On the Other Side of the Hill

Little House: The Rose Years #4

by Roger Lea MacBride

The Wilder family has fallen on hard times as they struggle to make a success of Rocky Ridge, their farm in the Ozarks. Young Rose must help her parents as they battle the natural disasters of a cyclone, a drought, and a forest fire. There are good times as well, when Rose attends her first party in town.

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

MacBride 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...

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. I read these books so fast that I’m having trouble remembering what happened in what book. They follow each other along perfectly! I still really love the characters—Abe, Rose, Laura/Mama, & Almanzo/Papa. I loved seeing Father & Mother Wilder again; also, Blanche’s friendship with Rose is really fun! There are a few euphemisms; and again, the constant wonder about babies bugs me. Rose’s growing rebellion & flirtiness bothers me, but at least when Rose disobeys, her parents find out and deal with it. However, I’m finding these books, although still really nice, to have more and more little things—hard to lay a finger on—that are bugging me. This series isn’t for everybody. I love how the train is constantly woven into the book, though… so whimsy and lovely. <3 And I love Laura’s little talk about finding contentment in the little things! Edited, this is suitable for readers 14+; 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*

[Jaime K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of Rose's growth in it, but at times it's repetitive. It covers the third year the Wilders are on Rocky Ridge, and there are quite a few times when the story jumps ahead a few months. Still, there were quite a few things that jumped out at me:

- I like that Abe said that Effie is the boss of the house.
- The Ozark people put a lot of stock in omens. I'm glad that Rose understands that focusing on them means constant fretting.
- Cider pressing sounds great, if only because of the day of basking in friendly and joyous company.
- Birthing and nursing were not spoken of "in polite company." As such, we can see a major downside in being an only child, particularly if a young girl was thinking about being a mother.
- Professor Crowe is awful. I'm so glad that it wasn't common for kids to be BEAT. And yes, the kids are horrid to him as well, but as an adult, he set the worst example.
I LOVE Mrs. Honeycutt, especially because she played with her students at recess. She's understanding of them and their desires too.
- The Wishbook chapter made me laugh and wonder at the progressive times of the 1890s.
And it also made me realize in a different way that as things get more exposure (goods, the world, people, being connected 24/7, etc.), the easier it is to carry envy; the more exasperated jealousy becomes.
This is bad for Rose. She's always carried some jealousy for the town girls, and her embarrassment pushes through in this book. There are certainly the beginnings for the woman she became.
- It's also great to see the growth of the times through entertainment like Wild West shows.

MacBride talks of the convenience. I think it's the second time in all the books that I've seen one mentioned.

It's quite annoying that the title of the book isn't even brought up until the very end.

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. My littles continue to enjoy this series and always ask me to read this to them. But at the end of the day, this series just isn't as great as the Little House one.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't terrific, but at least it was better than the last one. The stories were a little better. The writing is just as annoying, though.

Land sakes, Laura! Why do have to keep saying "Land sakes"?!?!

And I am so tired of someone's mouth quivering in "mirth".

Roger Lea MacBride really is not a good storyteller. Not in the least. He is an average writer at best. That is my opinion, of course. He uses the same words over and over again. And he repeats the same facts/points over and over again. He portrays Laura as a very unlikable person. No, what I suppose I should say is that he makes her not my "sort". There are many times when I just want to punch her in the face. And, like I said in a previous review, I have no idea what these people were like in real life. But if the real Laura Ingalls were anything like the way she portrayed the character of Laura Ingalls to be, she would NOT develop into the person that MacBride turned her into.

And he just HAS to put something in here to drive me nuts. Almanzo accidentally opens the Sears & Roebuck catalog to the corset section. And grown man, adult Almanzo BLUSHES at that?? And then APOLOGIZES to Laura?? What IS that? And then she goes off on how she, basically, disapproves of such pictures. OH, COME ON!!! I want to scream at both Almanzo and Laura and say "GROW UP!!". It is neither cute nor funny to write these two in such a way.

I did find one thing interesting, though. Last time I was irritated with Laura's constant blushing every time her husband showed some kind of affection. Yet, in this one she "settles" on his lap? Isn't that more intimate, in a way, than just giving someone a quick kiss? Whatever!

