On the Way Home: The Diary of a Trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri, in 1894

Marvelous and historically valuable look at Laura, Rose, and Almanzo's journey from South Dakota to Missouri. Laura's travel diary is a fascinating read, with Rose's helpful comments and annotations. However, I was very disappointed to find that a number of the photographs mentioned in the text at the end of the book were not included in the Kindle edition, which is the format that I purchased.

I learned new things about Laura Ingalls Wilder from this diary. Very fun and easy read.

Parallels the journey to The Little House on Rocky Ridge. Some historic classifications come to light. Rose shares her own memories alongside her mother’s travel journal. It was interesting and enjoyable.

An interesting book about Laura Amanazo and Rose after their first 4 years and their travel's far away to a new home that they built on Rocky ridge

After reading the 9 volumes of Laura's saga in the prairies, it is fulfilling to read the " rest of the story".I truly believe that all these books should be made MANDATORY READING in all our schools, from Mid to High. Modern youth have no idea of what real life is and cannot even dream about the problems and sacrifices young people of 2-3 generations ago went through.In today's " give me " society it is refreshing to read how children lived, worked, achieved only 100 years ago. Teachers would be TEACHING and the subjects would be useful to our growth rather than to our " social needs ". The fact that US students are almost at the bottom of any international comparison is revealing of the faults of our school system. Our schools are more worried about sexual orientation of our students than teaching Literature, Math. History, Reading, Composing, Chemistry .......... Laura and her friends learned well, and grew well adjusted citizens with good feelings for honor, duty, family....... She would be horrified if she could see our schools today.Thanks Amazon, for publishing this note.

This book was an eye opener. For the first time since I was a child, I got a glimpse of the actual character of Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is not the little scamp of the children's books but a grown up person who is gritty and not very pleasant. Her daughter's comments and viewpoints are enlightening. If you are looking for an idealized version of the three dimensional woman author, you may not like this. Nice to read before you invest in Pioneer Girl. It's interesting to see this view of American life before psychology, social media and political correctness colored our landscape. Not being judgmental - just an observation.

The book arrived on time. It is a great book to add to my collection of little house books. I am collecting them all on my ereaders so the hard copies of them stay in good condition. My 7 year old granddaughter will get them one day.

I had enjoyed reading Little House in the Big Woods and Little House on the Prairie. On the Way Home is a bit different -- not stories but the actual diaries of Laura Ingalls Wilder on her and her husband's move to Mansfield, Missouri with their daughter Rose. I found this fun to read, along with Rose Wilder Lane's additional commentary. Fans should find this book indispensable.

I thought I was done with the LHOTP series. I’ve read all of the original series of books, more times than I can count, and watched the TV show more times than I can remember. Then I discovered the biographies of some of the stars, like  Charlotte Stewart , Melissa Gilbert , Alison Arngrim  and  Melissa Sue Anderson . Then I discovered the Caroline Ingalls spin off series, which led me to the Rose Wilder spin off series.And here we are. Yet again, I’ve fallen down the Little House hole. The question is, do you need this book? Yes, it’s cheap enough, but I would have to say it’s not necessary, unless you’re a severe completist. Most of this is already covered in  Little House on Rocky Ridge , which is the first in the Rose spin off series.This book is from Laura’s diaries of the journey from their home in South Dakota to Missouri, in 1894. A journey that at that point was taken by wagon. The diary entries are bookended by Rose’s musings - most of which is deja vu from the Rocky Ridge book. The diary entries start on page 19, and abruptly stop on page 81, with Rose’s (lengthy) outro saying that this is where her mother’s diary entries ended.The book has some black and white photos sprinkled throughout. You have the standard Laura and Almanzo photos, but there are also photos taken of towns where they spent time on their journey, and from Rocky Ridge farm, which I hadn’t seen before.There is another book, which I’ve only just realised (because I haven’t read it yet), that also features the diary that Laura kept from that journey, plus two other journeys that she also took, in  A Little House Traveler . So this book probably isn’t necessary at all, if you already have that.I would say pick up, if you haven’t read Rocky Ridge or A Little House Traveller. Otherwise, it’s just a cash in, with a different cover, meant to lure suckers like me, in. Charlotte StewartMelissa GilbertAlison ArngrimMelissa Sue AndersonLittle House on Rocky RidgeA Little House Traveler

This book rounds off the Laura Ingalls Wilder story nicely as it is her diary written on the way to her ultimate home in Missouri. I did not expect - but it would be nice to have had - fleshing out of characters we have never met before such as her travelling companions, but her voice speaks clearly to the reader and it is thoroughly enjoyable.

A very quick read, a larger type and short story but gentle and fills in the gaps of the Little House saga.

Great little diary style book. Found it very interesting.

Good to know what happened after the 'Little Books' but not as detailed and absorbing.