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Little House: The Charlotte Years #2
On Tide Mill Lane
Meet Charlotte Tucker, the little girl who would grow up to be Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandmother. Winter is coming, and Charlotte's days are filled with cornhusking and candle dipping and helping Mama mind baby Mary. But the war is still going on, and Charlotte worries about Will, Papa's striker, who is marching north with the militia. Then one day Charlotte hears bells ringing from Boston, and that night every building in the town common is lit up with candles. Could it be that peace has finally come? On Tide Mill Lane is the second book in The Charlotte Years, an ongoing series about another spirited girl from America's most beloved pioneer family.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2001
8 people are currently reading
1380 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Wiley
29 books377 followersMelissa Wiley is the author of The Nerviest Girl in the World, The Prairie Thief, Fox and Crow Are Not Friends, the Inch and Roly series, the Martha and Charlotte Little House books, and other books for kids. Melissa has been blogging about her family’s reading life and tidal homeschooling adventures at Here in the Bonny Glen since 2005. She is @melissawiley on Twitter and @melissawileybooks on Instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 10, 2025
Not my favorite of the series, but it does continue to be interesting to read the perspective of a child having new experiences. Charlotte’s perspective on the war, starting school, having a friend move away, and experiencing a hurricane were both touching and relatable despite the story taking place in a different time period.
July 16, 2017
The story was cute but I liked the first in the series better because I learned more about the time from it. This one was a classic little house book.
August 4, 2017
"It was strange and exciting to be out after candle time, with the veil of night fallen over the world and the stars piercing the air one by one."
This is in the beginning of the book and it really put me in the frame of mind of no electricity, that the lights at night were candles, lanterns, and bonfires. I kept thinking of the cornhusking as being lit by twinkling lights, but instead it was a fire hazard. As I read of the cornhusking, I could smell the husks, a smell that I love in the autumn, a scent that invigorates me even in the cold.
It's funny how the women were expected to take action for certain kernels: red meant a kiss and withered/smut meant a smack. The "naughty and teasing" adults filled me with joy to read.
As an adult, I see the blatant displays of sexism more and I like when both Lew and Martha divert it. It's very real.
There is a great lesson from mama Martha - disliking someone, even to where you want them out of your life, does not mean you hate them.
There is another lesson that even those not good at academics have a lot of skills and callings beyond the classroom.
I find it odd that not only was there no Christmas heard of in Scotland, but that it wasn't even popular/heard of much in New England!
The mechanic's parade is a beautiful idea. I don't like parades, but that is one I would enjoy. It's SO much better than random figures and people riding in fire trucks.
I find it nauseating and terrifying how infections were handled, and how amputations occurred. Yet I'm glad that the methods were efficient (for their time) and that infections weren't necessarily a death sentence.
The baby black sheep sound adorable!
I can relate to the hurricane chapter a lot more than Laura's tornado chapters.
The writing is a bit more mature than the first book even though Charlotte is only between 5 1/2 and 6 years here. Still, there were times when I thought of the "Big Sister, Little Sister" books by Ann M. Martin, especially when Charlotte is with Susan.
This is in the beginning of the book and it really put me in the frame of mind of no electricity, that the lights at night were candles, lanterns, and bonfires. I kept thinking of the cornhusking as being lit by twinkling lights, but instead it was a fire hazard. As I read of the cornhusking, I could smell the husks, a smell that I love in the autumn, a scent that invigorates me even in the cold.
It's funny how the women were expected to take action for certain kernels: red meant a kiss and withered/smut meant a smack. The "naughty and teasing" adults filled me with joy to read.
As an adult, I see the blatant displays of sexism more and I like when both Lew and Martha divert it. It's very real.
There is a great lesson from mama Martha - disliking someone, even to where you want them out of your life, does not mean you hate them.
There is another lesson that even those not good at academics have a lot of skills and callings beyond the classroom.
I find it odd that not only was there no Christmas heard of in Scotland, but that it wasn't even popular/heard of much in New England!
The mechanic's parade is a beautiful idea. I don't like parades, but that is one I would enjoy. It's SO much better than random figures and people riding in fire trucks.
I find it nauseating and terrifying how infections were handled, and how amputations occurred. Yet I'm glad that the methods were efficient (for their time) and that infections weren't necessarily a death sentence.
The baby black sheep sound adorable!
I can relate to the hurricane chapter a lot more than Laura's tornado chapters.
