These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Why read the book?

Laura is fifteen and starts teaching at a school twelve miles from home. She is homesick and the family she boards with is not kind to her. But every Friday Almanzo Wilder comes with his horses and sleigh to take her home for the weekend, and every Sunday he brings her back.

Laura teaches three more terms and Almanzo keeps coming to take her for buggy rides. Slowly they fall in love. He has the most beautiful horses and Laura loves riding behind them. At the end of the book they get married in a simple quiet wedding, just the way Laura wants it.

Favourite quote

It was a wonderful, beautiful drive. The whole world was glittering with the light of the sun on the snow.

What I Loved

I loved reading about Almanzo coming to pick Laura up every weekend. The sleigh rides in winter and buggy rides in summer sounded so lovely. You could tell he really cared about her because he came every single week no matter how cold it was.

Laura's first teaching job was hard. She was only fifteen and some of her students were older than her. The family she stayed with was miserable and the woman was always angry. But Laura kept going because she needed the money for Mary's college. When Laura and Almanzo got married at the end it felt just right. It was simple and quiet and happy. These really were golden years.

Key Takeaway

The best things in life are often simple, like a quiet ride home and someone who always comes back for you.

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