These Happy Golden Years (Little House #8)

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These Happy Golden Years (Little House #8)

Author(s)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Garth Williams

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

Genre(s)

General Fiction

Age Range

10+

Release Date

January 01, 2007

ISBN

978-0060264802

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Fifteen-year-old Laura lives apart from her family for the first time, teaching school in a claim shanty twelve miles from home. She is very homesick, but keeps at it so that she can help pay for her sister Mary's tuition at the college for the blind. During school vacations Laura has fun with her singing lessons, going on sleigh rides, and best of all, helping Almanzo Wilder drive his new buggy. Friendship soon turns to love for Laura and Almanzo in the romantic conclusion of this Little House book.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

A Classic For All Ages

December 02, 2011

Overall rating

5.0

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The first memory I have of reading These Happy Golden Years is from when I was in elementary school, probably in 3rd or 4th grade. I remember that my mom had given me the set of Little House books and I had been slowly working my way through them. One Saturday morning, I picked up These Happy Golden Years and started reading. I read through breakfast, lunch, and most of the afternoon before I finished and finally came up for air. I read the entire book in one sitting. I was captivated by this story from the very first page.

These Happy Golden years begins at Laura's first time away from home when she signs on to teach the Brewster school. As her first week drags on she wonders how she will make it through the long weekend at the Brewster's unfamiliar home. On Friday afternoon, the cheery sound of sleigh bells greet Laura at the small schoolhouse, and Almanzo Wilder is there to take Laura back to town for the weekend. From there, Laura's journey continues as she continues to teach, attend school, and spend time with Almanzo.

What I love about Laura Ingalls Wilder's books is that they are timeless. Children still read them in schools today. Her writing is simple yet so detailed that you can actually smell the prairie grass, taste the sweetness of the popcorn balls, and feel the bitterness of Midwest winters.

If it's been a while since you've read These Happy Golden Years, I encourage you to pick it up again. I think you will enjoy the simplicity of their lifestyle and subtle but solid lessons about character. I can't wait to share this book with my daughter one day.

This is a book that comes with my highest of recommendations.

Good Points

A classic that has stood the test of time

Claire Johnson, Staff Reviewer Top 50 Reviewer 238 reviews

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2 reviews

Overall rating

4.0

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nice book

April 08, 2005

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3.0

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Reader reviewed by brogan

the book was okay though it was dreary in some spots were you would think that young laura is terribly dum even for a school teacher
it was a good book for what it was worth

Guest #1 Reviewer

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Heart-warming, old-fashioned fun

April 06, 2005

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5.0

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Reader reviewed by Bookworm9

The final Little House book published during Laura Ingalls Wilder's lifetime, "These Happy Golden Years" chronicles Laura's life as a fifteen year old teacher in a remote one-room school house with 5 pupils, 3 of whom are her age or older. As Laura struggles to get through the term while boarding with an unhappy couple, her trips home on weekends with Almanzo Wilder are the only bright spots in her life. Still, Laura doesn't want Almanzo getting the wrong idea about her, and she makes it clear that while she's grateful for the rides, she doesn't want a relationship with him. But Almanzo persists, and slowly the two form a quiet bond based on horses, songs...and love. This unromanticized view of a romantic relationship is refreshing, and as always the little details of daily fronteir life sweep readers into the Ingalls family.

Guest #1 Reviewer