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Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

by Laura Ingalls Wilder , Pamela Smith Hill (Editor)

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 2,525 ratings · 575 reviews

Pioneer Girl follows the Ingalls family's journey through Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, back to Minnesota, and on to Dakota Territory sixteen years of travels, unforgettable experiences, and the everyday people who became immortal through Wilder's fiction. Using additional manuscripts, letters, photographs, newspapers, and other sources, award-winning Wilde ...more

Hardcover , 400 pages

Published November 20th 2014 by South Dakota State Historical Society

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Jan 21, 2015 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction , little-house , memoir , pioneers , ebook

The Pioneer Girl annotated edition was fascinating to read. The notes were very informative and I learned so much about the development of the Little House books.

Note: The following is my original review of the manuscript only, not the annotated edition (from May 11, 2011).

I'm so glad I was able to read this. It was very interesting to compare it to the published Little House books and see how they differ. One significant difference is Pioneer Girl includes the 3-4 years in between On the Banks ...more

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Dec 16, 2014 Susan Albert rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography

The manuscript text documented in Pioneer Girl takes us deep into the real life of a pioneer family that barely clung to a hard-luck existence on the margins of nineteenth-century American settlement. It also reveals a great deal about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s competence and ambitions as a writer, and the great distance a story can travel between real life and fiction. Readers and scholars alike will be delighted to have—at long last—the text of Wilder’s unpublished autobiography. Kudos to the Sou The manuscript text documented in Pioneer Girl takes us deep into the real life of a pioneer family that barely clung to a hard-luck existence on the margins of nineteenth-century American settlement. It also reveals a great deal about Laura Ingalls Wilder’s competence and ambitions as a writer, and the great distance a story can travel between real life and fiction. Readers and scholars alike will be delighted to have—at long last—the text of Wilder’s unpublished autobiography. Kudos to the South Dakota State Historical Society for bringing us this book.

But however glad we are to finally have easy access to Wilder’s autobiography, Pamela Smith-Hill’s editorial work raises some significant questions. Central to these is what scholars call “editorial intrusion.” To put it plainly, an editor of an important literary document (and Wilder’s manuscript is certainly important) has a very special obligation, beyond his or her first duty to represent the text exactly as the author produced it. In notes and textual annotations, the editor must be impartial on controversial issues and present the text fully and neutrally, so that scholars and general readers can read without distraction or undue editorial influence. All editors will agree that neutrality is a difficult thing and that they spend a great deal of time examining their work to be sure that their opinions and interpretations (especially regarding controversial issues) don’t distract from the reading or lead the reader to particular conclusions. In other words, an editor should never get in the reader’s way.

In Pioneer Girl , the text itself is carefully and accurately presented, but it is heavily laced with Smith-Hill’s editorial intrusions. Some are seemingly factual but are inaccurate and the sources are undocumented. Others are opinions presented as fact. Many are designed to buttress the editor’s contention that Wilder is the primary author of the Little House books and to dispute suggestions that her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, was anything more than an “editor” of the books and “literary agent” for the series. All are presented in the margins of the pages, rather than as appendices in the back, where they would at least have been less obtrusive.

I suggest that you read and enjoy Pioneer Girl for what it is: a valuable presentation of Wilder’s unpublished autobiographical manuscript, the source from which she and her daughter later drew the Little House books. Use the historical notes to further your own understanding and research. Weigh each editorial comment thoughtfully. Be aware that they reflect the editor’s opinions and don’t always tell the full story behind this important manuscript and the ways in which it was subsequently developed.

That said, I loved Laura’s tale, with all its artlessly gritty details, just for itself. I will be reading and rereading it for a long time to come.
...more

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Feb 06, 2015 Sonya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2015

2/6/15: If I had read just the pure raw Laura Ingalls Wilder text of Pioneer Girl without any of the annotations, I'd probably have given it a three star rating, simply because it's interesting but is clearly a first draft of an autobiography that evolved into a beloved series of novels that impressed themselves upon me from as long ago as I can remember. (Are you listening, Harper Lee?)

But when you take into account the beauty of the physical book itself, the meticulous and almost obsessive res 2/6/15: If I had read just the pure raw Laura Ingalls Wilder text of Pioneer Girl without any of the annotations, I'd probably have given it a three star rating, simply because it's interesting but is clearly a first draft of an autobiography that evolved into a beloved series of novels that impressed themselves upon me from as long ago as I can remember. (Are you listening, Harper Lee?)

