For This Land

Meg's Prairie Diary #2

by Kate McMullan

In Book Two of Meg's Prairie Diary, Meg Wells is joined by the rest of her family on the Kansas prairie, where they fight alongside the Abolitionists to keep Kansas a free state.

In Kate McMullan's second book of Meg's Prairie Diary, Meg's family is reunited on the prairie. Their new life is soon jeopardized by not only the struggle against slavery and those who would have Kansas be a slave state, but also a devastating fire that threatens to destroy their home. But Meg's strong spirit helps her overcome the hardships of life on the prairie.

Kate McMullan has once again made Meg a brave and sweet character girls will love.

Look for Meg's 3rd diary in August 2003!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Diary, Historical, Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published October 29, 2013

About the author

Kate McMullan is an American children's book author.
She is the author of the Dragon Slayers' Academy series. She is married to author and illustrator James McMullan.

She also has books published under the name: Katy Hall.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Meg slowly adjusts to life on the prairie, she still occasionally longs to be back in St. Louis where life was calm and orderly. Now, in Kansas Territory danger and worry are close at hand as she looks out for prairie fires, raiding border ruffians, and wonders whether her father and uncle are safe as they are off fighting in the Free-State Militia.

In this second book, the border ruffians are more of a looming presence in the fight to make Kansas Territory a free and anti-slavery state. There's also a greater emphasis on family, friends, and neighbors working together for the greater good of country, state, and community. I enjoyed the cultural and historical references to Quakers, fun photographic faults, the disguised Old Sacramento cannon, and the failed vegetarian community at Neosho.

A decent continuation of the story started in the first book, although slightly less alluring. Boys may enjoy this installment more with its conflict-centered action. I am enjoying learning more about American history and I plan to finish the trilogy.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars (3/10 hearts). I give this three stars because it doesn’t deserve only two, but it’s a very meh three stars. I didn’t enjoy it was much as the first book. It struck me as rather boring—all that really happened was hiding from the Ruffians, with a few mentions of fighting mixed in. I honestly didn’t try very hard to understand what was happening because of how disconnected I felt with the book and characters, who were much less present than before. It honestly felt like a very dull, draggy middle of a book. It wasn’t BAD, it was just… blah? I did like the addition of the Quakers and the little bit of talk about pacifism and what it entails, both pro and con. I still plan to read the last book in the series, and I hope I’ll like it better.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Two: For This Land: Meg’s Prairie Diary, by Kate McMullan
Synopsis: Kansas, 1856 – Meg’s story continues. After Meg and her brother fled a cholera epidemic in St. Louis, she and her entire family are finally reunited on the prairie. But their new life is soon jeopardized not only by the struggle against slavery and those who would have Kansas be a slave state, but also by a devastating fire that threatens to destroy their home.
Review: In Book Two, Meg's parents and baby sister rejoin her in Kansas Territory. Her family experiences a prairie fire and is a pawn in clashes between free-staters (who want Kansas to enter the union as a free state) and the border ruffians, who come over from Missouri to try to make Kansas a slave state. Meg’s father is wounded in a battle and comes close to dying. Her uncle is imprisoned by the slave-state men, and remains there for a long time, creating a great hardship for the two families.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg is quite inconsistent with how she feels about Kansas. One entry she wants to go back to St. Louis (and seems to not understand that early on, it's made clear that's not happening), and the next entry she's angry at Quakers for refusing to fight. These Quakers are out of nowhere and don't act the part. They like to dance, for example.

[Chelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, as well! I’ve learned quite a bit about what life was like in the 1850s in the Lawrence, KS area (close to my hometown). Very interesting. Plan to read the third and final “diary” next!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Meg Wells and her seven-year-old brother, Preston, were sent away from their St. Louis home in the spring of 1856 during a cholera epidemic, and went to live with relatives in Kansas Territory. But now their parents and their little sister, Grace, have joined them on the prairie, and it looks like their stay in Kansas will be longer then expected. Meg wants to return to St. Louis, but with Kansas Territory a battleground between those who want it to enter the United States as a free state and those that would have it allow slavery, Meg's father is determined to stay in support for a free state. Meg describes in her diary her family's life during the summer and fall of 1856, as they face a dangerous prairie fire and are caught up in the crossfire between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces. I reccomend this book to readers who enjoyed the first book about Meg, As Far As I Can See, or other My America books.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book deals with two themes. First, Meg and her family have to learn to adapt to live on the prairies, which was not easy. The main theme, though, was how the Kansas Territory was split by violence between those who wanted to live there and who did not want Kansas to become a slave state, and those who came from other areas, who did not live in Kansas, and who wanted to rig the election so Kansas would become a slave state. This was in 1856, with the actual Civil War some years off yet. An argument could be made, though, that the Civil War really started in Kansas because the fighting involved groups of men who fought each other, attacked towns, and laid waste to whatever they could.

Meg's father helps to fight against these slavery supporters but is badly injured in the process.

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses on the political violence in Kansas in 1856, but by telling it from Meg's point of view is able to portray it accurately without an inappropriate level of detail cor young readers. I thought it was well done.