Shasta Mom Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I chose it based on multiple recommendations, and it's hard for me to be excited about it. She's a great character and the fact that it's based on someone's life has merit, but when I think of all the other books out there, I would have skipped it. The writing, too, is mediocre...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I read it in 4th grade, and remember being rather underwhelmed. I made my kids read it last year (when we were studying the time period), and they did read it, but also had kind of an "eh" response to it. I didn't re-read it, so I don't have a fresh perspective, but considering my own opinion at that age, it's hard to argue. I know it gets rave reviews all over. If I'm looking for a book on pioneers, I'll take Little House any day. We listened to those on CD, and were all entrhalled, even me, who read them all (and loved them!) as a child as well. When we ended, they wanted to start again at the beginning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Actually, we have had a similar experience here. Dd will read almost anything and enjoy it. She has read many difficult to read classics repeatedly. But Caddie Woodlawn was not a hit. I tried to read it out loud to her but lost interest myself. I am glad we are not alone. That being said, I may still require dd to read it this year as we are studying American history and I think it is good practice to read things that are outside one's field of enjoyment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sarathan Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Speaking of this.... has anyone seen the movie? I just rented it from Netflix even though it didn't get the best reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Speaking of this.... has anyone seen the movie? I just rented it from Netflix even though it didn't get the best reviews. No, but if is good would you let us know. It maybe enough for dd to finally get the motivation to read it cover to cover. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda...inOwasso Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 LOL, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder! We just finished Caddie Woodlawn yesterday and dd8 and I both loved the book. I thought it got off to a slow start and I wasn't impressed either until about halfway through the book. Once the characters were fully developed and interesting things began to occur, we were hooked. I know so many people love the Little House Series, but that's one I've never enjoyed. BTW, we're studying early U.S. history this year... anyone care to recommend their "must-reads"? I have most of the Sonlight core 3/4 books, but I'd love to know of any that really stood out for you. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetbaby Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 My oldest read a copy years ago and loved it. Let me know about the movie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyNellen Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 It about killed my daughter when she read it :-) She's a great reader, but that one took her for-e-ver! I think she would agree with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zelda Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 My dh and my dd were bored to pieces...they couldn't finish it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch at Home Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 We also loved Caddie Woodlawn. Actually the Little House books were duds with my oldest. For early Modern we have really enjoyed the Scholastic My America series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fivetails Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I started it as a read aloud to my dd11 and, well, yeah...we found it pretty boring and put it away. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 That's so funny--Caddie is one of my fav's, but she has to grow on you. The vocab is more complex than LH, and the descriptions are definitely longer! I think it may be the descriptive passages in the beginning that turn people off. There's no "payoff" in that first chapter until the very end of it, and even then, kids have to know just why Caddie would be so embarrassed at what happened. There's just a great deal of "backstory" and cultural stuff that is revealed a little later in the book. I think some read Caddie too early. The major issue in the book is her growing into womanhood, and what that looks like in her own experience. So, perhaps waiting for Caddie until 10 or 12 would be better. I love Caddie Woodlawn, and so does dd8. But we re-read the LH books over and over, because they are less challenging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 We really liked Caddie here as well. Even my 5 yr old loved Caddie. We thought it was very much like Little House on the Prairie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I like Caddie but it is not a favorite to savor by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 While the writing is not stellar, I have to say I liked Caddie better than Little House. That probably borders on heresy, but there it is. There is a sequel, has watermelon in the title or something. That one I haven't read. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Magical Melons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hose Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 I loved it! Different folks... Ginger Pye, however, was a killer! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shasta Mom Posted September 17, 2008 Author Share Posted September 17, 2008 I didn't like Ginger Pye that much either; luckily it got "lost". I do admit that I got more interested in Caddie as it went on (we just finished it last night) but the reading never snagged me. When I compare it to Montgomery's writing of Anne of Green Gables, I find the scale bottomed out on Anne's side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staci in FL Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 One of my favorite quotes EVER comes from Caddie Woodlawn. Her father is talking to her: "It's a strange thing, but somehow we expect more of girls than of boys. It is the sisters and wives and mothers, you know, Caddie, who keep the world sweet and beautiful. What a rough world it would be if there were only men and boys in it, doing things in their rough way! A woman's task is to teach them gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. It's a big task, too, Caddie - harder than cutting trees or building mills or damming rivers. It takes nerve and courage and patience, but good women have those things. They have them just as much as the men who build bridges and carve roads through the wilderness. A woman's work is something fine and noble to grow up to, and it is just as important as a man's. But no man could ever do it so well. I don't want you to be the silly, affected person with fine clothes and manners, whom folks sometimes call a lady. No, that is not what I want for you, my little girl. I want you to be a woman with a wise and understanding heart, healthy in body and honest in mind." When we finished this book a few months ago, I was sobbing as I read this section out loud. It is immensely inspiring to me, who used to design roads and bridges. I've traded that part of life in and now I'm trying to teach gentleness and courtesy and love and kindness. And it is much harder to do that than it was to design a road. Keep reading! You may end up loving it. Staci Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 My dc actually really liked Caddie Woodlawn. I was a bit surprised. Because it's about a girl, I wasn't sure if my ds's would like it, but they really did. To each his own! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 We loved Caddie Woodlawn, it has always been one of my favorites. However, I was a tomboy and felt a bit like Caddie growing up. We read it aloud last year and ds enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted September 17, 2008 Share Posted September 17, 2008 Stacy, This quote always does me in, too! It really is the core theme of the book--it's old-fashioned and yet modern in its description, isn't it? Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.