Book details
Upside Down in a Laura Ingalls Town
Description
It has been a long and difficult year for the Decker family, especially for sixteen-year-old Brooke. Her grades have plummeted. She deliberately breaks curfew. She makes out with boys she hardly knows. And now her father has totally lost it. When Tim Decker signs up his family of three to be contestants on a Hollywood reality show, Brooke's life turns upside down. The place: The North Carolina backcountry. The year: 1861. Brooke is forced to trade in her Victoria's Secret bra for a rib-cracking corset, her comfy jeans for an ugly farm dress, and her private bathroom for an outhouse. Television cameras will follow her every move as she lives the grueling life of a mid-nineteenth-century farm girl: milking a cow, churning butter, fetching water countless times a day, and riding in a horse-drawn wagon along a rutted road to spend pennies in town. This will be Brooke's life for four awful months. Unless, of course, she breaks the rules and the producers kick her off the show...Other families are scattered throughout Sweet Sugar Gap. The snotty Prudence Miller soon becomes Brooke's rival. Wendell Murphy, who works at the local mercantile, is instantly smitten with Brooke-but also makes her suspicious. Does the only cute boy in town really like her, or is he merely showing off for the cameras?Brooke Decker may just have to find a way to make it in the backcountry, leaving behind the modern frills she can't live without. But can a young girl's wishful heart surrender to a time and place she believes she can never call home?
Age
14-17
Text complexity
proficient
Length
357 pages
Why to read
- Historical Insight: 'Upside Down in a Laura Ingalls Town' offers readers a unique perspective on American history, particularly the pioneer era, through a time-travel adventure that brings the past to life in vivid detail.
- Engaging Plot: The novel presents an intriguing plot where the protagonist, a modern-day teenager, finds herself transported to the 19th century, providing a captivating fish-out-of-water story that keeps readers hooked.
- Themes of Self-Discovery: As the main character navigates the challenges of living in a bygone era, readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth, making the book a source of inspiration and reflection.
- Cultural Relevance: The book's exploration of the contrast between contemporary life and historical times offers a platform for discussions about societal changes, technological advancements, and the evolution of social norms, making it relevant for readers interested in cultural studies.