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Little House: The Rose Years #3
In the Land of the Big Red Apple
A year after moving to their farm in the Ozarks, Laura and Almanzo Wilder and their daughter, Rose, have settled into their new home
338 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
24 people are currently reading
2862 people want to read
About the author
Roger Lea MacBride
66 books117 followersMacBride called himself "the adopted grandson" of writer and political theorist Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of writer Laura Ingalls Wilder, and as such laid claim to the substantial Ingalls-Wilder's literary estate, including the "Little House on the Prairie" franchise. He is the author of record of three additional "Little House" books, and began the "Rocky Ridge Years" series, describing the Ozark childhood of Rose Wilder Lane. He also co-produced the 1970s television series Little House on the Prairie.
Controversy came after MacBride's death in 1995, when the local library in Mansfield, Missouri, contended that Wilder's original will gave her daughter ownership of the literary estate for her lifetime only, all rights to revert to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Library after her death. The ensuing court case was settled in an undisclosed manner, but MacBride's heirs retained the rights.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ma...
Controversy came after MacBride's death in 1995, when the local library in Mansfield, Missouri, contended that Wilder's original will gave her daughter ownership of the literary estate for her lifetime only, all rights to revert to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Library after her death. The ensuing court case was settled in an undisclosed manner, but MacBride's heirs retained the rights.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ma...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
September 28, 2020
4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. The Laura books never make me cry, but the Rose books keep making me tear up! There are a few euphemisms; also the constant wonder about babies bothered me a little; and I was bugged by Rose’s crush on Abe. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. I used to say I wanted more about Laura & Almanzo—these books fulfilled my desires! I love Laura more and more throughout these books; and somehow they stir me more, for I know how hard her life was and I desperately want her to have a good life now. I’m just wolfing down these books—they are so good! There’s so much drama at times but also so much beauty, and so much humour... <3 I do know that these books are not as good as the Laura books, and there are beginning signs of why Rose turned into the woman she became. But personally, I don’t think these books are meant to be read as even part biography. It’s pretty much fiction and that’s the way they should be read. And when you read it that way, these are happy, sweet, & lovely books. But I understand that these books aren’t for everyone. Edited, these are suitable for readers 12+; unedited, ages 16+.
*I do plan to reread these books next year to see what I think of them then; review subject to revision/updates*
*I do plan to reread these books next year to see what I think of them then; review subject to revision/updates*
January 8, 2024
Another fun read-aloud for my 3 girls! We especially loved everything leading up to the exciting last chapter, which was definitely everyone's favorite part.
I liked the description of the ice storm. The seasons of the Ozarks are different than they were in the Dakotas and I really enjoy seeing the contrast to the weather events we read about when Laura was a little girl.
On to book #4!
See this review on Substack: https://momsmusings.substack.com/i/14...
I liked the description of the ice storm. The seasons of the Ozarks are different than they were in the Dakotas and I really enjoy seeing the contrast to the weather events we read about when Laura was a little girl.
On to book #4!
See this review on Substack: https://momsmusings.substack.com/i/14...
September 7, 2024
3.5 stars. My littles have loved having me read this to them and they'd probably rate it much higher. But, to me, it just doesn't have the same magic as the original Little House series.
January 2, 2015
I've been saving my reviews of the non-Laura Ingalls stories until the end of each series. I just can't seem to hold back with this book, though.
The first two books in the Rose Wilder series was very promising. In fact, I liked the second better than the first one. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with this book.
Truthfully, and I will be completely honest, this one was absolute torture for me to read. I actually considered stopping it when I got to the halfway point. I disliked it that much. Yet, I was determined to make it through it. I have owned this series for years and I never got around to reading them until now. And I want to read the entire series. I want to accomplish this "little" goal in life. But when something is as dull, and annoying, as this book was, I don't know if I will be able to accomplish it because the goal suddenly seems much larger to achieve.
It was dull because the "stories" are just NOT that interesting. At least they aren't that interesting to me. Personally, I don't even see how a younger girl would be interested in any of it.
