These Happy Golden Years

Written by Laura Ingalls Wilder · Illustrated by Garth Williams

Book #8 in the Little House on the Prairie series

Laura faces homesickness and challenges while teaching to support her sister's education.

6.3/7 Bookroo expert·4.2/5 Goodreads · 80,641 ratings

304 pages· 63,345 words· Est. 9 hour read

$9.99Save 4%

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Bookroo's summary

Fifteen-year-old Laura braves teaching in a remote schoolhouse, far from her family, to fund her sister Mary's education. As she navigates homesickness and daunting students, her weekends bring joy with sleigh rides and buggy adventures with Almanzo Wilder. Amidst the challenges, a budding romance offers hope and warmth. Will Laura's determination and newfound love guide her through this pivotal time?

From the publisher

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.

Awards

Newbery Honor (1944)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 304
Words: 63,345
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 850L

Themes & topics

Books about family life Books about family Books about frontier and pioneer life Books about rural living Books about dating and courtship

What readers & critics say

Reviews

6.3

out of 7

6.3

“I started reading the Little House books in kindergarten, and loved the glimpse into a different time in Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie. By the time I made it to this book, I was in fourth or fifth grade and loved reading about Laura teaching school, living away from home, and falling in love. As I got older, this was my favorite book in the series, and I still love the way it illustrates this particular time of life as wonderful and hard and bittersweet and joyful. It might not appeal to younger elementary school readers, but the content is completely G-rated and accessible for middle elementary school through middle school readers.”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one