But when you take into account the beauty of the physical book itself, the meticulous and almost obsessive research that adds so much to our understanding of Wilder's progression as a writer, it is elevated to a full five-star accomplishment. [Personal aside: I have designed and composed the interiors of many, many books and can't imagine how many hours the designer(s?) and editorial staff dedicated toward making a logical and easy-to-read format. I'd love to see the Indesign files if they exist.]

I'm reeling a bit from having to separate the novels and their lovely fictions and skewed timelines apart from reality (or a cobbled together reality from myriad primary sources of information). My mother had a boyfriend once (short-lived relationship, I'm still thankful) who corrected me when I said the Little House books were autobiographical and therefore true. He said no, the books might have been based on memories, but they couldn't be attributed to truth. I was furious that he would say something so mean to me, an affront to my sixth-grade self that questioned my reading of the text and personal relationship to the novels.

Well, Art, I still think you were not the right match for my mother, but I have to hand it to you now. The books are fiction, written by Laura, coached and edited by Rose, and I still love them.
___________
1/9/2015: I just found out that the Ingalls family left Jack, beloved and almost human himself Jack, in Kansas. Yes, I'm as sad as you are.
___________

I read the introduction today, more than fifty pages. I kind of don't like Rose Wilder Lane much, after reading about how she mined Laura's story for her own novels. ...more

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Wendopolis After reading the introduction, I'm thinking that Rose Lane could have been the equivalent of a National Enquirer writer.
Jan 08, 2015 11:16AM

Kelli I had the same thoughts and feelings as you did regarding "reeling" from finding out that the beloved Little House series is fiction. I am currently r ...more
Sep 04, 2015 12:18PM

Jan 30, 2015 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: autobiography , families-relationships , minnesota-related-book , non-fiction , strong-woman , u-s-history , writing

The books of Laura Ingalls Wilder were my best friends growing up. I read & re-read them constantly most of my life. I received my boxed set when I was about 8 or 9 as a reward for helping my brother who had been laid up with a broken leg. To this day, when I open one of them, I will inhale deeply for its scent which I find only in these books.

A couple years later while vacationing in Pelican Rapids, at a small bookstore on main street, I saw the book, Laura, by Donald Zochert, and thought I ...more

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Aug 21, 2015 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2015 , biography-memoir , reading-envy-podcast

I was surprised to see that this is the first time Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiography has been published. The reason is now clear to me - she wrote her life story down once she hit her 60s, both with her daughter (private audience) and publication (public audience) in mind. After multiple attempts to get it published by her "famous writer" daughter Rose Lane Wilder, they got advice to adapt it as juvenile fiction. The story with slight modifications would go on to become the legendary The Litt I was surprised to see that this is the first time Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiography has been published. The reason is now clear to me - she wrote her life story down once she hit her 60s, both with her daughter (private audience) and publication (public audience) in mind. After multiple attempts to get it published by her "famous writer" daughter Rose Lane Wilder, they got advice to adapt it as juvenile fiction. The story with slight modifications would go on to become the legendary The Little House Collection , a book series that is inseparable from my childhood both as books and as the television series.

This is a beautiful, heavy, well-researched book. With funding from the South Dakota Historical Society and copious work by editor Pamela Smith Hill (and others), Pioneer Girl is a multifaceted text. The memoir occupies larger text on 2/3 of the page, with footnotes, maps, and photographs throughout. The footnotes provide historical context, insight into discrepancies between what Wilder has written and what might be the actual truth (she gets her age wrong most of the time), and often points out differences between Wilder's life and what she changed for the novels. I was impressed by how much of Little House is directly from her life, even tiny details like the "Half-Pint" nickname. I was moved by learning that you can see Pa's fiddle in a museum, his actual fiddle. I was stunned to realize the historical context of the Ingalls pioneer moves into territories previously belonging to native populations. At one point the Ingalls move into territory that "at some point" is going to be open for prospectors, but they have to move out because Pa jumped the gun.

While the fictional Ingalls continually move west, the historical Ingalls had a few cases of having to go back to where they'd been, often for financial reasons. The life of a pioneer was never easy! There are also "adult" details in this text that did not make it into the novels, but I was relieved to see that Laura, Mary, and Carrie were not quite as sheltered as they seem.

Recommended for anyone who grew up with Laura or is interested in the westward expansion period.