It is annoying because of the way that it is written. I don't know what the real Almanzo and Laura were like. So, I guess I don't know if there is any truth to these characters at all. Based on Laura's stories, I highly doubt the "characters" that she created in her books would turn out to be the ones in this book. I will be completely honest again and say that if THAT is how Laura REALLY was, I absolutely HATE her! I am so tired of her being this stereotypical farm wife with stories to tell and having a bunch of morals to throw at her kid to show that she knows best (to lecture Rose that money doesn't grow on trees when she used the money that was given to her on whatever she wanted for a special day like Independence Day - was that really anything other than a little mean?).
Why is "jiminy" the universal word there? Not only does Almanzo say it, but, amazingly, so do all of the people down there in Missouri. And he was saying it before he made it down there. I am not saying people didn't use the word. It just sounds "forced" for a person to say it. Even in a book.
How many times do I have to read about the way their eyes react to a situation, the "crinkles" (or what it "wrinkles"? - I don't know - it is the same difference) by Almanzo's eyes when he smiled, and the "twirling" of his mustache? Why? Why do these things HAVE to be written OVER and OVER again??
And what is up with Laura blushing EVERY time Almanzo embraces her in some sort of way? By this time she had been married for quite a few years and had given birth to two children. I HIGHLY doubt that woman would be blushing when her husband gave her a kiss, in the privacy of their home, under the mistletoe - and wherever else it happened! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!
Now, I will read the rest of the series. Of course I will. Money was spent on them. They have been sitting here for years. I will read them. All I can HOPE is that they will get better, that they will be more like the first two books. If they aren't, I don't know what state I will be in when I get finished with them. I have read so many books that I have not liked lately that I don't know how many more I can take.
January 2nd and I am already hating the first book that I read. That is such a shame. But onto the next! I will make it through these! I just have to keep telling myself that and, hopefully, I will do it.
The first two books in the Rose Wilder series was very promising. In fact, I liked the second better than the first one. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with this book.
Truthfully, and I will be completely honest, this one was absolute torture for me to read. I actually considered stopping it when I got to the halfway point. I disliked it that much. Yet, I was determined to make it through it. I have owned this series for years and I never got around to reading them until now. And I want to read the entire series. I want to accomplish this "little" goal in life. But when something is as dull, and annoying, as this book was, I don't know if I will be able to accomplish it because the goal suddenly seems much larger to achieve.
It was dull because the "stories" are just NOT that interesting. At least they aren't that interesting to me. Personally, I don't even see how a younger girl would be interested in any of it.
It is annoying because of the way that it is written. I don't know what the real Almanzo and Laura were like. So, I guess I don't know if there is any truth to these characters at all. Based on Laura's stories, I highly doubt the "characters" that she created in her books would turn out to be the ones in this book. I will be completely honest again and say that if THAT is how Laura REALLY was, I absolutely HATE her! I am so tired of her being this stereotypical farm wife with stories to tell and having a bunch of morals to throw at her kid to show that she knows best (to lecture Rose that money doesn't grow on trees when she used the money that was given to her on whatever she wanted for a special day like Independence Day - was that really anything other than a little mean?).
Why is "jiminy" the universal word there? Not only does Almanzo say it, but, amazingly, so do all of the people down there in Missouri. And he was saying it before he made it down there. I am not saying people didn't use the word. It just sounds "forced" for a person to say it. Even in a book.
How many times do I have to read about the way their eyes react to a situation, the "crinkles" (or what it "wrinkles"? - I don't know - it is the same difference) by Almanzo's eyes when he smiled, and the "twirling" of his mustache? Why? Why do these things HAVE to be written OVER and OVER again??
And what is up with Laura blushing EVERY time Almanzo embraces her in some sort of way? By this time she had been married for quite a few years and had given birth to two children. I HIGHLY doubt that woman would be blushing when her husband gave her a kiss, in the privacy of their home, under the mistletoe - and wherever else it happened! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!
Now, I will read the rest of the series. Of course I will. Money was spent on them. They have been sitting here for years. I will read them. All I can HOPE is that they will get better, that they will be more like the first two books. If they aren't, I don't know what state I will be in when I get finished with them. I have read so many books that I have not liked lately that I don't know how many more I can take.
