A Fine Start: Meg's Prairie Diary

Nine-year-old Meg has finally been reunited with her family in Kansas Territory and life finally seems to be settling down after the pro-slavery Ruffians finally were forced to leave. Meg and her family move to the town of Lawrence where her father opens a store. Meg comes to face the daily realites of life in Kansas and finally is able to start school and make some friends. Through it all Meg will also have to face the sometimes dangerous Kansas winters as a blizzard blows throw and tornados abound, but through it all Meg creates more life experiences and her third diary is another triumph. This is a great book for younger kids, whose older siblings like Dear America and The Royal Diaries. Definitely a must read. Meg comes out to be a very courageous character.

Nine-year-old Meg Wells begins her third diary in December of 1856. There is peace for now in Kansas Territory, with the pro-slavery soldiers having been forced to return to their home states, but Meg's father is still injured, and the bitter cold of winter has settled upon the prairie. When he is unable to regain the use of one of his arms, the family moves to the town of Lawrence, where he starts a store. Meg describes happy events, as she is finally able to go to school again and makes new friends, and also the dangers of life on the prairie including blizzards and a tornado. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the My America series.