While the first book of the Little House series focused on the author's life, Farmer Boy details the experiences of her husband, Almanzo, who grew up in New York. I was very confused at first because there was no warning that the story is not a continuation of the first book, and the characters were completely different. I had to look it up before I realised that indeed, there is some connection.

Almanzo is the youngest of four children (two sisters and two brothers). As the youngest, he is often not allowed to do many things and is forever wanting to do exactly those forbidden things. Interestingly enough, the forbidden stuff are actually chores! Almanzo loves the farming life, with all its hardships and uncertainty. Indeed, his parents appear to think that farming allows independence and a farmer is not beholden to anyone; weird when you think that farming is so highly dependent on weather and government policies. But that's the story they tell themselves. The elder brother, Royal, does not buy into it and chooses to become a shopkeeper, which disappoints his parents. However, Almanzo decides to follow in his own father's footsteps.

The nitty gritty of daily life is once again fascinating to read. Reading about it from Almanzo's perspective is interesting. As the youngest, he is not allowed to speak at the dining table, which made me laugh a lot. What did children even do when eating? How did they learn small talk and elegant dinner conversation when not allowed to speak at all?! I wonder how this 'rule' came about!

I rather liked how Almanzo's father teaches him about money and Almanzo ends up rather rich (for his age) by making investments that pay off! By the end of the book, he has a pig, a calf, and 200 dollars in the bank! Every 'character' was fun to read about and I hope Ingalls writes a bit more about Eliza Jane somewhere in the series. She seems to have some spunk and sounds like a bit of a rebel!

There was a weird bit where an 'Indian' joined a horse race at a fest and everyone cheered. I was thoroughly confused because it came right after they were discussing horse breeds and I thought there must be an Indian horse breed that was participating.

Overall, very well written and there's not a single boring word in the book!

While it’s somewhat odd how “Farmer Boy” is part of the “Little House” series, Almanzo’s story of farm life in New York has the same feels and storytelling as Laura’s story does, while also being its own story. A (97%/Outstanding)

One of the things I appreciate about Laura Ingalls’ writing is that unlike many children’s authors, she provides layers. Adults can enjoy the books alongside the kids while also recognizing additional implications in the themes and events. Wilder isn’t just reminiscing. She’s offering a thesis about how to conceptualize what it means to be a free, honorable, independent American.* Whether or not one fully agrees with her thesis, it’s undeniable that it’s an influential one. Importantly, it's one that offers a much-needed counter-balance to the entitlement mentality.

This is easily one of the most successful read-aloud novels I’ve done with my kids so far. They were upset when it ended. They enjoyed the early “Little House” books as well, but this one was more exciting for them--whereas Laura tends to watch and describe things that Pa does, Almanzo gets to DO a lot of interesting things, often with animals. What child can resist the allure of hearing about how another kid gets to do real, potentially dangerous work alongside the grown-ups?

The family dynamics were interesting. One gets the impression that the Ingalls family enjoyed a closer, warmer bond than the Wilders. Almanzo respects his parents, but he doesn’t really talk to them. Father and Mother’s work ethic is intense. The Wilders were obviously a more well-off family than the Ingalls, and it’s interesting that along with greater material prosperity came more work. Ma Ingalls did not dye and weave her own cloth, nor make preserve, nor deal with nearly so much food. Reading between the lines, I think we can see both the strengths and the costs of the way the Wilders lived.

I also appreciated the way Almanzo’s maturity grows as he works alongside his father. Several of his father’s parenting decisions--such as the way Father teaches him about the value of money--made a significant impression on my children.


*Laura Ingalls Wilder said elsewhere that she never wanted to be a farmer's wife (although that's what she ended up doing) because the life was too hard. Yet this book is essentially about how being a farmer is the ultimate career, because it allows a man to be most truly free and independent. I think it's clear that this message is one she decided to convey rather than one she necessarily experienced, which is interesting.

The kids and I thoroughly enjoyed this one; I especially loved hearing about life not far from here in upstate NY. It was difficult hearing about all the food they ate, though, with a food-obsessed child who can't eat gluten or dairy.

I enjoyed this one more than the last, didn’t expect that, excited to see where the series goes…well I expect it’ll be the prairie

I read this with my kids, and we all enjoyed learning about life "in the olden days". Some of the descriptive portions were a little over our heads - describing the way the small oxcart was built, for example. If a picture wasn't included, we had no clue. Lol

My son and I loved listening to this boom. He is only a year older than Almanzo is in the story. Life was so different then.

After reading Farmer Boy, I have a couple of things to say. Farm work never stops. The meals were quite elaborate and delicious sounding. It's a beautiful recounting of the kind of people who made up the foundation our country .Also, I can build a sled if I choose with the details from the text!

I’m glad I moved this to right after Big Woods. The boys loved it! It was also good for me as a parent to think about letting Cy (9) level up in his chores and choices.

"What I did not like was that Mr. Thompson was only going to give Almanzo one nickel for finding his wallet full of money but then Mr. Paddock brought up his fist and told Mr. Thompson to give the boy two hundred dollars. Almanzo put the money in the bank. The day he went to the fair he ate tons and tons and tons of food. I would not each that much, he even had four or five slices of pie. That wasn't even the only time he ate a lot of food either. Almanzo didn't like school so much he would rather be at home working." -Cadee, age 7

Reread January 2, 2017.

It's funny, as a kid, what I remembered most about this book was Almanzo's whip. This time reading as an adult, I especially noticed the disparity of wealth between Almanzo's upbringing and Laura's.

Also, I can't believe Almanzo's parents left the kids alone for a week to run the farm! I can't imagine how good of a vacation it was to go to your sibling's farm (ten miles away), where surely you were helping do all of the chores you would have been doing on your own farm. Guess they really wanted to get away from their kids? No judgement.

Half the book is filled with descriptions of food. I’m ok with this.