January 2nd and I am already hating the first book that I read. That is such a shame. But onto the next! I will make it through these! I just have to keep telling myself that and, hopefully, I will do it.
April 10, 2018
This book begins at the start of the Wilder's second year on the farm. Despite some challenges, including freezing rain and thus needing to de-ice the orchard, it's obvious that the weather is indeed better for the family. There isn't the EXTREME weather of the prairie.
I like how Laura differentiates between rich-rich and farmer-rich.
Rose's confusion is perfect for her age (she turns 9 in this book). Her jealousy and desire for Abe to stay nearby would also be cute because of the age, though it turns not-so-nice.
Despite her youth, Rose finds herself between two worlds: that of an educated young woman (like the "townies") and that of a prairie/farmer girl. Her life mirrors Laura's in that sense, though she has friends in both and is a bit less stubborn about it than Laura was.
The Wilders celebrate a first real Thanksgiving and Christmas on the farm. Everything with Christmas is heartwarming. We are giving a beautiful example of how giving can take away dark thoughts and spread joy.
I think it's awesome that Blanche talks about motorized cars being in Chicago.
It's also fun to read how bees were followed for their honey, and to make a beegum. Though, after readingAnimosity, I almost feel bad for the bees!
I had to look up a few things:
~ sorghum (used for molasses)
~ fascinator
~ union suit
The inclusion of the latter two continues with the LH focus on showing how fashions change with the times.
I found the following pretty interesting:
~ People only paid school taxes if a child went to that school.
~ Abe says that his father believed that a farmer didn't need to read to harvest food. Laura agrees that used to be the case, but then argues that understanding how to at least read price changes and new trends had become more essential. We certain skills even now being more necessary, while other skills may fade.
~ Rose is still not allowed to move up to the Fourth Reader because of her age. I'm glad we allow students to move up according to ability, or at least provide more advanced opportunities among those of a similar age, if enough students can do it.
I like how Laura differentiates between rich-rich and farmer-rich.
Rose's confusion is perfect for her age (she turns 9 in this book). Her jealousy and desire for Abe to stay nearby would also be cute because of the age, though it turns not-so-nice.
Despite her youth, Rose finds herself between two worlds: that of an educated young woman (like the "townies") and that of a prairie/farmer girl. Her life mirrors Laura's in that sense, though she has friends in both and is a bit less stubborn about it than Laura was.
The Wilders celebrate a first real Thanksgiving and Christmas on the farm. Everything with Christmas is heartwarming. We are giving a beautiful example of how giving can take away dark thoughts and spread joy.
I think it's awesome that Blanche talks about motorized cars being in Chicago.
It's also fun to read how bees were followed for their honey, and to make a beegum. Though, after readingAnimosity, I almost feel bad for the bees!
I had to look up a few things:
~ sorghum (used for molasses)
~ fascinator
~ union suit
The inclusion of the latter two continues with the LH focus on showing how fashions change with the times.
I found the following pretty interesting:
~ People only paid school taxes if a child went to that school.
~ Abe says that his father believed that a farmer didn't need to read to harvest food. Laura agrees that used to be the case, but then argues that understanding how to at least read price changes and new trends had become more essential. We certain skills even now being more necessary, while other skills may fade.
~ Rose is still not allowed to move up to the Fourth Reader because of her age. I'm glad we allow students to move up according to ability, or at least provide more advanced opportunities among those of a similar age, if enough students can do it.
June 30, 2019
This is the third book in the series about Rose Wilder, Laura and Almanzo’s daughter and their life “in the land of the big red apple”. (Which isn’t New York.)
This is more of the same, as the earlier two books. Again, it’s just a series of anecdotes, little storylines patched together over a short period of time. Some of it is quite interesting- finding out how to “course” bees for example, or the building of their first “proper” house (larger and with an upstairs bedroom).