I have 4 more to go. I will be so happy to get these over with. Why read them if I really have problems with them? Like I said, they have been sitting here for YEARS. I spent money on them (expecting them to be good). They WILL be read. They won't be wasted.

[Erika RS · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the last book, which was a bit dull, things pick up again for Rose and her family in this book.

One of the things that's interesting in comparing these to the Little House books is that I feel the author romanticizes farming much less than Laura Ingalls Wilder did. I don't think one way is better than the other, but it is an interesting contrast.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can’t get over how great the Rose books are, and how they hold their own against Little House. The details of her experience and American history woven together are superb. I read these to my seven year old daughter, but must admit that I enjoy them quite as much.

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character is really hard to like in this one.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is now the fourth book in the series and Rose is growing up. My goodness, her dolls are remaining in her drawer and she doesn’t have time for childish escapades anymore.

What I’m finding more and more from these books, is that there are multiple “lessons” to be learned. Don’t lose your temper. Don’t get jealous. Don’t forget to build a cyclone cellar. Don’t play tricks on teachers. Learn how babies are made. Which is obviously beneficial to the intended reading group, but not to a full grown adult.

The whole “how are babies made” storyline is cringe-worthy in this day and age. Laura/Mama blushes as soon as Almanzo/Papa so much as kisses her in front of their daughter, and then stumbles over explaining to her 10 year old daughter how babies are made. I know children were probably quite sheltered in those days, but if you live a farm, you would have seen things that you would never unsee! And preparation is key whether you’re going to be faced with a tree trunk when you see a guy naked for the first time or an acorn. I suppose the ladies never saw anything in those days. Or it was certainly never talked about in polite company.

So while Rose is growing up, the family are still dealing with the various lessons that life throws at them. Laura and Almanzo still feature quite heavily in the books, and haven’t disappeared into the background, as I was expecting. Laura seems to have moved away from her childishness, which didn’t seem ever to happen, if you grew up as a lover of the original book series/TV show and is quite the obedient farmer’s wife now. Almanzo I feel like is either strongly based on Dean Butler’s portrayal of Almanzo, or he played the character very well. (Unfortunately I don’t recollect too much from Farmer’s Boy or The First Four Years - they weren’t my favourites from the series.)

There’s still a very short amount of time covered in these books, and I expect to see the “jump” happening soon. Rose is already 10/11, and we still have another four books to go. If it finishes up around the same time as the Laura/Caroline books did, we need to get her finishing school and married with a baby on the way!

This is still easily skimmable, and will be finished in no time. I haven’t found a seriously bad or seriously good book so far. They are just easy to read and formulaic.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has brought me so much joy and I'm glad I gave the original Little House series a chance after sitting on the boxset for a decade. This installment to Rose's franchise was stellar. She and her family had to move into town because things aren't so rosy at Rocky Ridge farm. She's seeing what town life is all about with the various stores, townsfolk, and animals around her new house. There were certain moments that pricked at my empathetic heart, but I can always count on the honeyglow to pick me back up. My biggest takeaway was the fact that a baby was swept up in a tornado unharmed and the Wilder family christened her Cyclone Sally. I'm not ready for this series to end, but I should be fine with the other stories featuring Rose's ancestors. As long as I've got my prairie ladies, not even a tornado could tear me away.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picks up where the last book ends with the wedding of Effie and Abe. The town comes to celebrate with a shivered, as Abe is being lifted during the celebration, the fence rail he’s on brakes, and an old lady says this is bad omen. The story includes hog butchering at the Stubbins, a mean teacher that the boys harass and he quits, Blache’s birthday party, Effie having twins and the Cooley’s leaving the hotel business-they’re still living in town, but Mr. Cooley is now working for the railroad. The spring is muddy, then a cyclone comes, then drought, then a fire that destroys Mr. Stubbin’s farm caused by a spark from RR. Mr. Cooley dies from a train wreck while working, Mrs. Cooley will eventually move, but Almanzo’s dad buys the house for him and Laura to have. The poor crop forces the Wilders to move into town to be able to pay their debts, they’ll live in the Cooley’s old home. Both Almanzo and Laura will take jobs and Abe and Swiney will take care of the farm.

[Stephanie Pieck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rose Wilder's family battle a cyclone, a fire, and other hardships in this novel. Rose discovers there's more to growing up than just adding another year to one's age.

[Emma Thingsted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always completely nostalgic to come back to 💕

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of challenges in this girl's life

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book, especially because of the plot, and the descriptive writing that they use in the Little House books.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised it picked up right with Abe’s and Effie’s wedding. Everyone was given some kind of noise maker like cowbells and pans to bang together in the “shivaree.” They went to their cabin and made a lot of noise, then Abe had to come out and sit on a fence rail while he was bounced up and down a few times around the house. The rail broke and an old person claimed it was bad luck. Effie handed out a bowl of nuts and candy to everyone and the men smoke cigars. Very strange custom…

It was so funny how when Swiney came over, crying because Effie had thrown him out, he said “She throwed me out,” and Laura said “Throwed you..” and then laughed at herself and said “I mean, threw you out?”
He said Effie said if he didn’t like the rules he could just git, so he “gitted.” Laura said “You got. I mean, you went. Oh, you mix me up sometimes!”

Swiney had said he didn’t want to do girl’s work, he’s a man. Laura turned her face away, and Rose had to bite her lip hard to keep from laughing!

It was nice how Rose didn’t like the sound of the hog butchering and want to see it; she didn’t even like to see a caterpillar be killed.

Also that at the dinner afterward, she didn’t see why the women had to wait for the men to eat first, since they worked just as hard. Men ate first at butchering, threshing, and log rolling.

Rose finally got to move up to the Fourth Reader, but the nice female teacher had gotten married and moved away. In her place was a mean teacher. The boys played one prank of kicking the stove until it moved so much that the pipe fell down and school let out early for the day. Then one rubbed a raccoon pelt all over the floor and then stuffed it in the teacher’s jacket, and let in all these hunting dogs that knocked him down and tore his coat up. He quit and the story got out so that Almanzo met Rose coming home from school and said he wanted to hear every word! He had her tell him before they went in the house, as he milked the cow, because Laura wouldn’t like it.

They got Miss Pimberton—now Mrs. Honeycutt—to come back and teach. Rose realized that she’d lost her new hat that Laura had made her during recess. She told Mrs. Honeycutt and it was so clever how she solved it. She went out into the woods and found a stick shaped like a T. She told everyone that it seems as if someone has taken Rose’s tam o’ shanter. She said in case it’s not a mistake, a hickory branch in the shape of a T can find a thief. If she throws it in the air, it will land on the head of the person who took it. If someone took the hat or knows where it is, they should speak not and be forgiven. She waved the stick and drew back to throw it and a girl said that she saw Almeda dodge. Mrs. Honeycutt took her outside and the kids watched out the window and saw her retrieve the hat where she’d hidden it. Mrs. Honeycutt gave Almeda her own fascinator. She sent her home and told the class that Almeda is very sorry and made a mistake, and everyone makes mistakes. They who forgive most will be most forgiven. When she returns to school no one will tease her or they will be punished. Rose asked her later if it was true about the stick knowing who’s a thief. She asked Rose what she thought and Rose said she thought only a thief would think it’s true. She was told she’d learned a valuable lesson.

Almanzo brought home a new Sears &Roebuck book, called a wish book. It was interesting how he said the prices are almost wholesale and would put town merchants out of business. You mail a letter with the money to pay for the items you want.

Laura pointed out that without merchants giving credit, a lot of farmers would starve, including them. And you couldn’t tell the quality of the items without seeing them.

One day she threw her list into the trash. Manly was shocked and Rose was upset. He said a few dollars on notions won’t break them. Laura said she has all the things she needs. She can trade for a slate pencil, and use scraps for dress shields, etc. He said a fella likes to spoil his best girl, but she hardly lets him. What have they worked for all these years if they can’t be foolish now and then? Laura sat on his lap and said he spoils her every day, with flowers, and furniture he makes, and the funny stories from town, and their walks in the woods. He spoils her in a thousand little ways she would never be without. She kissed him. She hasn’t missed a thing on the list. She learned a lesson from the wish book, that the minute they think they need a thing, they begin paying for it whether they buy it or not.

