by Caroline Fraser
Reviewed by Linda:
Generations of Americans have grown up reading the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder with their unforgettable stories of her pioneer childhood. This fascinating biography is the first true account of the author’s life and reveals an even more dramatic story. Growing up, she experienced ongoing severe poverty and tragedy, including the death of a brother. Throughout her life, Wilder’s inner strength and courage are remarkable. But in her sixties when she turned to writing out of a desperate financial need, she recast her childhood as a happy one with self-sufficiency solving the family’s needs.