Riddle of the Prairie Bride

American Girl History Mysteries #12

by Kathryn Reiss

In 1878, twelve-year-old Ida Kate and her widowed father welcome a mail-order bride and her baby to their Kansas homestead, but Ida Kate soon suspects that the bride is not the woman with whom Papa has corresponded.

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

161 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

Kathryn Reiss was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Ohio, and received B.A. degrees in English and German from Duke University, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan. After college, she lived in Bonn, Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, and during this time wrote the first draft of her first novel, Time Windows.

Ms. Reiss is an award -winning author of 20 novels for kids and teens. She has been a Writer in Residence for the Princeton Arts Council, a recipient of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Grant for Writers, and has been a featured speaker with (among others) Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, The Northern California Library Association, The International Reading Association, Fresno County Office of Education, California Reading Association, The American Library Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives in Northern California with her husband and the last of her seven children still in the nest. She is a Full Professor of English at Mills College at Northeastern University, and also teaches in the low -residency MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Reviews

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a staple of my childhood. Still holds up, tbh.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a mail order bride answers her father's ad in 1878 Kansas, the woman seems to be from the South, which isn't real good in freed Kansas. The wife is possibly not all she seems, and his daughter investigates.

A real life sort of mystery. More relevant than ever with all the blended families these days.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since her mother's death two years ago, twelve-year-old Ida Kate Deming has done all the housework for herself and her father on their Kansas homestead. The year is 1878, and life on the prairie is difficult, dangerous, and lonely. Ida Kate's father has decided the time has come for him to remarry. He puts an advertisement for a wife in an eastern newspaper, and a young widow, Caroline Fairchild, who has a one-year-old son, responds. Ida Kate is eager to have a mother and a brother, and her father is eager to once again have a wife. But all is not right with Caroline. Soon, Ida Kate begins to suspect that Caroline may not be Caroline at all, but someone else entirely different. But if "Caroline" is an impostor, what happened to the real Caroline? And are Ida Kate and her father in danger?

Riddle of the Prairie Bride is another enjoyable read from the History Mysteries series. Readers who enjoyed other books in the series, or books from similar series such as the Dear America books, are sure to enjoy it.

[Angie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed so much of this story! The sweet, charming, simple way that things moved through most of the book; the darling and unexpected relationships between the characters; the way that Ida Kate welcomed her new hopeful-mother-to-be and her baby with open arms. I loved that her later suspicions didn't arise from any kind of personal dislike or jealousy of Caroline, although gracious, when two preteen girls get their suspicions going, things can escalate more than a little quickly. Talk about a flair for the dramatic! I had the real ending guessed pretty much from the beginning, but I did enjoy the resolution.

In fact, even with the girls' over-dramatic suspicions, I would probably rate this closer to four stars except for one thing that really knocked my enjoyment down. I'm used to kids finding comfort in the thought that their parent is now an angel (although I don't agree theologically) and can usually brush it off. I also don't have a problem with kids talking to a dead parent when they're upset or worried over something. But Ida Kate's conception of her mother as her guardian angel--the way she claimed to feel her presence and even think she heard her voice--was pretty disconcerting. If it had been presented as any more of a fact, I would have put the book down. As it was, everything seemed pretty well confined to her imagination, but the way those imaginings were presented as real or nearly real makes me hesitant to recommend the book. As it was, I really enjoyed the story and the characters, but I probably won't read it again.

[Cullen Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary: "Riddle of the Prairie Bride” is a mystery novel set in post-Civil War Kansas (which was then still considered the frontier), and follows the happening of a young girl named Ida Kate Deming. Her widowed father sends an advertisement out east seeking a new bride, to which a woman named Caroline responds and comes to Kansas. However, Ida finds many clues that indicate Caroline isn’t who she claims to be, and thinks she might be there to murder her and her father. In the end they discover this person is actually Lucy, Caroline’s best friend, and that the real Caroline was killed in an accident before she was supposed to come to Kansas.

Characteristics That Support the Genre: This book falls into the historical fiction and mystery categories. The story itself is fictitious, but it provides insight into how the Civil War affected people of that era and the life of a farmer living on the Midwestern frontier in the late 19th century.