Discussed on Episode 037 of the Reading Envy podcast . ...more

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Jan 20, 2015 Jane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Talk about thorough! This book provides "everything you ever wanted to know....and then 10 times as much" about Laura Ingalls Wilder, her life and how her series of "Little House" books REALLY came into being. As someone who thinks about the process it takes to see a book through to a published reality, I found the commentary about Laura's interactions with her writer/editor daughter, Rose, quite interesting. It was insightful on many levels, and one of the scenarios I found most fascinating was ...more

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Jan 23, 2015 Sue Weiss rated it 5 of 5 stars

So, I WAS that kid who read and re-read the Little House books over and over again. I can't begin to explain my fascination with Laura, Mary, Ma & Pa, but boy, did I ever love those books. I read them aloud to my kids when they were growing up and recently re-read them as an adult. (Yup, I still love them just as much.) So, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, and it is everything I hoped it would be.

LIW wrote a manuscript called "Pioneer Girl" long before she wrote any of the chil ...more

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Aug 14, 2014 Jeannie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read my copy of the unedited version with Laura's notes and misspellings and crossed out areas in practically one sitting. I loved every single bit of it. I see Laura now more as a real person than I did before. What a life she had! I was grateful for this copy and treasured every moment reading it.

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Feb 08, 2015 Tracy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I loved the Little House series as a child, so this was a chance to get more of the story. And oh boy, do you get more. Almost too much. After the voluminous foreward, the reader is launched into a sea of footnotes. There's annotation, and then there's drowning your reader. I enjoyed the glimpse into pioneer life, the tidbits that you won't learn from the children's books or t.v. shows, but I had to start skipping whole pages of footnotes about minor editing changes to keep the momentum going. I ...more

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Jul 27, 2015 Elizabeth added it

“Wilder once wrote…that her novel By the Shores of Silver Lake ‘is not a history but a true story founded on historical fact.’…[L]iterary agent George Bye wrote Wilder… ‘I predict that this series will become an American fixture.’” (p 328)

The first library I can remember being really familiar with – I mean, the first library where I can remember exactly where specific books were shelved, and what books I borrowed again and again – was the library of Steele Elementary School in Harrisburg, Penn ...more

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Elizabeth Wolf wrote: "Another fantastic review. Several thoughts on this one: I have only one book from my grandparents that I was ever given: Just So Stories. ...more
Jul 29, 2015 05:29AM

Elizabeth Sarah wrote: "I've been looking forward to your review of Pioneer Girl. Fascinating! One can make an argument that all nonfiction is partially fiction ...more
Jul 29, 2015 05:31AM

May 17, 2015 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: little-house , 3-stars , books-i-own-read

I am probably one of the few people who wasn't that fond of this book. I am a huge LIW fan. I was looking forward to this for so long (I never had the chance to read the manuscript before like others have). So, it is kind of depressing to end up as disappointed as I was with it.

The good opinions first. Laura's story isn't "polished". That is fine. That is expected. It didn't bother me at all. And it made for a nice, easy read. A lot of the stories in Pioneer Girl are in the LH series of books. A I am probably one of the few people who wasn't that fond of this book. I am a huge LIW fan. I was looking forward to this for so long (I never had the chance to read the manuscript before like others have). So, it is kind of depressing to end up as disappointed as I was with it.

The good opinions first. Laura's story isn't "polished". That is fine. That is expected. It didn't bother me at all. And it made for a nice, easy read. A lot of the stories in Pioneer Girl are in the LH series of books. And a lot of them are not. For those that are not, they are quite interesting to read. I really liked the fact that there were these more "adult" stories that she had to tell. It makes me wonder how many more she didn't. And, after having read PG , I think I like Laura even more than I did before. I enjoyed HER part of the book.

Now the not-so-good opinions. Pamela Smith Hill. I don't care who she is or what she's done. I don't even care what kind of "authority" she supposedly is when it comes to LIW. I just do NOT care. What she did with Pioneer Girl was ridiculous. I get the purpose of her annotations, but she could have saved them all for the BACK of the book. It really wasn't something that needed to be spread out throughout the entire book. I have read notes as thorough as hers that people placed in the back. She could have done that, too. I really didn't need to be told who Charles Ingalls was. And if I did, I could have gone to the BACK of the book for that. Her annotations were absolutely aggravating. They completely messed up the "flow" of Laura's writing. More pages were taken up by her ramblings than what Laura had written. I also don't care to read her opinions in those annotations. If she wants to give facts, do it. Spare the opinions.

I also thought is was unnecessary for this book to be so huge and so long (the length was due to Hill's unending words). Was it just her way to get the publishers to charge more money so that she could put a little more in her pocket? I'm a very cynical person. I know I am. But she gave me the impression of a person who likes to hear herself speak. Therefore, she also likes to read what she writes. And the more she writes, the bigger the book. The bigger the book, the more expensive it will be. I had enough sense to get it from Amazon when it was first released. But even that was more money than I should have spent on this.

