MMGM: Little Blog on the Prairie

This is book is about five years old, so I’m not sure why I didn’t hear about till now, since this was a book that seemed to be written for me.  Not only did I love the Little House series as a girl (and secretly wish the power would permanently go out, so I could live just like Laura), but I also loved The Frontier  House series that came out in the late 90s.

Come to find out, the author of LITTLE BLOG ON THE PRAIRIE was inspired by both. And even though I was a bit more like Gen’s mom than Gen, I loved this hilarious take what it would be like to vacation at Camp Frontier.

The synopsis (from Amazon):

Camp Frontier promises families the “thrill” of living like 1890s pioneers. Gen will be thrilled if she survives the summer stuck in a cabin with her family and no modern amenities. But ever the savvy teen, Gen sneaks in a phone and starts texting about camp life. Turns out, there are some good points-like the cute boy who lives in the next clearing. But when her texts go viral as a blog and a TV crew arrives, Gen realizes she may have just ruined the best vacation she's ever had.

What I loved:

      1.  Experiencing (real) pioneer life: I loved the nitty-gritty details of life on the prairie: struggling to make and find food, washing dishes with a rag, doing laundry in a washboard, hoeing corn. This was the reason I loved Frontier House (PBS series). It's easy to imagine how you might do as a modern person at Pioneer Camp (not very well, I'm afraid!).

      2.   An excellent antagonist: I thought Nora was one of the best antagonists that I’ve read in awhile. Writers are often advised  to create villains that aren’t stereotypical, but sympathetic. Study Nora and her motives if you want to create a memorable and interesting antagonist. I had a hard time hating her. :)

      3.  Humor: Gen, the main character, has a wonderful sense of humor, which comes through in her texts, her asides, her dialogue. Not to mention the fabulous situational humor in the book.

      4.  An interesting family: Five points for interesting parents. Everyone in Gen’s family, including her brother, grew and changed throughout the novel. 

      5. Media theme. I loved the juxtaposition of pioneer life with Gen’s texting throughout the novel. The role of media played out in many ways in the story, from how technology was relinquished upon arrival at camp to Gen’s interesting dilemma at the end.

This is a great book if you want some light reading, a trip back to Laura-land, but with some thought-provoking questions and interesting characters. It would make a great spring break read.

Speaking of spring break, I will be taking next week off to enjoy mine with my kids and (hopefully) get some interrupted writing time.

See you again in April!

Have you read any fun MG novels lately?

If you're looking for Marvelous Middle Grade suggestions, check out Shannon Messenger's blog.