Mentor Writing Traits: (1) Conventions – The author uses a large amount of dialogue between the main characters to tell the story, and strictly adheres to proper grammar and writing conventions. (2) Word Choice – The text uses a good deal of imagery and uncommon descriptive vocabulary to aid in comprehension and increase the appeal of the story.

Classroom Integration: This could be a fun novel to use as a Read Aloud, considering the mysterious nature of the new bride and the clues that the main character finds. It could be the basis for a project where students are asked to create their own historical mystery story. Additionally, the teacher could point to this novel as a good mentor text for proper writing conventions.

Other Suggestions: I would suggest this book as being appropriate for readers in approximately fifth grade. As an additional idea for integration in the classroom, this book could spark a conversation about the pitfalls of lying.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just discovered this series of books written for girls ages 10 and up called the American Girl History Mysteries. And if the rest are like "Riddle of the Prairie Bride," I would highly recommend them.
This book takes place in 1878 in Kansas and is about a young girl, age 12, whose mother had died. After two years, her father puts an ad in a newspaper back East advertising for a wife. A widow by the name of Caroline answers his ad and eventually agrees to come to Kansas. Both Ida Kate and her dad really like Caroline, but Ida Kate soon discovers she isn't really Caroline and thinks she has murdered Caroline and kidnapped her baby. All ends well, and the book gives the reader a look into the life of a homesteader in Kansas.

[Mary MacKintosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sought this out because I liked another youth title by Reiss: Paint by Magic. This is an American Girl book--historical fiction for girls aged 10 and up. This one is part of a series called History Mysteries. Written competently, the book illustrates life in Kansas post Civil War, and the mail order brides that left the East to try a new start with men on the prairies.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is Caroline truly Caroline? This mail-order bride isn't quite as advertised, leaving Ida Kate to figure out some way to save her father before he marries an imposter.

Entertaining read, richly steeped in history, yet still fast-paced and exciting. I'm truly loving the books by Kathryn Reiss.

[aMandalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, kids genre though it may be. It was just enough mystery and plot to be slightly nerve wracking without being too terrifying for me. I love this time period so any books during the “western” days are enjoyable to me.

[Kristi Clemow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute

[Bulk Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real plot of this book:
Ida Kate and her father await the arrival of his new mail order bride, Caroline Fairchild, whom they met basically through online dating. When she arrives, she is nothing like how she described herself in letters and gets a lot of details about her life wrong. Ida Kate spends half the book feeling slightly suspicious, another fourth deciding she is definitely suspicious, and the last fourth actually investigating. She decides the mail-order bride must be the murderess of the real Caroline Fairchild. As it turns out, the real woman is named Lucy Dotson and Caroline was her friend in the factory where they worked. After Caroline died in an explosion, Lucy decided to take her place. She is accepted by the family once she tells the truth and they all have a happy ending.

Potential plot of this book:
Ida Kate’s father stands to inherit a large fortune once his grandfather dies, which is due to happen soon. Mail order bride’s friend Lucy finds out about this through reading her letters, so she murders Caroline and kidnaps her baby. Once Ida Kate starts to suspect, Lucy plans to kill her too. Ida Kate must find a way to stop the murderess before it’s too late. And she figures out much earlier that something is amiss.

Really, the soap opera route is always the best way to go.

[Kevin Findley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting little mystery that deals with false identity and the need for a fresh start after life nearly does you in. In 1878, the Wild West is fading and the farmers and ranchers are beginning to see their scratch existence turn into something better for everyone.

Ida Kate is a young woman having to take on adult chores after her mother dies. Her father has turned to finding a mail-order bride and may have found someone who fits into his family's frontier life. At first everything goes well, and Caroline appears to be a great fit, even bringing along a new baby brother for Ida Kate from back east.

Caroline turns out not to be who she says she is, and Ida Kate begins to dig into the mystery. By the end of the book, Lucy (her real name) turns out to be a better choice than Caroline. We get a traditional happy ending, but the author makes it work.

Recommended for fans of the American Girl series, Little House on the Prairie style books and mysteries with a heartwarming ending. This might even qualify as a cozy for younger readers.

Find it. Buy it. Read it!

