The 6 Best Books for Little House on the Prairie Fans

Set in the Canadian prairies at the turn of the 20^th century, A Place Called Winter by Patrick Gale is an entrancing historical fiction novel, packed with romance, adventure, and heartbreak. 

It follows Harry Cane through several trials and tribulations, until he pretty much embraces a life of exile in the Canadian wilds. 

Partially based on Gale’s own family history, and written in lusciously poetic prose, A Place Called Winter is a deeply affecting read that will certainly make you cry. 

The title of this novel is a reference to a famous poem by Walt Whitman, one of the great American poets. 

Cather’s remarkable novel also unfolds at the turn of the century on the American frontier, focusing on a Swedish immigrant family as they slowly turn the farmland into a viable homestead. 

From the daily hassle of running a farm to dealing with inclement weather while also making time for romance and family, Cather’s book vividly captures frontier life in all its glory without sugarcoating its hardships. 

An enticing tale of family struggles and redemption, The High Divide by Lin Enger is a uniquely thought-provoking read filled with complex characters and hard choices. 

It follows the story of a man who one day decides to leave his wife and sons behind. Naturally, his sons go after him, as does his wife, all in search of answers in the wild, wild country. 

Enger brilliantly paints a portrait of the American Midwest with complex characterization and atmospheric prose. A stunning read, indeed, especially if you love family sagas. 

This beautiful novel by Jeanne Williams follows Hallie Meredith, a 19-year-old orphaned woman making her way through the Kansas prairie, accompanied by her five-year-old brother, Jackie. 

From working as a cook to joining a ragtag crew, Hallie’s life is full of ups and downs and some romantic drama. 

If you’re looking for a charming historical fiction novel unfolding across the Great Plains, the slow-paced The Unplowed Sky, filled with slice-of-life details, will make for an utterly absorbing read. 

While the Little House on the Prairie books primarily revolved around Laura Ingalls, Sarah Miller’s exciting historical novel revisits the same settings and characters with a focus on Laura’s mother, the brave and resilient Catherine Ingalls. 

Carrying their entire world in a wagon, the pregnant Catherine and her kin must tame the wild countryside and build a new home, with no one to call for help in a crisis. There are plenty of hardships, of course, but there are also unexpected joys—all told through Catherine’s perspective. 

Sumptuously written and authorized by the Little House estate, Caroline: Little House, Revisited is perfect for fans of the original books who wish to return to that same universe with a fresh point of view. 

Finally, if you’re a fan of the Little House on the Prairie books and you’re looking for a similar read, look no further than Patricia MacLachlan’s quaintly charming series, Sarah, Plain and Tall. 

The story unfolds through the perspective of young Anna, whose widowed father seeks a new wife and mother to look after his two children, and in comes Sarah, a girl from Maine. 

Delightful and lucid, Sarah, Plain and Tall is a heartwarming read that, though published in 1985, feels like it belongs to another time.