It is really a shame that she was able to take a promising publication and turn the majority of it into an overpriced waste of paper.

My rating probably would have been higher if someone else had managed to put this book together in a more logical way. ...more

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Jan 20, 2015 Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am still marveling at the fact that I was able to get this book. Really, I did nothing unusual. I ordered it on Barnes & Noble as soon as I heard it existed. The book arrived in November and I vowed not to read it until Christmas - which I did. I am a Laura Ingalls Wilder junkie. Laura Ingalls Wilder influenced my life from 5th grade until now (and I'm 51). When I read it as a girl, Laura was my lodestone. Her way of managing bullies, hard times, sibling rivalry, adulthood were all incorpo I am still marveling at the fact that I was able to get this book. Really, I did nothing unusual. I ordered it on Barnes & Noble as soon as I heard it existed. The book arrived in November and I vowed not to read it until Christmas - which I did. I am a Laura Ingalls Wilder junkie. Laura Ingalls Wilder influenced my life from 5th grade until now (and I'm 51). When I read it as a girl, Laura was my lodestone. Her way of managing bullies, hard times, sibling rivalry, adulthood were all incorporated into my world view. In many ways we were alike: both brown haired girls built like a little french pony, not tall enough (not willowy like Nellie Oleson). But she taught me to stand up for myself. She taught me that my parents were wiser than I may have believed.

Somewhere around college, I began to wonder more about the history of her books. They were fictionalized accounts of her life - I knew that - but I always wanted to know more about the factual events that surrounded her life - why did they leave Oklahoma? What was the grasshopper plague all about? And the hard winter - the most accurately historical part of her life - I, the daughter of a meteorologist, needed more information.

Thank you South Dakota Historical Society! Laura penned "Pioneer Girl" as an outline of her life and it was used by both Laura and her daughter, Rose (a person I've never really liked. I've tried, but I just have trouble liking Rose) used again and again for their fictional works. It tells the rougher story of the Ingalls' life. Yes, I always tried to model my interactions with people on the way Laura did in the books. The real Laura was tougher. Her life was tougher. But if her real story, like the fictional one, tells us anything it is that we need to be strong and meet life's challenges head on. Nothing will break you. Thank you Laura. Thank you South Dakota Historical Society and thank you Barnes & Noble. In a few months I will no longer be able to silence people by saying, "stop now, or I swear I'll tell you what really happened to Jack." ...more

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Apr 09, 2015 Colette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2014 , laura-ingalls-wilder

I have a deep, decades-long love for the entire Little House series and Laura's Missouri Ruralist articles. I have been waiting for this book for a very long time.

This is the jewel in the crown of her work. It's Laura's voice, plain as day, telling her stories the way she intended to tell it. It becomes clear after reading her original manuscript how she (and her daughter Rose) developed her family into characters. Ma and Pa in particular come off as far more human than their fictionalized char I have a deep, decades-long love for the entire Little House series and Laura's Missouri Ruralist articles. I have been waiting for this book for a very long time.

This is the jewel in the crown of her work. It's Laura's voice, plain as day, telling her stories the way she intended to tell it. It becomes clear after reading her original manuscript how she (and her daughter Rose) developed her family into characters. Ma and Pa in particular come off as far more human than their fictionalized characters in the series. They are people far more affected by their emotions than the series would have you believe.

What makes the annotated version particularly exciting are the details Pamela Smith Hill and other researchers have managed to dredge up in their scouring of newspaper archives and other historical documents. Almost every page of the Pioneer Girl text is accompanied by 2-3 pages of background information alluding to details that Laura either left out or didn't know about at the time, and photographs and biographies of the people Laura interacted with. (Cap Garland? He's a stone-cold fox.)

The books in the series are literature. This is nowhere near as polished or lyrical as any of those nine books are. This is a mother sitting down to write her daughter her life story before it was forgotten entirely. Had Laura not had a daughter who grew up to become a famous writer and editor herself there's a good chance these stories and lives of the people who lived them would have been lost forever. They are a product of their time and they reflect a period of American history that might otherwise have been neglected. Pioneer Girl is Laura's first try at making it come to life, and it's a real gem. ...more

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Mar 26, 2015 Stephany rated it 3 of 5 stars

It pains me to give this book three stars. There is so much research and so much care apparent in it. The format of the book is large and gorgeous. The layout and printing are fantastic: it's easy to read and navigate through. The attention to accuracy, detail, substantiation and transparency are admirable and welcome in our click-bait, spread-any-old-quality-of-information around society. The rarity of content, both written and photographic, is a prize.

