1. The Old Times Union
Thursday, February 28, 1860 Hannah Gross, LA 7
Farmer Boy ¸
By Laura Ingalls Wilder
Today’s Weather: Cloudy with an estimated
snowfall of 6-8 inches High: -1º
This book is based on the childhood of husband,
Almanzo Wilder, who grew up in the 1860s near the
town of Malone in upstate New York. The book is
just one year in Almanzo’s life. It starts just before
his ninth birthday, and describes the endless chores
that are happening in the Wilder family farm.
Almanzo
wakes
up
before
5
a.m.
everyday
to
milk
a
lot
of
cows
and
feed
stock.
In
the
growing
season,
he
plants
and
yends
crops,
and
in
winter,
he
hauls
logs,
helps
fill
the
ice
house,
trains
a
team
of
young
oxen,
and
sometimes,
he
goes
to
school.
Farmer
Boy
is
all
about
his
growing-­‐up
years.
Including;
getting
used
to
school,
getting
along
with
his
siblings
(as
well
as
getting
in
trouble
The Boys Are Back!
with
them
a
few
times)
and
finally
getting
his
By Hannah Gross
very
own
horse.
They are big. They are scary. And they are back.
These are the five boys from Hardscrabble
Settlement. No one knows his or her names.
Everyone is too afraid to ask.
These sixteen and seventeen year old boys come to
school only in the winter term. They come to thrash
the teacher and break up the school. What will
happen this year to the new slim, young teacher,
Mr. Corse?
Photo of Upstate New York during this time

2. Hannah’ Helpful Hints
Town Hall By Hannah Gross
I think the book, “Farmer Boy”,
by Laura Ingalls Wilder wasn’t
Hard Working Almanzo a great book, but wasn’t a
Gets What He Wants! horrible book. It has some parts
that really kept me wanting to
By Hannah Gross read more. Then, it had parts
that made me want to stop.
Hard working Almanzo Wilder finally gets a reward
from his parents. Almanzo works at his chores from I would recommend this book to
dawn to dinner mostly everyday, no matter what the 5th grade and up. It is an easy
weather is. reader, but some words may be to advanced for
All he has every wanted was to be a father and have under 5th grade. Honeslty, if you are someone who
his own colt. On March 5th, his very strict father doesn’t really like to read, but will only read books
finally gave him what he wanted: his own colt. The that are amazingly good, I would not recommend to
colt was the father’s, but now it is Almanzo’s. This read this. But if you love to read anything, this book
shows that hard work does pay off. is a good choice!
Advice Column
Unscramble the Words!
Hannah’s Helping Now!
Directions: Unscramble the following
Dear Hannah, words
My name is Almanzo. I go to school in Upstate
New York. During winter, these teenage, scary 1. AMREFR; __ __ __ __ __ __
boys, come to school and tear our school up. They
make kids be mean to each other. I’m only nine and
I don’t know what to do when I’m the next one they 2. OYB; __ __ __
try to get. Can you pleas give me some advice?
From, Almanzo
3. EWN ROKY; __ __ __ __ __ __ __
In Reply; Dear Almanzo,
Have you tried asking your parents or teachers?
Grown ups around you can certainly help with these 4. LMNAZAO; __ __ __ __ __ __ __
bullies. Well, I assume they are bullies. If they try to
come near you, try and protect yourself. Just walk
away and stand near other groups of kids, or near 5. RM. ROCSE; __ __. __ __ __ __ __
an Adult. If they try to talk to you, just say that you
don’t want to fight and that you are just a little boy.
You can either say that, or something along those
lines. I hope this helped! From, Hannah
Answers: 1. Farmer 2. Boy 3. New York 4. Almanzo
5. Mr. Corse