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On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894
On the Way Home The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield Missouri in 1894
Author: Laura Ingalls Wilder
In 1894, Laura Ingalls Wilder, her husband, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, packed their belongings into their covered wagon and set out on a journey from De Smet, South Dakota, to Mansfield, Missouri. They heard that the soil there was rich and the crops were bountiful -- it was even called "the Land of the Big Red Apple." With hopes of begi...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780064400800
ISBN-10: 0064400808
Publication Date: 10/20/1976
Pages: 112
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 65

4 stars, based on 65 ratings
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

miss-info avatar reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on + 386 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
This book may seem dry to younger readers, but I found it very interesting as an older reader. It is, literally, a diary, not a story written out for entertainment. It details such things as washing out clothes in a pail on a daily basis rather than waiting for a good wash day, crossing rivers, and driving along the first macadam road Laura had ever seen. This was the forerunner to asphalt, and kept down the dust levels in stores. The book also details the relationship of the Wilders with the Cooleys, which is important if you go on to read the Rose Wilder Lane series by Roger MacBride, and especially if you can find Rose's biography.

I recommend this book highly for older readers who are true Laura Ingalls fans. After reading it, find her biography, Laura, by Donald Zochart.
reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on + 203 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Classic books, well-loved by girls for decades. Reading level: ages 8-12
reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on + 129 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Not as interesting as some of the other Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I read them all when I was young, but didn't enjoy this one as much.
reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I love all the books in the Little House series. This one reads a little differently because it is in diary format, and Laura is writing as an adult and parent, so the perspective is different than her other books. It was interesting to see real photos of her and her family as well as the towns they traveled through.
reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on
Helpful Score: 1
good book, lots of information
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reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on + 110 more book reviews
Having loved the Little House books as a kid, this was an interesting look at traveling in the day.
stlpug avatar reviewed On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894 on + 22 more book reviews
For someone who moved from MO to Dakota and back, in modern time, the diary of her daily experiences are very interesting. I have traveled that land many times, and I can truly appreciate her observations. I recommend this book to anyone who has lived on the high plains, or who loves Laura.


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