But I think this book was intended for one ...more

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Mar 24, 2015 Crizzle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction , biographies

This publication "presents new insights into Wilder's past, but it also helps to document her growth as an important American artist who grew from farm journalist to novelist to literary legend". This was a super slow but fascinating read, due to the intro and hundreds of footnotes. It was SO well-researched that I wonder what Laura would think! I would like to read it sometime without the interruption of footnotes, but I'm not a person who is easily bothered by them. I appreciated Hill's points ...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Carin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: biography , laura-ingalls-wilder , women-authors

I am a HUGE Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. I even visited both THE Little House near Independence, KS, and Wilder's home in Mansfield, MO. And it's bizarre to learn here that Laura Ingalls Wilder herself never went back to The Little House, even though she and Rose tried when she was researching and writing The Little House on the Prairie. But Laura remembered it was in Indian Territory and thought it was further from Independence, KS than it is, and so they were looking around Oklahoma (understandab I am a HUGE Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. I even visited both THE Little House near Independence, KS, and Wilder's home in Mansfield, MO. And it's bizarre to learn here that Laura Ingalls Wilder herself never went back to The Little House, even though she and Rose tried when she was researching and writing The Little House on the Prairie. But Laura remembered it was in Indian Territory and thought it was further from Independence, KS than it is, and so they were looking around Oklahoma (understandable, after all she was only four when they moved away).

Wilder wrote this book first, before any of the Little House books. It is nonfiction (unlike the LH books) and it includes things like her little brother that died, their sojourn in Iowa, the lazy couple with their baby who were staying with the Ingalls through the Long Winter, and other details. As a first draft it did have some bits wrong that Wilder later corrected either through research or by improving memories as she spent such lengths of time focused on her past. This manuscript did provide source material for the LH books (and for a couple of Rose Wilder Lane's novels, one with the knowledge of her mother and one without.) It is so fascinating to know who was real, who was not exactly (Nellie Oleson was a compilation of three nasty girls Laura met while growing up), and what happened to t hem later. I had heard a couple of years ago that Cap Garland had been killed in his early twenties in a machinery accident, but I never even knew much of what happened to Laura's sisters after the books. Pamela Smith Hill has done extensive research, combing through census records and old newspapers, to find notices of births, death, stores, roller skating rinks, and the everyday small town life of pioneers in the midwest.

I read every word of this book, all the footnotes (well, why read an annotated book if you're not going to do that) and the appendixes. But it can be daunting and dense, so I read it a bit at a time, rarely more than 10 pages a day. If parceled out properly like this, it is a delight for any Laura Ingalls Wilder megafan. In fact, it is a must read. I will treasure this book forever. ...more

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Dec 04, 2014 Story Circle Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

More than eighty years after it was written, finally fans of the Little House books have an opportunity to read Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiography, on which the popular series was based. In a heavily annotated edition, with maps and appendices that enrich the text, here are her memories of her family and their pioneer life from 1869 to 1888 in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakota Territory.

Essentially Laura's factual personal history, Pioneer Girl was intended for adult readers. She had writte More than eighty years after it was written, finally fans of the Little House books have an opportunity to read Laura Ingalls Wilder's autobiography, on which the popular series was based. In a heavily annotated edition, with maps and appendices that enrich the text, here are her memories of her family and their pioneer life from 1869 to 1888 in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakota Territory.

Essentially Laura's factual personal history, Pioneer Girl was intended for adult readers. She had written for the St. Louis Star Farmer and the Missouri Ruralist , but that writing had generally been about farming and the rural lifestyle. After her parents and her older sister passed away, Laura began, at age 63, to devote herself to writing the family's experiences in the raw American West. This she did in pencil in six tablets that are transcribed and lightly edited for this edition.

Pioneer Girl tells the story of Laura's growing up years, from age two to eighteen. Taken by itself, without the annotations, it reads as a rough first draft, with all the immediacy that goes with getting memories down on paper quickly. It is fascinating to hear the Little House anecdotes told from an adult perspective, and to confirm the realities of pioneer life. Laura's voice feels genuine, and the asides to her daughter make it clear that one of her goals was to preserve familiar stories that were part of the family's legacy. The other object was to get the book published, in part because Laura had writing ambitions, but probably more because the Wilders desperately needed money, both parents and daughter having lost their savings in the economic collapse at the beginning of the Great Depression.

Where this book becomes complex is in the annotations. There are a great many notes, presented in a sidebar fashion, with much South Dakota history and details about the lives of most of the characters mentioned. That information makes this a longer and somewhat cumbersome read, though history buffs won't mind.

