Caddie Woodlawn

Caddie Woodlawn, a Newberry Award-winner written by Carol Ryrie Brink, is a fast-paced story about a young girl living with her family in pioneer-day Wisconsin. It describes a year in the life of Caddie and her family. The book starts out describing the adventures she and her brother has. As the book goes on, it is clear that Caddie’s older sister and mother want her to be more of a “lady” instead of a tomboy. The reader sees Caddie’s evolution into a young woman by the end of the book.

In the Author’s Note she mentions that Caddie is based on her grandmother, Caddie Woodhouse. This adds another level to the book because it provides some historical background and relates the book to the real-world; it provides a sort-of context for the story. Teachers could bring this book into the classroom by researching some of the sources Brink mentions, such as the park and Caddie Woodlawn house.

On page 107, “Caddie wished more than ever that she had been a boy” when learning about Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. That is such an interesting sentiment because she goes on to say that if she had been a boy, she could be president. I wonder if this is what girls of that time actually ever thought, or if it was simply added because it seemed appropriate to the time period.

The part of the book that I enjoyed the most was when Caddie took the Hankinson boys to the store because she feels sorry for them. Their mother is a Native American married to a white man, and she goes with the other Native Americans, leaving the three sons and their father behind. After Caddie watches their mother come to school and say goodbye to them one last time, she wants to make them happy so she takes them to the store to help her spend her silver dollar. She buys them new handkerchiefs and candy and combs. It was so nice of her to do this; it seems like something an eleven-year old wouldn’t think of. This was just one of many steps in her progression to becoming a young woman.

This book really reminded me of the Little House on the Prairie books. Caddie is a lot like Laura; they are both tomboys, living in pioneer times, and they are both kind. Laura would always help another child if something was wrong, just as I imagine Caddie would do. The book also reminds me a little bit of Ox-Cart Man because both talk about tapping the sugar maple trees. I used to really look up to Laura Ingles when I was younger, and I’m sure I would have enjoyed this book then.