On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

Book Overview

A detailed diary from the author of the beloved Little House series, chronicling her journey with her family from South Dakota to Missouri.

In 1894, Laura Ingalls Wilder, her husband, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, packed their belongings into their covered wagon and set out on a journey from De Smet, South Dakota, to Mansfield, Missouri. They heard that the soil there was rich and the crops were bountiful--it was even called the Land of the Big Red Apple. With hopes of beginning a new life, the Wilders made their way to the Ozarks of Missouri.

During their journey, Laura kept a detailed diary of events: the cities they passed through, the travelers they encountered on the way, the changing countryside and the trials of an often difficult voyage. Laura's words, preserved in this book, are a fascinating account of life and travel at the turn of the twentieth century, and reveal Laura's inner thoughts as she traveled with her family in search of a new home in Mansfield, where Laura would write her Little House books.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064400808
• ISBN13: 9780064400800
• Release Date: October 1976
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.2" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 8 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 3 and higher

Customer Reviews

Incredible Story

This is an amazing, must-read for any Little House fan. We finally get to learn what happens after The First Four Years, and although there is some struggle and hardship, this story is so much more uplifting than that of The First Four Years, which to me was somewhat of a depressing book. On the Way Home is more reminscient of the first eight books of the original Little House series. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the Mansfield house on vacation shortly after reading this book. I found the Ozarks to be exactly as I pictured them while reading this book. Highly recommended.

A Happy Ending

I always wondered what happened after The First Four Years and this book lets us in on what happened to the Wilders. Because of high debts and failing crops, the Wilders lost everything. After a friend visited the Ozarks and told of the fertile land and milder climate, Almanzo and Laura decided to start over. Laura kept a diary of their journey for memories sake. Because so many readers were curious of what happened to Laura and Almanzo, Rose Wilder Lane wrote a wonderful setting leading up to the diary and after they arrived in the Ozarks. The diary was written as a diary for it was never intended to be a book but only as a memory of their travel. It was comforting to know that they were finally starting to move forward with their lives instead of backwards like what happened in South Dakota. The diary was found after Laura's death and Rose had it published to let us know that Almanzo and Laura had a hard but happy life. I didn't expect Laura's writings to be more detailed because it was still seventeen years before Laura started writing for the farm magazines. She only wrote what she found necessary to make sure she had enough paper for the whole journey. The pictures in the book are excellent for then you can see the real Almanzo, Laura and Rose. I consider this book the true ending of the Little House series.

On The Way Home

For the children who loved Little House on the Prairie series;this is for you. On the Way Home is about an eight year old girl traveling with family toward her new home. There were many adventures that the Wilder family encountered "on the way home." there are parts in this book that would keep you on edge. This book would appeal to children under the age of ten. Laura Ingalls Wilder has published many interesting books for children including this one. On The Way Home is a book that would teach a child about the hardships of life in the eighteen hundreds. On the Way Home is a book that would interest children to read more books like this one. HAPPY READING!

On the Way Home

For the children who love Little House On the Prarie, this book is for you. On the way Home is about an 8 year girl traveling with her family towards their new home. There were many adventures that the Wilder family encountered "On the way Home." There are parts in this book that will keep you on edge. This book would appeal to children under the age of 10. Laura Ingalls Wilder has published many interesting books for children including,On the Way Home.