The more challenging aspect is that a large proportion of the notes are devoted to comparing this manuscript to the juvenile version presented in the Little House series. There seem to be two intentions here. Firstly, this is a definitive look at the original manuscript and how it was transformed from factual autobiography to juvenile fiction, which will be of interest to scholars and writers, but is perhaps less meaningful to general readers. Secondly, there is evident effort to insist on Laura's authorship and diminish the role that her daughter, Rose Lane, played in producing the Little House books.

Lane had always been her mother's editor and typist, fitting that work around her own much-admired writing. She was an important author of her time, with major connections in the publishing world. It is safe to say that the Little House series would never have been produced without her help—in the editing, in finding an agent, and in facilitating publication. Further, there are strong arguments suggesting that Lane had a larger hand in the writing than this edition of Pioneer Girl acknowledges. To take a deeper look at this, Susan Wittig Albert has published A Wilder Rose , an historical novel based on Lane's diaries and letters and other documentary evidence, which convincingly demonstrates her participation as her mother's silent partner in authoring the Little House books.

Whether or not a reader is concerned with this controversy, what Pioneer Girl provides is Laura's unedited and original voice. The writing is not polished or professional, but she is telling her life experience as she recalls it. As always, a true story makes for compelling and engaging reading, and for those of us who grew up with Laura Ingalls as our heroine, Pioneer Girl adds the spice of adult reality to the childhood saga.

by Susan Schoch
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women ...more

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Nov 21, 2014 Morris rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2014-favorites , 2014-reviews , first-reads , non-fiction , recommend

As with many readers, much of my early reading involved the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Of course, that world was also brought into our homes through the television series of the same name. It is not a stretch to say it has been a beloved staple of childhood for generations, including my own. Therefore, I was thrilled to get an advanced copy “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Biography” through the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.

Here comes As with many readers, much of my early reading involved the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Of course, that world was also brought into our homes through the television series of the same name. It is not a stretch to say it has been a beloved staple of childhood for generations, including my own. Therefore, I was thrilled to get an advanced copy “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Biography” through the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an honest review.

Here comes the honesty: this edition of “Pioneer Girl” is an absolute must have for all Laura Ingalls Wilder fans, fans of either form of Little House on the Prairie, as well as anyone interested in the history of the great plains. It is everything I hoped it would be and more.

The annotations are thorough and include little known facts about Mrs. Wilder herself, but also about the daily living of her time. Photos give a wonderful glimpse into the real people behind the stories and include such additions of schoolyard play in small towns. Her life comes alive in the minds of readers thanks to the photography and annotations.

Perhaps the biggest draw of “Pioneer Girl” is it was written as more of a diary of memories, skipping back and forth as her mind saw fit, and it was not changed as the Little House on the Prairie books were to add that little zing of which publishers are so fond. This is her story, stark, detailed, and wonderful, as she meant it to be.

I give “Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography” a hundred stars, but the rating system will only allow me to put five of them here. And don’t forget, this would make an excellent gift for the fans of Little House in the prairie in your life! ...more

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May 30, 2015 Girl with her Head in a Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2015-challenge , history , memoir , beautiful

By far and away, this was the book that I was most excited to receive for Christmas - although due to a very silly date of publication, it didn't actually turn up until a few weeks later. Since I first discovered that the Little House series was based upon an adult memoir, I looked high and low for the original. Surely in the age of the internet, it would be available somewhere? But no. It was not until now, almost sixty years after Wilder's death, that it has finally found a readership but it w ...more

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Mar 01, 2015 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

So I start this book and realize that there's almost 70 pages worth of introduction. I roll my eyes and dive right in. I'm getting impatient by the end of it, but this line gives me hope, "In the interest of keeping the annotative material from overwhelming Wilder's text, the documentation style used within the notes has been simplified" (lxvi). So I thought, "Cool, there's so much introduction because they're mostly leaving the text alone. Awesome." And the first double page spread was really w ...more

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Dec 21, 2014 Claire Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well, that was a slow but exceedingly well-researched read! I'm glad to have read the whole series recently enough to remember it well: if you haven't, I recommend reading the series first. After so many articles about Rose and the fictional elements of the Little House books, it was really a pleasure to read the original text. More importantly, it made me appreciate how much more successful the fictionalized versions are, literarily. One appendix is images of the full typewritten text of the "j ...more

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Yael I just started reading Little House in the BIg Woods to my 5.5 y/o. I read it so many times as a kid (and more recently when me older son was in K) th ...more
Aug 29, 2015 05:38PM

Claire Scott Ha!! I totally recommend rereading them all as an adult -- it was seriously eye-opening for me! Everything I remembered -- the wheat? The "whupping" o ...more
Sep 01, 2015 12:02PM

Jun 30, 2015 Schuyler rated it 5 of 5 stars

First things first, the introduction, though long, was fascinating background for Laura's publication journey. Non-writers may find it illuminating just how much work goes into writing and publishing a book, and it's a wonderful foundation for the rest of the Pioneer Girl experience. Whether you read it before the book or after, make sure you do read it.