The writing is a bit more mature than the first book even though Charlotte is only between 5 1/2 and 6 years here. Still, there were times when I thought of the "Big Sister, Little Sister" books by Ann M. Martin, especially when Charlotte is with Susan.
April 15, 2023
I found this to be quite a serious entry in the Charlotte books (so far). There’s a lot of very “adult” stuff that she has to deal with, and is going on around her, despite still being fairly young. I’m still not quite confident WHAT age she exactly is meant to be in this book. She was 5 in the first book and I thought she should be at least 6-7 by now, but still seems perpetually young.
The serious stuff is actually quite dark for a book that I feel is aimed at the younger generation. We have the 1812 war finally ending with Britain and the character of Will struggling with a gun shot to the leg during the war. We have Charlotte’s best friend leaving. We have a hurricane and her older brother, Lewis, suffering quite seriously with blood poisoning to his finger.
We do find out a little more about Martha’s time in Scotland, but it’s mostly her wild child time, and still no further insight into hers and Lewis’s marriage/emigration to America.
I agree with one of the other reviewers, that each chapter appears almost unrelated sometimes to the previous chapter, but having read these out of order (Caroline, Rose, Martha, Charlotte … obviously Laura first), it’s something I have become accustomed to. It’s very anecdotal in a way, and I’m sure if I went back and re-read the Laura books, I would find the same.
This one actually kept me reading, which makes a change, as I have regularly found the second books in these series to be the slowest. I know that once again, this series is only 4 books, so I am prepared to be disappointed by the ending, as I was with the Martha series.
The serious stuff is actually quite dark for a book that I feel is aimed at the younger generation. We have the 1812 war finally ending with Britain and the character of Will struggling with a gun shot to the leg during the war. We have Charlotte’s best friend leaving. We have a hurricane and her older brother, Lewis, suffering quite seriously with blood poisoning to his finger.
We do find out a little more about Martha’s time in Scotland, but it’s mostly her wild child time, and still no further insight into hers and Lewis’s marriage/emigration to America.
I agree with one of the other reviewers, that each chapter appears almost unrelated sometimes to the previous chapter, but having read these out of order (Caroline, Rose, Martha, Charlotte … obviously Laura first), it’s something I have become accustomed to. It’s very anecdotal in a way, and I’m sure if I went back and re-read the Laura books, I would find the same.
This one actually kept me reading, which makes a change, as I have regularly found the second books in these series to be the slowest. I know that once again, this series is only 4 books, so I am prepared to be disappointed by the ending, as I was with the Martha series.
March 16, 2019
On Tide Mill Lane is a dreadfully boring installment of the Charlotte Years. Though it details the end of the War of 1812, there is little to keep it interesting, family and friend drama aside. The Charlotte Years have always seemed the weakest to me, but this book highlights that weakness. There’s virtually no plot—each chapter is only tangentially related to others, if at all—and Charlotte has no growth at all. She’s also not a very convincing five-year-old. In fact, it’s Charlotte’s mother, Martha, who has most of the focus, as if Wiley is still trying to hold on to those Martha Years.
The dialogue and descriptions are also really cheesy. A child likely won’t find them that way, but as an adult, I could barely keep from rolling my eyes. In addition, everything is spelled out very nice and neatly, so that nothing can possibly escape the reader’s attention and understanding. I love children’s books, but this one is too non-subtle for me.
I can barely remember what happens in the next Charlotte book, but I remember the last one being quite interesting, and it at least has Charlotte stop being perpetually five. I will, however, be glad to be done with these last two books so that I can move on to the Caroline Years, one of my favorites.
The dialogue and descriptions are also really cheesy. A child likely won’t find them that way, but as an adult, I could barely keep from rolling my eyes. In addition, everything is spelled out very nice and neatly, so that nothing can possibly escape the reader’s attention and understanding. I love children’s books, but this one is too non-subtle for me.
I can barely remember what happens in the next Charlotte book, but I remember the last one being quite interesting, and it at least has Charlotte stop being perpetually five. I will, however, be glad to be done with these last two books so that I can move on to the Caroline Years, one of my favorites.
January 2, 2021
This is the second book in the Little House "Charlotte Years". It is written for an older child so if you are an adult reading you may think it's 'below' you. But I found it a nice book to read before bed to help calm my mind of my busy day. It's a pleasant read Ms Wiley wrote this book just like she did the "Martha years" incorporating in the history of what was going on during that time in Charlotte's life.
