Prairie Songs

by Pam Conrad, Darryl S. Zudeck (Illustrator)

"The prairie was like a giant plate, stretching all the way to the sky at the edges. And we were like two tiny peas left over from dinner, Lester and me."
Louisa loves the Nebraska prairie, the only home she's ever known. It's a lonely place, surrounded by miles of wild, flat grasslands, but it's the wonderful kind of loneliness that comes of stillness and open sky and oneness with the land. A different kind of beauty enters Louisa's world when the new doctor and his wife, Emmeline, move to the prairie from New York City. Emmeline is the most beautiful person Louisa has ever seen, and she teaches Louisa to love poetry. But she is also frail and unsuited to pioneer life. Louisa wonders whether Emmeline will ever come to love the prairie as she herself does.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Historical, Middle Grade, Juvenile

167 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 1985

About the author

Pam Conrad (1947-1996) was an author for children. Her book Our House: Stories of Levittown was a Newbery Medal finalist.

Ms. Conrad was born in New York City and graduated from the New School for Social Research.

Reviews

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like the Little House on the Prairie books for going back to a simpler time, you may want to skip this book. However, if you also like the realism of works by Willa Cather, then pick up this juvenile fiction book from 1985.

Both the beauty and the harshness of the prairie are present in this story of Louisa and her family as the welcome a doctor and his pregnant wife to the Nebraska prairie in the 1800s. Emmeline Berryman is beautiful to Louisa and Mrs. Berryman has lots of books that Louisa longs to read. However, Mrs. Berryman isn't used to the isolation that Louisa so dearly loves.

Prairie Songs would be a great book to read in conjunction with others like the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It shows another viewpoint of life on the prairie when the United States was still expanding westward.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most vivid pictures of the hardship of life on the Great Plains, the sheer loneliness of it. Compares favorably to Willa Cather.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing! Louisa and her extremely quiet and shy little brother, Lester, are living in the state of Nebraska where it's empty and lonely- then a doctor and his wife, Emmeline, move to a small sod house only three miles from their own, and she finds out what wonderful treasure this small family has. Books! She is simply ecstatic when the gorgeous and city girl, Mrs. Berryman a.k.a. Emmeline, offers to teach her to read. Mrs. Berryman makes Louisa's own mother look as plain and wrinkled as a walnut, and her little brother is finally starting to come out of his shell- not to mention how much Louisa finds she loves poetry! But then she watches Emmeline fade into a silent, baffling world of madness and despair. I can't tell you what happens next, but this unforgettable song of love to the prairie, Louisa's only home, however hard, will make you feel so many different emotions as you walk side by side with a young American pilgrim.

[Shatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

A short, sweet, sad little book. I enjoyed the writing style and the plot, and I especially liked viewing the world through Louisa's eyes - how sad events can be sharpened or softened through the lens of childhood.

However, the reason why I knocked off two stars was because of the way Native Americans were treated in the book. It was abysmal, and while other reviewers may have objected to the heavy themes of the book, I found that the racist undertones were a far bigger issue here.

[Rebecca Rash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book at least once every year - it's one that isn't easily forgotten!

[Paige]

Interesting to read as an adult; would not give to the target age of upper elementary. I disagree with the agenda in some more modern children's lit to introduce young kids to adult relationship issues and characters with serious mental and emotional problems.

[Larysa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prairie Songs was about two families living in Nebraska when it will just being settled. The story is told from the main character, Louisa's point of view. Her family--her mom, dad, and brother--are one of the main families in the book. The other family is a young doctor and his wife who move to Nebraska, to help the surrounding families. The doctor and wife moving in is the beginning of the book. The two families become close and help each other through many of the trials that are part of prairie life.

The story is easy to read, but is very depressing. The families go through trial after trial, but each person does grow in return. This would be a good book for young girls who enjoy reading about other young girls from the past. However, this book contains many hard subjects, so any who read it should understand that going into the story.

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just okay. I guess my feeling is if a kid is ready for the harshness of life on the prairie (with people going crazy from isolation/dying), they might as well read something that is more grounded in a real life story. I didn't even know what date this was supposed to be set! I don't think my son will be interested, so it's going to Goodwill, which is probably where it came from to begin with!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most potent, beautifully written pieces of literature I ever taught with my various classes. I used it with both 4th and 7th graders, obviously emphasizing different aspects and literary techniques. It is a moving account of the hardships of life in the late 1800s on the prairie as well as a picture of hope and perseverance.

[Joanne G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy prairie literature from Cather to Wilder, but this had the harshness of the former without the love of the latter. It's a good book, but it's harsh, bleak, and unrelenting. The story involves the reader in the frustrated yearnings of a little girl and the unnecessary horror of a woman ill-suited for the difficulties she is thoughtlessly handed.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is shelved as a children's book and the publisher says its suitable for 10-year-olds, but personally, I wouldn't give it to a child younger than middle school age. It deals with some pretty dark topics.

[Stacy Allbritton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a poignant story about Louisa and her family, who lived in a soddy on the open prairie. Conrad's voice is thoughful and somewhat melancholy. Her writing style is very down-to-earth with beautiful descriptions. I could easily visualize the scenery and the characters.