Second, Pamela Smith Hill's annotations made the book a much richer, deeper reading experience. Laura's writing is terse and occasionally out of First things first, the introduction, though long, was fascinating background for Laura's publication journey. Non-writers may find it illuminating just how much work goes into writing and publishing a book, and it's a wonderful foundation for the rest of the Pioneer Girl experience. Whether you read it before the book or after, make sure you do read it.

Second, Pamela Smith Hill's annotations made the book a much richer, deeper reading experience. Laura's writing is terse and occasionally out of chronological order, reproduced with original spelling and grammar errors. Hill's notes explain continuity errors, give brief biographies of each person Laura mentions, and explain fascinating tidbits about life at that time. You won't want to miss them.

I loved hearing about the churches Pa and Ma were part of. The United Congregational Church in Walnut Grove, and the church they helped the travelling preacher start in De Smet. I don't remember if the children's novels covered that, but I didn't know how religiously involved they were, and I enjoyed that aspect.

I also never realized how responsible Laura was. The books give the impression of a wild and free-spirited girl. She was free-spirited, but she was far from wild. From a young age she was helping neighbors babysit their children, helping young mothers with housework as they tried to live on the prairie, and bringing the cows in every night. When Mary went blind, most of the heavy work fell on Laura, and during the long winter she worked just as hard as Ma and Pa to keep them all alive and warm. In spite of that, she also had a mischievous streak; one time she turned the clock back an hour so she could get extra time with Almanzo.

I also loved Hill's comparisons to the Little House series, tracing how much Wilder had grown as a writer. She added fictional elements for stronger plots and character arcs. She learned how to describe things in greater detail, and play on the emotions of her readers. I still remember how unfair it felt for Ma to make Laura give her doll to a neighbor girl, and Laura's fight with Mary over whether blonde curls were prettier than brown. Wilder knew how to faithfully portray the heart of a child, and that drew countless children's hearts to her stories.

This book destroys some of the well-known plots. Jack, the beloved dog, only technically existed in Little House on the Prairie. In The Long Winter, the Ingalls family lived with a young couple and their new baby, who wouldn't contribute anything to the household.

There are some adult stories about illegitimate babies, violence, domestic abuse, and even one disturbing account of possible death through sexual factors. While it's appropriately handled for adults, you may wish to read it aloud to young children to avoid those parts.

As an extra treat to the over-all experience, lots of pictures are included of the various towns, schoolhouses, and people. Likenesses of Cap Garland, the Wilder family, and other iconic figures of the Little House books grace the pages. From the story itself, to the maps and pictures, to the fascinating annotations, Pioneer Girl is a can't-miss look into the hard work and pioneer spirit of the age. It's a spirit of industry we would do well to emulate.

You can find more about Pioneer Girl and various media releases at www.pioneergirlproject.org . ...more

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May 05, 2015 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was so pleased, in my capacity as a reviewer for one of the contractors to the LOC, to listen to the audio version that is being produced for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Hearing the entire work read aloud forced me to examine every detail, and the copious, meticulously researched footnotes and other annotations opened windows into the life and times of this pioneer in children's fiction. It was fascinating to read about events that were later woven in ...more

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Nov 22, 2014 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-read

I got this book as part of First Reads.

Let me start this by saying, I'm a huge Laura Ingalls Wilder fan. I was raised on her Little House books, acted them out with my sisters;bought them for my daughters, read other books about her. I'm so happy I was able to get this book and after reading it...I'm even happier.

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography is a book with a million footnotes. The tale Pioneer Girl is the basis for the Little House books. It's simple, recognizable with differences ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 Renata rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: grownup , nonfiction , memoir

I would probably only recommend this to a devoted Little House fan, which I am. *puts on bonnet* The Little House books were the first books I read on my own, and I read and re-read them so many times. I've been to DeSmet twice.

Here seems like a place to note: I acknowledge that there are problematic elements in these books! But I still have extremely fond memories of these books. And reading this annotated edition gave some interesting insight about how LIW (and her daughter Rose Lane) conscio I would probably only recommend this to a devoted Little House fan, which I am. *puts on bonnet* The Little House books were the first books I read on my own, and I read and re-read them so many times. I've been to DeSmet twice.