This book holds a lot of history pertaining to that time frame in real life. That is why I enjoyed the story so well, and if I had a chance during the day to read I probably wouldn't have put the book down. I read it every night until I could no longer keep my eyes open and (like I did years ago when I was young) I couldn't wait until I could pick it back up again! this book could be read out of order but it does help to have read the first one to understand the relationships and emotions of all characters. I very good read.
This book holds a lot of history pertaining to that time frame in real life. That is why I enjoyed the story so well, and if I had a chance during the day to read I probably wouldn't have put the book down. I read it every night until I could no longer keep my eyes open and (like I did years ago when I was young) I couldn't wait until I could pick it back up again! this book could be read out of order but it does help to have read the first one to understand the relationships and emotions of all characters. I very good read.
July 16, 2025
This is the second installment in the Charlotte Years about Laura's grandmother. (I would highly encourage you read all of the extended Little House series starting with Martha, her great-grandmother, Charlotte, Caroline or Ma, the original series about Laura, and finally her daughter Rose.) This has been my favorite Charlotte book so far, and I think this book has all the qualities that remind us of Little House. Melissa Wiley, even though she is no Laura Ingalls Wilder, is still a lovely narrator of Charlotte's stories.
This book touched on me even more than the first one because Charlotte's oldest brother gets sick, and (I won't spoil the details) it turns serious. "'I'm calling in the doctor,' she said. Her voice was hard and angry. Then Charlotte began to feel afraid, because Mama got angry at the things that frightened her" (Wiley 115). I found myself tearing up and holding my own breath along with Charlotte and her family as they see if Lewis will improve. Wiley is respectful to her young readers and handles this serious event with just the right tone. Family is the core of Little House, and Wiley captures that theme perfectly. I did not want to put this book down and found it suspenseful and heartwarming.
Once again we get to see the sweet relationship between Martha and Lewis, and I appreciate this even more since we never got to hear Martha's story finished. (Wiley was unable to finish the Martha and Charlotte series to their entirety after a disagreement with her publishers about essentially "dumbing down" the books for young readers. Wiley, rightfully so, refused to belittle her readers and would not concede to them.)
"That set the other men laughing, and Mama smiled. 'Well, to start out with. I wouldn't want to frighten the man.'
'Aye,' said Papa, 'my wife could frighten the president.'
'Och, go on with ye,' Mama scolded. There was laughter in her voice now" (Wiley 27).
It just doesn't get better than this! I did not want this book to end, and I appreciate Melissa Wiley developing all of these characters so that even though we do not, in reality, know much about Laura's grandmother, you can still read this book and come away feeling as if you know her personality and character.
This book touched on me even more than the first one because Charlotte's oldest brother gets sick, and (I won't spoil the details) it turns serious. "'I'm calling in the doctor,' she said. Her voice was hard and angry. Then Charlotte began to feel afraid, because Mama got angry at the things that frightened her" (Wiley 115). I found myself tearing up and holding my own breath along with Charlotte and her family as they see if Lewis will improve. Wiley is respectful to her young readers and handles this serious event with just the right tone. Family is the core of Little House, and Wiley captures that theme perfectly. I did not want to put this book down and found it suspenseful and heartwarming.
Once again we get to see the sweet relationship between Martha and Lewis, and I appreciate this even more since we never got to hear Martha's story finished. (Wiley was unable to finish the Martha and Charlotte series to their entirety after a disagreement with her publishers about essentially "dumbing down" the books for young readers. Wiley, rightfully so, refused to belittle her readers and would not concede to them.)
"That set the other men laughing, and Mama smiled. 'Well, to start out with. I wouldn't want to frighten the man.'
'Aye,' said Papa, 'my wife could frighten the president.'
'Och, go on with ye,' Mama scolded. There was laughter in her voice now" (Wiley 27).
It just doesn't get better than this! I did not want this book to end, and I appreciate Melissa Wiley developing all of these characters so that even though we do not, in reality, know much about Laura's grandmother, you can still read this book and come away feeling as if you know her personality and character.