It is a story of despair, hope, and perseverence in the face of adversity. As such, the theme and supporting topics - insanity, stillbirth, isolation - are very mature. The resolution is harshly realistic, which may be too much for children under 12 or 13 years of age. If you've read Where the Red Fern Grows, it is a sad (but beautiful) story in the same way. Be aware of this if you are buying it for a young reader.

It was an engaging story, and I would recommend it for those who enjoy tales that are uplifting in a "darker" way.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Pam Conrad. This book is shelved in my library for grades 4-5. This surprises me because I don't think this book is appropriate for that age group. In this book Conrad deals with love, loss, loneliness, death, gender roles, and mental illness. I enjoy reading Janette Oke's work and Conrad's books remind me of hers. The reasons I can think of that this is categorized as a children's book are:
1. It's told from a child's perspective and in all of her books so far the child is the narrator
2. It's plot is fairly straight forward - no flipping from person to person - there's a clear beginning, middle, and end.
3. The language - well crafted sentences and clean language
4. It's length - the book is under 200 pages.

Other than that, this is a sophisticated look at life on the Nevada Prairie during the 19th century.

[Annie]

Carol Hurst:

I like Pam Conrad's Prairie Songs because it shows that, while many settlers adapted to the hardships and beauty of the prairie, some did not. Louisa, like the more familiar Laura Ingalls loves Nebraska and so does her family. But the situation is different for a young doctor who builds a sod house and brings his Philadelphia bride, Emmeline to live there. Emmeline is overwhelmed by the hardships of prairie life. Eventually, it is too much and the woman is driven to madness.

The setting is the Nebraska prairie and the characters are extremely well done as is the portrayal of the time and place. Emmeline is one of the few characters I've found in children's fiction who just couldn't survive in that vast and harsh venue.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a realistic fiction novel intended for middle school and high school aged children. This is an accurate portrayal of life in the undeveloped West and offers an insight into the life and hardships of the pioneers. It is the story of a young girl and her friendship with a pair of New Yorkers new to the ways of the West. The subject matter of this novel may not be appropriate for children of younger ages, but this is a perfect book for middle school and high school aged children to take a look into what the lives of the pioneers were like.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful little novel that differs from similar stories on the topic of prairie life by not shying away from some of the negatives: death, depression, violence, and the uncertainty that came from living in a harsh place miles from the nearest town--or even neighbor. The sociological aspect of it was more interesting than the protagonist, but it is still a great book.

4/5 on here, 8/10 for myself

[Beccie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is no "Little House" book. It's a haunting book, you keep thinking about it for a long time after you finish it. It did leave me with many un-answered questions, though. Is that a good thing? Would I care about un-answered questions if I didn't care about the characteres? It also made me question myself. How would I stand up to similar tragedies? I hope I would have the love and fortitude of Clara.

[Reily Riemersma]

This is about a place called the prairies. The prairies go on for miles, they stretch as far as the eye can see. this story is about Louisa who seems to find interest in emmaline. What will his interest spark?

The illustrations of the prairies are done very well. They are detailed with tall grass and long hills. The prairies are not somewhere where I think I would visit. im not necessarily one for the country and the outdoors.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books for younger teens that is so good I've kept my school-book-fair copy for years. I love good historical fiction and this is some of the best. The main character and the people she meets really makes me think about the importance of learning to love where you are and who you are. This is a very sweet book and I can't wait until my daughters are old enough to discover it.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We both knew exactly what was out the window. The lonely prairie, only to her it wasn't a comfort like it was to me, like the comfort of a blank wall without too many things on it, or a stretch of clean, flawless sand down at the river."

Simultaneously beautiful and heart-breaking, this story tells of the harsh life on the Nebraska prairie, with unromanticized simplicity and innocence.

[Daryl Hrdlicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a thrift store and picked it up for my daughters, but got bored and read it myself. Wow! It is haunting, powerful, and rings very true. I'm currently adapting it to a screenplay for Script Frenzy, and it's one of those stories you can see in your head as you go.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and it's almost impossible to explain why. I love stories of the prairie with tall grass and miles between houses I guess. It was a pleasure to read this book, and I cried when the tragedies struck, and I just loved the characters so much.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that I had read this book before, however, it was right on line w/living in the West.
Lots of Hardships, trust and helping ones neighbors.
Prairie life is not simple or easy.
Joys of certain holidays and events in ones life.

[The Farmer's Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, since the author is from New York, I wasn't expecting to like this book. While I found some things to disagree with (one specifically, I found the little brother's character to be unbelievable), I thought all in all, Conrad wrote a beautiful, poignant story.

[Cws]

JAR5-Conrad

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louisa's life in a loving pioneer family on the Nebraska prairie is altered by the arrival of a new doctor and his beautiful, tragically frail wife.

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

boring.

[Megan Ekins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about the struggles of living in the middle of nowhere. It was a little bit dark though. They went through a lot of difficult things.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pam Conrad was a sensitive writer. Prairie Songs teaches that sadness comes to everyone and that incredible strength is necessary to survive.

[Mrs. Kris's Class · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book made my eyes tear up it was so good. Catherines review
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