Here seems like a place to note: I acknowledge that there are problematic elements in these books! But I still have extremely fond memories of these books. And reading this annotated edition gave some interesting insight about how LIW (and her daughter Rose Lane) consciously shaped the narrative of her fictionalized life. Pioneer Girl was meant to be a nonfiction autobiography, but Laura & Rose worked together to fictionalize it into a series of novels based on her experience. So there are things like, in the autobiography LIW notes that she was afraid of the black doctor who came to treat their malaria because she'd never seen a black person before, but in the novel it's changed to "She would have been afraid of him if she had not liked him so much."

There's also a lot of interesting insight on the main problematic element of the books, the portrayal of American Indians. For instance, there has been criticism of her naming the Osage chief Soldad du Chene, a French name. But historical records show there WAS a Soldad de Chene who was an Osage chief in the early 1800s. BUT he wasn't around during the time she was writing about, the 1870s. There are records in LIW's files of her writing around to various historical societies at the time she was drafting Pioneer Girl to try to track down the name of the Osage chief at the time she was writing, and that's what she ended up with.

There's also a lot of fascinating information about the stuff LIW chose to leave out of her novels--some of it is pseudo-scandalous stuff like nearby saloons and allusions premarital sex--and some of it is stuff about how pioneer life is actually even HARDER than it looked in the novels, like a lot of bouts of serious illness were left out, and also a backtrack trip to Kansas, and also the fact that they had 2 annoying moochers crashing with them during the entire Long Winter who took the best spots in front of the fire and ate more than their share of food!

Also a lot of interesting back and forth between real Laura and Rose as they figured out how to shape it into a novel, and what deliberate character choices they made in fictionalizing the family. (Laura made Ma into kind of less of a badass than real-life Ma was, giving some of her best moments to Pa!)

There are also a lot of photos and documents included here, as well as just a lot of attempts to mine census data and other available records for information about minor characters. It's a WEALTH of information for history buff Little House enthusiasts!! Possibly WAY TOO MUCH information for non-enthusiasts!

Also some people asked me about if this was appropriate for children--I would say it's not INAPPROPRIATE--even the "racy" content is pretty mild by today's standards--but it would probably be very boring for all but the most studious of children! Excerpts might be really interesting to use in a history or creative writing class though. ...more

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Feb 15, 2015 Lori Paximadis rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was absolutely fascinating. I grew up with the Little House books and still occasionally pick them up for a reread (and I'm in my late 40s). I'm also a book editor and very interested in the late 1800s to early 1900s as a historical period, so this appeals to me on a number of levels.

This is a reproduction of the original manuscript that eventually led to the Little House series. There's a lengthy introduction talking about the genesis of the manuscript and the events leading to its eventu ...more

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Jun 14, 2015 Rebekah rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been dying to read this for years and was so happy when it was finally published. The annotations really make the book. It offers so much insight into the real life of Laura Ingalls Wilder as well as an incredible look at her creative process. Basically, Pioneer Girl was functionally LIW's version of Anne Lamott's "shitty first drafts" of the Little House books. Such a fun read!

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Mar 09, 2015 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-about-books , female-driven-narrative , history , non-fiction

The Annotated Biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder is exactly what I would have loved to have as a companion to my childhood set of Little House books. The detailed research and notes are extraordinary windows into the true life of Laura. I pored over every detail, photo, and nugget of description, just as I did with the fictional books I treasured as a little girl.

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Feb 27, 2015 Tracey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2015-new , bios-autobios-memoirs , nonfiction

Very interesting, I loved seeing the differences in Laura's real life and the way she fictionalized it for the Little House books. My only problem was that it's a doorstop! Too heavy to use as my bus book, and it was hard to read in bed. (Whine, whine, whine.)

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Feb 04, 2015 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-history , children-s-lit-history

People interested in American history might enjoy it, even if you were not one of those kids who read her Little House books until they fell apart. The annotations provide the historical context for the beloved novels, placing them squarely in the context of America's westward expansion. The editor directly addresses those issues that made many of us Little House nuts uncomfortable as we got older. The Ingalls' Little House on the Prairie in Kansas is identified as an illegal settlement on land ...more

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About Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ingalls wrote a series of historical fiction books for children based on her childhood growing up in a pioneer family. She also wrote a regular newspaper column and kept a diary as an adult moving from South Dakota to Missouri, the latter of which has been published as a book.

More about Laura Ingalls Wilder...

Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House on the Prairie (Little House, #2)

Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, #1)

The Little House Collection (Little House, #1-9)

On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House, #4)

Little Town on the Prairie (Little House, #7)

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