But really, what I’m discovering, is that reading these books makes you hungry! All I want is fried chicken after reading these. It’s very similar to reading the Enid Blyton books (pick a random one, any one, I’ll guarantee you’ll be hungry by the first couple of chapters), when all they talk about is midnight feasts and picnics.
Again, this book takes place in what feels like six-nine months or so. So a lot of little stories, spread thinly across a short period of time. It starts just before Christmas and finishes in September or thereabouts. And what I’m starting to notice, is that the books always end on a happy note - for example, the final chapter is a wedding. (Not for Rose!) There’s no cliffhangers in this neck of the woods, and nothing really to make you move onto the rest of the series (unlike me, who bought them all.).
These are easy and enjoyable to read, but very formulaic. You don’t need to engage the brain for anything here, and you’ll speed through the book in no time.
This is more of the same, as the earlier two books. Again, it’s just a series of anecdotes, little storylines patched together over a short period of time. Some of it is quite interesting- finding out how to “course” bees for example, or the building of their first “proper” house (larger and with an upstairs bedroom).
But really, what I’m discovering, is that reading these books makes you hungry! All I want is fried chicken after reading these. It’s very similar to reading the Enid Blyton books (pick a random one, any one, I’ll guarantee you’ll be hungry by the first couple of chapters), when all they talk about is midnight feasts and picnics.
Again, this book takes place in what feels like six-nine months or so. So a lot of little stories, spread thinly across a short period of time. It starts just before Christmas and finishes in September or thereabouts. And what I’m starting to notice, is that the books always end on a happy note - for example, the final chapter is a wedding. (Not for Rose!) There’s no cliffhangers in this neck of the woods, and nothing really to make you move onto the rest of the series (unlike me, who bought them all.).
These are easy and enjoyable to read, but very formulaic. You don’t need to engage the brain for anything here, and you’ll speed through the book in no time.
December 29, 2018
This is a review that by necessity must be full of caveats. If you're just looking for a continuation of the Little House books for a budding reader, they're very much in the same vein in the day to day of not quite subsistence farming and not bad at all. But if you've read Caroline Fraser's excellent Prairie Fires about the lives and mythmaking of both Laura Ingalls Wilder and daughter Rose Wilder Lane, you quickly realize this series like the original is a lot of romanticized and highly fictionalized nonsense that could at times be quite hamfisted into trying further both women's own extreme politics and idealizing the heroic settler pioneer. Worse, they're written by someone who never knew Laura at all and because of Rose's decidedly odd proclivities in "adopting" various young men until they no longer suited her, lucked into getting control of the entire Wilder estate and copyrights.
Third book in the series. Stuff happens. They're still struggling.
Third book in the series. Stuff happens. They're still struggling.
October 22, 2019
This is one of a short series following Rose Wilder, daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder, after they moved to an apple farm in Missouri. Rose is about 8 and the tone of the books is very similar to the originals. I don't know how much is fact and how much is speculation about various events, but it's a nice update to the original series.
January 16, 2024
This book felt simple (in the best way.) That was one of my favorite things about the original stories. It’s so funny to me because when I read ma and pa I still picture Charles and Caroline! I would really love to read the books from Caroline’s point of view as well as Laura’s grandmother and great grandmother.
January 22, 2020
4.5 stars
I really liked the way nature was discussed in this book, as well as the shorter stories told throughout that gave us a picture of the state of the country through this one family's experience. I thought this was one of the better, if not the best, of the Rocky Ridge books. 4.5 stars.
I really liked the way nature was discussed in this book, as well as the shorter stories told throughout that gave us a picture of the state of the country through this one family's experience. I thought this was one of the better, if not the best, of the Rocky Ridge books. 4.5 stars.
February 23, 2008
I suppose it was good that I was reading this "side" of Missouri because my limited experiences there were NOT pleasant.
April 7, 2025
*4.25 stars!