[Galion Public Library Teens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review by A.H. : "The Riddle of the Prairie Bride was, all in all, a fairly straightforward novel. Riddled with predictable twists & drawn out dialogue, the events in the book tended to be over-exaggerated or overly traumatic. However, I did like some of the character development in the story, particularly pertaining to the main character, Ida Kate. Her change was simple & internal, having to do with how she views her actions & the world. Naturally, these character changes (in any book) are some of my favorite and so I enjoyed growing with her. Unfortunately, this one character was not enough for me to REALLY like this book, what with its humdrum events."

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow start, overall felt mature for the target age. The storyline is rooted in deceit and the main character follows the advice of a friend to keep her suspicions from her father till they investigate more. Lots of assumptions and jumping to conclusions.

Starting on page 3 MC believes her deceased mother is an angel watching over her from heaven. MC believes she can hear her angel mother give her advice and help.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

This historical fiction mystery isn't especially engaging. The author frequently tells instead of showing, and there's a lot of info-dumps in dialogue, especially at the beginning. The story is also extremely predictable, but the historical underpinnings are interesting and well-presented, and I liked the ending enough to round up my star rating.

[Allison | This Enchanted Hour · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wholesome little mystery for girls who enjoy stories about pioneers. The author wrote it with respect to her audience, allowing them to uncover the mystery alongside the protagonist, Ida Kate. The story also exhibits a loving parent/child relationship, where the father and daughter work together to create a happy home. Very sweet and enjoyable story.

[Deevena Jemima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice! Reminded me of Little House on the prairie.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. I loved the characters, the writing, the obvious historical research that went into writing this book.

[Little Seal]

Another great mystery AG book by Kathryn Reiss. I was pretty darn invested in this one. I also think this was a lot better than Kirsten's books, that is also set around the same time period.

[Jessica Arend · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it wasn't a hard mystery to solve, I really enjoyed reading this. The story was good and I liked the descriptions throughout.

[Autumn Fortier]

I remember really liking this book.

[Yinzadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite dark in some respects; I wouldn't recommend for children under 10. However, at the foundations it’s a heartfelt story of a found family surviving and loving one another.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little choppy at times but the story and mystery were nice. I guessed it but considering this is a juvenile-age book, I’m not deducting any points lol

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this particular story, it might be useful to read the history part before you read the actual story. I didn't realize that there was a system where newspapers regularly ran ads for brides for men who were in the “west,” (which area varied depending upon how far the “civilized” border had been pushed west.)

There weren't many women in the actual “west”, so apparently lots of men took out ads in newspapers in the “east” to see if they could get a woman interested in coming out and marrying them. This was also fairly common, apparently; reference is made to one “shipment” of 41 women at a time.

This better sets the stage for Ida Kate's story. Her father was one of the men who took out a newspaper ad and it ended up being answered. They kept up writing each other and Ida Kate's father asked the woman to come out west and she agreed.

So her father and Ida Kate meet the woman, Caroline. At first everything seems ok, but as time goes on, Ida Kate finds more and more mysterious things about Caroline, indicating that she may not be who she claims to be at all. Then Ida Kate finds a dagger that belongs to the woman and she makes the assumption that Ida Kate may plan to kill her father and her.

“Caroline”, meanwhile, has adapted well to life on the prairie and Ida Kate's father really seems to like the woman (and the baby she has with her.) Things continue to build, though, and finally the woman is confronted with the evidence that Ida Kate has found and she confesses.

The story turned out to be more interesting than I thought that it would be, and it has a good ending.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story for girls who like mysteries. The mystery is not that complex, but the ending was still unsolved in my mind before I came to it. A few negatives include the fact that Ida Kate, the main character, 12 years old, believes her mother is now an angel watching over her and can hear her. She asks for help from her dead mother once or twice. Also, her father sounded as if he was dishonoring to his father by moving. Positives include that Ida Kate was honoring and loving to her father.

[Donella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with C for her book review at school. It's the first time I had read an American Girl series book. It was a good book, especially for girls 8-11 or so. It was nice to be able to share the story with my little gal :D

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this audio book on my commute to and from work. A simple story for readers of all ages set in Hayes, Kansas after the American Civil War. Good messages on love, forgiveness and family I recommend this book to all.

[Chris Koeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book and the reader was not a good fit with the character. Her voice was that of an old women and it detracted quite a bit from the story. I listened to it based on a very high recommendation of the book. This one would be better read than listened to.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best in the series so far!!!!!! totally awesome!!!!!!! i don't know how people come up w/ such great stories.