student to
explore the 1800’s through a story.
Also, it a good book to discuss how times have changed.
* I don’t really
think boys would be too interested in this book. Might be good for a girls little book
club.
*You could have you students write a little story about how
their life is and talk about how they can describe the life they live.
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