*Family
*Adventure
*Frontier life
*Pioneer spirit
*Clean & wholesome
*Friendship
*Values & Faith
*Farm Life
*Quick read
*Family
*Adventure
*Frontier life
*Pioneer spirit
*Clean & wholesome
*Friendship
*Values & Faith
*Farm Life
*Quick read
July 6, 2023
I am so impressed with Roger Lea MacBride. I started reading the Little House series to my kids about two years ago and we were all hooked. As a first time reader of the series myself (in my 40's!) I was geeking out. But we were so disappointed with the First Four Years that we didn't even finish it. I had a copy of the first of this series that I had gotten at a used book store and, with low expectations, decided to give it a try as our next read-a-loud. What a pleasant surprise! MacBride was true to the lovable Little House characters and stories and gave Rose a name of her own! After the first book, I tried to find the others at the library and was unsuccessful, and they are temporarily not doing interlibrary loans, so we tried reading Secret Garden in the interim. Wow, my daughter hated it and we all missed Rose terribly. So, I ended up buying the rest of the series new! We simply refer to each book and the whole series as "Rose". What a beautiful tribute to his adopted Grandmother.
April 28, 2025
Abe and Swiney are still helping Almonzo. The Wilder’s go by the Stubbin’s farm to help harvest sorghum which is boiled into molasses. Alva Stubbin’s older sister Effie is sweet on Abe, Rose gets jealous and tells a lie that he’s “sparking” with a city girl, but then she confesses her lie and all is forgiven. At Thanksgiving Rose goes with Paul and George Cooley into a cave looking for Spanish gold. There is an ice storm. 4th of July picnic day in town and parade, and the story ends with Abe and Effie’s wedding. The Wilder’s neighbors, the Kinnebrews are moving and sell some of their land to them, and Abe and Effie, and Swiney will live in a house on that property.
January 19, 2024
Pure kindernostalgie, dit boek en dat terwijl ik dit boek als kind niet eens las :-) Maar doordat MacBride zijn schrijfstijl zo hard aanpast aan die van Laura Ingalls Wilder en de boeken natuurlijk over haar dochter gaan, die qua karakter heel erg op haar nu verantwoordelijke moeder Laura lijkt, voel ik mij toch heel erg weer in dat wereldje waarin ik als kind zo graag verdween :-)
September 28, 2020
The chronicling of Rose Wilder's childhood continues. In this novel, her family continues to work hard on their growing farm in the Ozarks of Missouri. Rose has new adventures at school and at home. A pleasant and informative read.
April 4, 2021
Good story, along with the others, but I had to skip a few spots. I'm reading them to my eight year old, and this book has a chapter in it about Santa and whether he is real or not, so I had to zip over those few pages so as not to spoil it for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2023
The ice storm was so cathartic. I know there a huge difference between the Ozarks in 1902 and KC in 2002, but that storm united then for me. Plus Rose screws up in a very big, very recognizable way, and it's just so refreshingly human.
May 14, 2024
This is an endearing book. This family goes through a lot of change and works together through the hard and keeps going. They reach out in love and give grace to Swiney & Abe and change their lives forever. Such a great family read aloud!!
May 9, 2025
Another excellent entry in the Rose Wilder Lane series by her “adopted” grandson. I’m so glad he shared the stories that Rose shared with him! It’s wonderful to get more stories about LIW and Almanzo after they moved to Missouri.
November 11, 2025
The others were good but this was just a step above, it had the simplicity and sweetness and lessons learned as the original series. Maybe the characters have grown on me and that’s why but I really loved this one
July 17, 2017
Lianna, Shenandoah patron, July 2017, 4 stars:
The story of Laura Ingalls continued through her daughter. It's very good!
The story of Laura Ingalls continued through her daughter. It's very good!
June 16, 2019
Not as good as the Laura books. I'm not that interested in Rose and am reading them mostly for Laura and Almanzo.
July 28, 2019
A must read. It tells you of a different way of life.
April 21, 2020
Another good book. Funny how life was harder then, but everyone was happier. Hard work, family and God. All little girls should read these books.
March 25, 2021
dellightful
September 6, 2021
Turtle: great! Return to library.
December 26, 2021
A good story that was nice to read again after all these years!
July 29, 2023
It was a great book!!! But not my favourite one out of this series.
Read
January 21, 2024Read these some time ago. Maybe 2000?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews