These Happy Golden Years

J.M.J.

Linda Benning March 2, 1955

Book Report: These Happy Golden Years

Characters (People this book is about): Laura Ingalls, her Ma and Pa, Laura’s sister Mary, and their neighbors.

Plot Outline (What this book is about): When Laura Ingalls was 15 years old her Pa took her to Brewster settlement to start her first teaching job. She had never been away from home and she was afraid, but she went anyway because her family needed the money so her sister Mary could go to the school for blind children.

Laura had to live with the Brewsters. They were an unhappy family and Laura had to watch the husband and wife argue all the time. Their house was very cold, but Laura did not complain.

One day, a boy named Almanzo Wilder came to town. He was very nice and Laura liked him. They went on buggy rides together. After three years Almanzo asked Laura to marry him and she said “Yes.” He was kind to her and she knew he would be a good husband, so Laura married him.

Conflict (The struggle between a character and an inside or outside force): Laura was scared about leaving home. She knew she would miss her family when she went away to live with the Brewsters. She didn’t like seeing Mr. and Mrs. Brewster fight. The students she taught were not very nice to her. But she stayed because she knew her family was depending on her.

Theme (The truth about life that the author expresses): Life can be difficult but if we work hard and are good to others and don’t think about ourselves, we will be happy. Laura’s reward was to marry a nice man, have nice children and make a nice home for them.

Wise Ask: What truth about life would you like to express? Share your answer below.