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Cover of Prairie School

Prairie School

by Lois Lenski

Book Details

Publisher:Open Road Media
Published:2011-12-27
Pages:246
Format:BOOK
Language:en
ISBN:9781453227503

Reading Info

Age Range:6-10

About This Book

DIVDIVIt’s the worst blizzard in fifty years! Delores is very ill, but there’s no way to get through the snow. How long will she be stranded at school? /divDIVOut on the South Dakota prairie, the winters are fierce. This storm is the worst one yet: It’s below freezing outside, and the winds are howling. All of the other kids have gone home, but Delores’s family can’t get to her, so she has to stay at the school. Between a fuel shortage and having to boil snow for drinking water, it’s been hard f

Our Review

This historical fiction chapter book plunges young readers into the harsh reality of a South Dakota prairie blizzard, where a young girl named Delores becomes stranded at her one-room schoolhouse. With temperatures plummeting and winds howling, the story masterfully builds tension as Delores and her teacher face a dire fuel shortage and the challenge of melting snow for drinking water. The narrative provides a gripping, child-centered look at pioneer resilience and the formidable power of nature, making history feel immediate and personal.

Lenski's signature detailed illustrations and straightforward prose make the survival story accessible, emphasizing problem-solving and quiet courage over dramatic adventure. Children who enjoy realistic stories about weather emergencies or historical daily life will be captivated by the practical details of enduring a severe winter storm. This compelling school story ultimately delivers a memorable lesson in frontier resourcefulness and the comforting strength found in a caring community during a crisis.

Themes

Juvenile Fiction

Subjects

Juvenile Fiction