January 30, 2019
This is the second book in Wiley's series about Charlotte, Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandmother. Charlotte is in school now, and between the ages of 6 and 7, I would guess. This book takes place at the close of the War of 1812. The family has been affected by the war because Charlotte's father, a metal worker, is working longer hours because his striker is in the war. His striker, Will, was like a member of the family, so the whole family misses him and wishes that the war would end and he would come home safely. Charlotte goes to school and makes a new friend whose family has been displaced due to the war. When the war ends, there are lots of changes, her friend has to go back home, her brother gets injured during a celebration, the soldiers are coming back. They all hope and pray that Will makes it home. This is a wonderful story, with great lessons in it. I love the lesson about being careful about what you say about others. Charlotte's mother tells the story of her own quick tongue when she was a child. Her stories come to life with her vivid descriptions of her life as a child in Scotland. Due to the war and injuries, I would recommend this book to older elementary students, about age 8 or 9 and up. Children of all ages who love Laura Ingalls Wilder books or historical fiction will love this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2023
While Charlotte may be my least favorite branch on the Little House family tree, her family is still fun to read. I vastly prefer her mother Martha to Lottie. Her Scottish dialogue is a treat to read and I loved her series in the Highlands. I'm still on the hunt to complete Lottie and Martha's series if I can find it. They're out of publication and pretty expensive. I found the last book in Caroline's quartet for $12 off Amazon and I bought it before it could disappear. After that, I'm on the hunt for the novels I'm missing. On Tide Mill Lane was better than the first installment with plenty of action filling the pages: corn shucking, hurricanes, and a dismembered pinky. It was crazy to read Lottie's brother lose a wee finger over a splinter that caused an infection in his blood. It must have been pretty gnarly to live outside Boston during the Revolutionary War and see your friends leave to fight for their country. I'm eager to find more Melissa Wiley books mostly because I adore reading Scottish dialogue. Just like Shakespearean English, I've learned to decode the puzzling dialect of the Scots! I know I've read too many Highlander romances but its too late to reverse the long lasting effects.
January 13, 2021
I think out of all the Little House series I have read before, I find the Charlotte Years to be a tad more dry. Perhaps it is because I am a Canadian, submerged in a time filled with American history. Perhaps it is the characters - I find I do not connect with Charlotte’s family as well as I do with Caroline’s family and Laura’s family. Nonetheless, I did enjoy this novel. In On Tide Mill Lane, the War of 1812 between the Americans and the British ceases. The parts I found most interesting were when the Tucker family went to the cornhusking at the Heath’s home, Charlotte in awe of the Christmas tree and decorations in the Edsel home, when Lewis contracted an infection in his finger and survived, and of course when Will returned home from the war and returned to his old position at the smithy as Papa’s striker. Will is determined to marry Lucy Keator now that he has returned to Roxbury, a character whom I grew quite fond of throughout the novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2021
This was definitely not as good as the last one. The beginning had some beautiful scenes, but the next chapters fell into the same trap as the last book by being strung along (and Charlotte wasn't a very convincing five-year-old). Still, it had fun stories and I wouldn't hesitate about handing this to a child who read the first one and wanted to continue unless they'd complained about the stringing along issue.
August 20, 2019
None of the other "Little House Years" books are as good as the ones about Laura but other then the Laura books I prefer the Martha books but the Charlotte books are a close third for me. I am from the Boston area so I enjoy reading about this region of the world plus the descriptions are excellent.
June 11, 2017
What a fun, nostalgic book to read! I recommend this book to all Little House fans ages 9+.
June 13, 2017
Another enjoyable read about Charlotte, Laura Ingalls Wilder's maternal grandmother. My eight year old daughter and I are really enjoying this series!
August 11, 2017
So beautifully in the style of the originals and simultaneously unique.
March 26, 2019
Awesome
August 11, 2021
Cute story with a good ending
August 26, 2021
Almost made it 4 just because of Will's return, but since that happened in the last chapter I figured I better keep it to the average.
January 30, 2023
An enjoyable view of a different time. My favorite part was the celebration of the war being over. A good story for fans of Laura ingalld wilder
Want to read
July 31, 2025SM
March 8, 2024
Boring but informative regarding major events and the activities that could’ve or probably happened during that time.
June 20, 2025
Getting Better.
July 5, 2024
This book may have been short, but I felt it was full of sweet adventures that entertained me. As Charlotte continues to grow up through the series, I can't wait to see what she will become! I would recommend this for anyone interested in "The Charlotte Years" and want to read a book series closely related to "The Little House" series.
September 13, 2015
Rather gruesome. Someone loses a finger. No, it's not bloody, but it's still horrific.
It turns out that I was right on the money with my War of 1812 knowledge. *happy dance* In complete honesty, I don't think the current United States would come together to celebrate the end of a war like these fine folks in Roxbury did. Even the people who were against the war celebrated the end.
