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Book Review By Phoenix Rye
O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

The Bergsons are one of the many families who are struggling to settle the prairies of Nebraska. One by one, the neighboring families move away to tamer land, but even when her father dies, Alexandra refuses to leave. She, her mother, and her three brothers stay on the land and farm it. Eventually, their work pays off and the land becomes some of the best in the country. Because of her careful planning and hard work, Alexandra is able to relax and take her leisure.

But she hasn't seen the end of her troubles, because her young neighbor Marie Shabata, who is unhappily married to a man named Frank, falls in love with Alexandra's youngest brother Emil. Alexandra also is surprised when an old friend from her childhood returns to the prairie. Carl Linstrum's family had sold their land when times got tough, but now he has come back to see Alexandra. They decide they want to get married, but Alexandra's brothers, Oscar and Lou, think that Carl is only after Alexandra's money so they run him out of town. While Carl is gone, Emil and Marie get into trouble together with Marie's husband, but Alexandra doesn't seem to realize that anything's going on. By the time she does, it's too late.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1600-1899
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Kind of romance:
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Exploring into the wild Yes
kind of story - colonizing/settling in new area

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
Prairie? Yes

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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