Walter Havighurst (1901–1994)

Having spent much time admiring the Great Lakes, I was looking forward to reading this regional history, but was a bit disappointed with this book. I was initially drawn in by the romantic sweep of language, the endearing folksy style of historical writing of the 30s and 40s. But at times its absurd heavy-handedness made it clear that this was a one-sided, manifest-destiny march of progress and industry from one end of the Lakes to the other. I felt dragged along, sometimes applauding the show more action, other times saddened by it, but dragged nonetheless. It isn't the sort of history that would be written nowadays, the book is a bit tiresome due to its limited point of view. show less

The story of a young man, Nils, and the Norwegian family who adopts him as one of their own as they travel from their homeland to the U.S. to start a new pioneer life in Wisconsin. Not a bad entry in the genre: nothing earth shattering, but it's an interesting story and well-enough paced.

Cleng Peerson is real. But..: The development of the cant hook is probably not as described in the book. The book is not terribly racist to Indians, but the bottom line is that the only people you can trust are Norskies. And the Norskies are almost as 'brave and good' as Kate Seredy's Hungarians. Also, there's a bit more about farming than lumbering, so the title is not good. And I just didn't learn enough about any of the subject settings, peoples, or cultures.

Otoh, the pictures are show more appealing. And it's not a bad book. And it scratched my itch for a juv. HF that wasn't all 'sturm und drang' drama. I'm glad that I found it, and saved it from being discarded through lack of circulation. Do I recommend it? I dunno... probably not unless you have a personal connection to the history or are on a Newbery project. show less

One of the genial and informative Rivers of America series, this book may give a pleasant bonus for certain readers as it is, -- no big surprise , given regional history -- something of a vest-pocket history of Norwegians in America. I wish regional history were writte like this these days.