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Little Blog on the Prairie  By  cover art

Little Blog on the Prairie

By: Cathleen Davitt Bell
Narrated by: Therese Plummer
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Editorial reviews

If you think your childhood family vacations were rough – packed into a minivan with your brothers and sisters, facing hours of your mom’s impromptu karaoke, listening to your dad’s endless sports games – then you should meet 13-year-old Genevieve Walsh, whose mother just signed the whole family up for a summer at a frontier fantasy camp. While Gen navigates the ups and downs of a decidedly unconventional summer vacation, narrator Therese Plummer strikes just the right balance between Gen’s typical teenage “Life is so unfair” moments and her blossoming respect for the land, hard work, and her relationships.

Gen, her parents, and her 10-year-old brother Gavin are forced to give up all their modern conveniences (from Crisco to Clearasil) to join four other families for eight weeks of partying like it’s 1890 – complete with cow-milking and period dress. But Gen, who sneaks her cell phone into camp, stays calm by texting her back-home friends about everything: sharing a bed with Gavin, figuring out how to use an outhouse in the dark, dealing with the resident mean girl, and making new friends over a game of Kick the Can (that, ironically, uses all her contemporary soccer skills). Her friends turn her texts into a blog that goes viral, earning Gen more attention than she realizes — until the outside world barges in. Throughout the narration, Plummer keeps Gen likeable and sympathetic (even when she’s behaving like a genuine 13-year-old), and gives the other voices in the story—Gen’s parents, Gavin, Gen’s new friends, her crush – easy, distinctive personalities as each one realizes that life on the farm isn’t exactly what Little House made it out to be. Whether you’re a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan who’d appreciate a more realistic take on the chores that Ma made sound so simple or a teenager setting out on yet another family vacation, this version will make the chores (and the car ride) a lot more entertaining. —Blythe Copeland

Publisher's summary

Gen's family is more comfortable spending time apart than together. Then Gen's mom signs them up for Camp Frontiera vacation that promises the "thrill" of living like 1890s pioneers. Forced to give up all of her modern possessions, Gen nevertheless manages to email her friends back home about life at "Little Hell on the Prairie", as she's renamed the camp.

It turns out frontier life isn't without its good points, like the cute boy who lives in the next clearing. And when her friends turn her emails into a blog, Gen is happily surprised by the fanbase that springs up. But just when it seems Gen and family might pull through the summer, disaster strikes as a TV crew descends on the camp, intent on discovering the girl behind the nationwide blogging sensation and perhaps ruining the best vacation Gen has ever had.

©2010 Cathleen Davitt Bell (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This fast read is humorous and insightful, with realistic characters that are refreshingly well rounded. Bell has captured a 13-year-old's voice, making Gen's unlikely situation feel very real." (School Library Journal)

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What listeners say about Little Blog on the Prairie

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Absorbing and fun story for range of ages

This wonderful novel kept my 8, 11 and 14 year old daughters equally happy on a long road trip. The 14 year old identified with Gen's unhappy predicament and the logic of wanting to stay connected to her friends via texting; the younger two were completely caught up in the "prairie" experience, and enjoyed assuming the roles of Gavin and Gen for days after we listened to the book. The deft descriptions of pioneer life were fun and then often suddenly moving without seeming heavy-handed. Nora made a great villain. The book was neither too earnest nor too ironic, a subtle area that my children adore.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

All around great story!

The story of a family going on "vacation" to an 1890's Frontier Camp is both funny and engaging and I was absolutely hooked on this story from the start all the way through to the end!

Basically, as with a lot of family vacations, the teenagers are none too happy about being forced into the experience and the parents aren't quite so sure if they understood what they were getting themselves into. The experience provides lessons to be learned of course; but the author writes in such a way that you can both understand what they are going through, while also laughing a bit at the situations they find themselves in. The narrator also did an excellent job of making the characters in the story come to life just with the tone of her voice. This is really a good story for the entire family - children, teens, and adults!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Review from an 11 year old prairie lover!

This is one of the best books. It was funny and light-hearted. I could really relate to the main character. My little brother and mum loved the book, as well. I recommend this book to all blog loving, text typing teens!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

New + Old = Funny!

Our family of four listens to books on car trips, etc. This book turned out to be perfect during our vacation to Alaska, where, we too, it seemed, went back to the pioneer days a bit. We laughed and sympathized with the characters. The plot is fairly predictable, but a couple unexpected twists. Our 13-year old daughter loved it most, but her 11-year old brother liked it too. It gave us some interesting things to talk about, which is a bonus. If you have a penchant for chickens, and kids who have cell phones - you must give this one a try!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

awsome book#dont even have to read it Lol

I love that book #glad I'm not Gen I would die well I would have fun ok I would live

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very cute!

Wasn't sure about this book but love the reader so I gave it a try ...really entertaining book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I liked it!

Cute. Fun. Made me laugh. Great story. Narration great nice voice.i would listen again. I recommend this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Read

I would read this book because it is a good story. I already read it. ☺😊😀😁😂😃😄😅😆😇😉

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

love the book

Would you consider the audio edition of Little Blog on the Prairie to be better than the print version?

I didn't think this book would any good. I would buy another story by this author. It was entertaining and a page turner.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Little Blog on the Prairie?

The responsibility of all characters on farm.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last line of the main character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laugh and it gave me hope.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Put that phone away and milk the cow!!!

What made the experience of listening to Little Blog on the Prairie the most enjoyable?

The narrator, Therese Plummer, made the book very enjoyable.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was neatly tied together though a bit sappy.

Have you listened to any of Therese Plummer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first time I had heard a narration by Therese Plummer.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was humorous enough to make me chuckle out loud once or twice.

Any additional comments?

Because of this listening experience I will be looking for additional performances by Therese Plummer.

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