Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life

Charlotte's mom has a positive attitude and a wandering spirit, and she's recently decided the spirit of Laura Ingalls is calling her to Walnut Grove, Minnesota, so she can write a book about a pioneer girl.  Charlotte isn't happy about the move, and neither is her twin brother, Freddy, who's taken a vow of silence in protest.  Her younger half-sister, Rose, makes new friends easily and has their mother's positive attitude.

When Charlotte gets sick and misses most of the first week of school, things get even worse.  Not only has Freddy abandoned his vow of silence, but he's also found a circle of friends without her. 

Charlotte is stuck in a funk, but she eventually realizes her first impressions of Walnut Grove may have been wrong.  The kids she's pegged as fake and snobby might actually make good friends, and a job at the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum has her reevaluating her opinions of Laura, too.

Could Walnut Grove be a real home for Charlotte's family?  What if her mother gets the urge to move again?  Will all that work be for nothing?

Shelley Tougas's new book is an engaging story about a dysfunctional family and a girl who's given up on trying to fit in.  The Laura Ingalls connections are fairly superficial, so fans will appreciate the extra touch, but those who don't know much about Little House won't feel lost.  This is really a story about finding home and speaking the truth in difficult situations.