A White Bird Flying (1931)

Sweet but pale in comparison with A Lantern In Her Hand. ( )

The story starts out slow, but once I got to the main conflict I couldn't put it down. (This is a sequel to A Lantern in Her Hand, and both books are highly recommended!) ( )

While others may point to Willa Cather to tell the pioneers story, I point people to this book and to its predecessor, A Lantern In Her Hand. Aldrich may not have the critical acclaim that Cather does, but I think she is much more a writer of the people, a writer of pioneer stories and a writer who can capture the human heart. This story of the Deals -- and particularly Laura Deal -- is a treasure even if you've never been here. It's one of my very favorite and re-read books. ( )

A sequel to "Lantern in Her Hand" that stands alone quite well. The story of Abbie Deal's grand-daughter Laura, and her coming of age in the earliest decades of the 20th century. Essentially a slice-of-life narrative, with various characters learning and growing, and coming of age. Well written, as Aldrich's works usually are. An old favorite. ( )

As a sequel to A Lantern in her Hand, I found this book a disappointment. I missed the loving attitude the characters in Lantern had toward the land, nature and their place in it. Times changed in the lives of the Deal family and with those changes came modern conveniences and modern attitudes. I wanted more of the old pioneer spirit in these descendents of Abbie Deal. I missed her. ( )