I couldn’t believe Rose’s outburst at Blanche’s birthday party. Lydia had been going on about how the town sucks and how great Chicago is and Rose finally stomped her foot, and said if you hate it here so much why don’t you just go back to Chicago? If that wasn’t bad enough, she said Lydia was the most boastful, up posh thing I ever saw and she doesn’t care about anything but her own self. She heard Mrs. Coday gasp but didn’t stop there. She asked what she thought she could eat if farmers didn’t grow her food. She’d come begging to them and she’d give the crumbs off her table to the dog before she’d give any to her! If everyone in Chicago was like her, she wouldn’t ever like to see it.

Laura told Rose a story of how Nellie made her so mad by being disrespectful to Caroline that she tricked Nellie into going into a creek where there was a mean crab that chased Nellie into the deep water where leeches were at!
She even mentioned that she got her justice twice more, once when she married Almanzo, because Nellie liked him and Laura thought Nellie wanted him to ask for her hand.
Laura named one of their stubborn mules Nellie!

While Effie was having her babies, Rose and Swiney were left home alone and a cyclone came. They made it through unharmed and the farm wasn’t too bad off. But a baby had been dropped up in a tree, carried from miles away and not harmed. They found out whose it was and it was returned.

Almanzo’s parents came to visit. It was so sad how Mr. Cooley died in a train accident. Manly’s dad bought their house for them to rent or eventually sell to help make money.

Laura had gotten up one night to water the garden, and Almanzo went out and said he won’t have her working like this, in the middle of the night. Go on to bed and get some rest.

Laura said “It doesn’t do to look back. The only way to go is ahead.”


There were some cute, sweet, and funny moments, so I was enjoying this one. There were changes in scenery and breaks from the usual routines so that was nice. I always marvel at how the writing is so similar to Little House. There were some interesting bits about life back then and what was going on, cool to learn how they felt and thought about things. This was such an eventful book with so many major things going on in her life.

[Viola Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great installment of the series and read-aloud for my three older girls. I have really been enjoying Rose's stories, especially because the scenery is so different from when they were in the Midwest (which I am more familiar with).

There were a couple of scarier moments in this book. I was surprised at how well my girls handled the chapters involving a tornado and a fire. They were well written for the target age.

See this review and more on my Substack: https://momsmusings.substack.com/i/14...

There was so much good in this book, too! We got to see Rose deal with her emotions when she was shamed by a "town" girl. And we got to meet Effie's baby! The surprises involved in this book were so fun for us to read together.

[IrishFan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been collecting this series and finally found all the books at used bookstores. This series follows Rose Wilder, the daughter of Laura & Almanzo Wilder, when she was a little girl after they moved to Missouri. It was a hard life trying to make a rocky soiled farm successful, fighting fires, drought, and other issues. Fun to read.

[Celeste Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose is ten now and really growing up. This book was so inspiring. She had to work through friendships, being ok with being a farm girl & having friends in town, and the scare of a cyclone and a fire. Her family continues to inspire us to work together, and keep up the hope that the future will be as bright as our faith. I think every family would benefit from the Rose series.

[Kris Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose is growing up and getting to know herself and the world around her better. This entry in the series shares the hardships the Wilders go through, which led them to move into town in Mansfield at the end of the book. Looking forward to reading about all of their adventures there in the next book!

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short series follows Laura Ingalls Wilder, husband Almanzo and daughter Rose after they leave the Dakotas for the Ozarks. I think this is almost entirely fictional, but it's written in the same style as the Little House books and they maintain the same charm.

[Lydia Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really liking this series. I can’t wait until my granddaughter gets old enough to read them. That’s a long way off though. The descriptions of the land and hardships of farming feel so real. The forces of nature described really pull you in.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay - the plot picked up in this one! And the only reason I was sad about Mr. Cooley was him leaving behind his family. He wasn't a good husband or father, but it will be harder for them financially without him. Again, love the community the friends make for each other.

[Katina stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable easy read that held my interst.

[Bogormen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5. I probably wouldn't continue this series, if I didn't love the "Little House on the Prarie" series so much.

[Minetta Slattery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth the read...when life was hard but still simple.

[GheenGirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turtle: great! Return to library.

[Katie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This one's a doozy, but Rose is still totally great.

[MrsAintheLibrarywiththeCoffee]

Read these some time ago. Maybe 2000?

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book bought at Mary Briesecker library used book sale

[SarieBerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75 Stars