Tore through this one, too. They're meant for children, but *I* don't think that Mrs. Wiley is talking down to anyone. Hell, I like the historical aspect. Please, teach me more about history so I stop trying to signal the Doctor. *hello, TARDIS, yes, I'd like you to land at my house, please. Shhh. I want to go on an adventure. History is waiting.* That's right. All of time and space and all I want to do is trek backwards in time. *yes, sir, I want to solve history's mysteries. You heard me right.*
Learning tidbits here and there. I may know a lot, but I don't know everything and I can't remember half of what I learn anyway. *snorts* Of course, the things I do remember tend to surprise me.
Onto the next!
It turns out that I was right on the money with my War of 1812 knowledge. *happy dance* In complete honesty, I don't think the current United States would come together to celebrate the end of a war like these fine folks in Roxbury did. Even the people who were against the war celebrated the end.
Tore through this one, too. They're meant for children, but *I* don't think that Mrs. Wiley is talking down to anyone. Hell, I like the historical aspect. Please, teach me more about history so I stop trying to signal the Doctor. *hello, TARDIS, yes, I'd like you to land at my house, please. Shhh. I want to go on an adventure. History is waiting.* That's right. All of time and space and all I want to do is trek backwards in time. *yes, sir, I want to solve history's mysteries. You heard me right.*
Learning tidbits here and there. I may know a lot, but I don't know everything and I can't remember half of what I learn anyway. *snorts* Of course, the things I do remember tend to surprise me.
Onto the next!
October 30, 2012
The 2nd book in the Charlotte years series by Melissa Wiley, "On Tide Mill Lane" takes us out of the War of 1812 & into the summer of 1815. In this installment, the Tucker family goes through the holidays, has son Lewis get a serious infection due to a splinter & we go through the routines of school & parades. Wiley's story is a bit better than the last installment as we get a better feel for Roxbury, MA in the mid 1810s & the way of life that this fragile nation of ours was beginning. The ties of family also come out between the parade for the end of the War & the family friend Will who undergoes a life altering change due to the war itself. The story ends with a massive weather event, but offers a bit more hope for the time ahead for all members of this family & not just Charlotte herself.
November 24, 2015
I may have enjoyed this book more than the first one. The descriptions of the infection in Lewis's finger were both gross and fascinating! I thought it interesting how they took it off. But before you go run to the bathroom, the whole book is not about Lewis.
I also enjoyed the day the war ended! It must have been exciting to witness that! I don't understand why Charlotte is never taken to see the ocean. As her dad said in book one, she'd lived a mile from it her whole life and never saw it!
Lydia kinda annoyed me, but maybe that's because I can see some of myself in her *sheepish grin* My love for Martha as a mother grew greatly! I highly recommend this book!
I also enjoyed the day the war ended! It must have been exciting to witness that! I don't understand why Charlotte is never taken to see the ocean. As her dad said in book one, she'd lived a mile from it her whole life and never saw it!
Lydia kinda annoyed me, but maybe that's because I can see some of myself in her *sheepish grin* My love for Martha as a mother grew greatly! I highly recommend this book!
March 26, 2010
Charlotte's series was fun to read and I thought it was interesting to read about Laura's grandmother and how she grew up in a time much different then Laura. I would greatly encourage Little House fans to read the whole little house series beginning with Laura's great grandmother, Martha, and ending with Laura's daugher, Rose. It was so much fun reading about the different times these women lived in. Rated three stars because it is way below my reading level so it is a entertaining fast read.
May 25, 2011
Another interesting pre-quel to the Little House books, this one the second in the series about Charlotte Tucker, Laura's grandmother. My favorite parts are the ones in which we see how things were made in those days (1814), like candles, which we made in a similar way at summer camp (though with wax, not tallow). Lots of tragedy in this one, which is in keeping with the Laura books, but not my favorite parts!
October 13, 2014
This book is great!! Kehidupan keseharian dari si kecil Charlotte Tucker (yang kelak jadi nenek Laura Ingals Wilder)dituliskan dengan menarik oleh Wiley. Sederhana namun kaya makna, dialog-dialog dalam keluarga dikemas apik membuat kita tersenyum simpul. Didikan keluarga Tucker yang penuh kasih dan juga tegas, jadi pelajaran banget buat saya.
December 13, 2021
12/12/21 - I read this book years ago as it was the only book in the Charlotte Years that was available in my local bookstore but wow is this book better with context. While it is the second in a series, you could read it stand-alone as I did all those years ago. But this book is much better and impactful when read in series order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews