Laddie: A True Blue Story

I recently received a copy of "Laddie", that was given to my mother-in-law 75 years ago for her 11th birthday. This was a very easy read and written at a very different time. Yes, there were harsh realities faced but good prevails. This would be a very wholesome book to share with a family of young children with a family reading time vs the idiot box. Real family values are presented in a story form and it will take you through many emotions. I highly recommend it. This week I also finished "A Girl of the Limberlost" and have started "Freckles". Make sure the phone and other distractions are taken care of before you begin. Enjoy.

Gene Stratton-Porter books figured heavily in the world of my childhood. I loved all of them, but a special place was always reserved for Laddie. I have no idea how many times I read it. This look at the lives and personalities of an Indiana farm family provides a glimpse of a world no longer existing. The emphasis on God is a little heavy, but it is seen through the eyes of a fascinating child, and probably illustrates moral values and issues of the time and culture accurately.

Laddie was my most beloved book as a pre-teenager. I absolultely loved the world portrayed, and with each rereading (17 readings in all) I was more caught up in the world of Little Sister (what was her name? We never do find out, do we?) I'm thrilled to see that it's available, as my old copy is in tatters, with pages missing and held together with a rubber band.

I read this story aloud to my 10 year old daughter and 11 year old son. We laughed, we cried, we wondered what would happen next, we were oh so sorry when the book was done. My kids said it was their all time favorite of the many many books we have read aloud together. This is the kind of story that inspires great character and kindly behavior....something that is sadly lacking in most modern liturature for the young. Well worth reading, alone or aloud.