Books with author Loula Grace Erdman

In this second book about the Pierce family, more than five years have passed since their first moving into the Texas Panhandle. They have learned to live in a primitive sod house and have overcome—and even come to love—the odds that the land with its weather and unusual neighbors presents. Even so, 15-year-old Katie, gentle and artistic, is eager to return to East Texas to be schooled in all the finer things that this pioneer country lacks. Then an accident to Grandmother reverses everything! Katie, to her own surprise, finds herself volunteering to stay home to feed and care for Papa, the boys and Carolyn on the farm, while Mama makes the eastward journey to care for her mother. During the next few months, timid Katie encounters one distressful situation after another, from humiliating cooking disasters, to tough boys at school, to a battle with a blizzard. Despite fears and setbacks, she resolves to do whatever seems needed, acts which often turn out to contain a lot of heroism. As Katie’s confidence grows, so does her interaction with family and new and old friends deepen—all against the picturesque backdrop of homesteading life in the Texas Panhandle during the late 1800’s.

Almost 15-year-old Carolyn, the “baby” of the Pierce family, is experiencing the growing-up difficulties and frustrations typical of the youngest child. Melinda is energetically engaged in the town life of Amarillo, the twins are happily married, and Katie, home from school, spends all day sighing listlessly around the house. Carolyn feels a bit neglected—after all, she has problems and worries, too! In her attempts to find her own place in the adult world, Carolyn tries to assist Katie’s floundering romance, secretly befriends the daughter of an unfriendly homesteader, and discovers that words, her words, can make a difference in others’ lives—particularly in the life of young Jim Foster. The Texas Panhandle is a good land for growing up in—even if the growing up is harder then you expect!

Homesteading in the 1890's: The Texas Panhandle was only just beginning to be homesteaded by farmers--called nesters. Forced to give up his store in East Texas, Mr. Pierce introduces his family to the daunting challenge of life in a sod hut on the windswept plain. While the move offers a prospect of something new to irrepressible little Carolyn and unending adventure to the lively twins, Bert and Dick, it promises to be an ordeal of labor and isolation for Mama, Melinda and timid Katie. 14-year-old Melinda Pierce, the oldest child and most reluctant pioneer, is especially dismayed. She has given up her friends and happy town life, for this? She clings tightly to her grandmother's promise that when Melinda is 16 she may return to East Texas and join her friends at Lewisville Academy for Young Females. It is this hope, and her mother's dauntless example, which get Melinda through the first difficult weeks. Before long, however, Melinda is caught up in the compelling beauty of this land of wind and wide horizons, with its adventures and with its gift of new friendship. She finds herself joining wholeheartedly with the other members of her family in their determination to answer the challenge of the Panhandle and make it home. This is the first of three stories about the Texas Panhandle, each highlighting one of the Pierce family daughters.

In this second book about the Pierce family, more than five years have passed since their first moving into the Texas Panhandle. They have learned to live in a primitive sod house and have overcome—and even come to love—the odds that the land presents. Even so, 15-year-old Katie, gentle and artistic, is eager to return to East Texas to be schooled in the finer things that this pioneer country lacks. Then an accident to Grandmother reverses everything! Katie, to her own surprise, finds herself volunteering to stay home to feed and care for Papa, the boys and Carolyn on the farm, while Mama makes the eastward journey to care for her mother. During the next few months, timid Katie encounters one distressful situation after another. Despite fears and setbacks, she resolves to do whatever seems needed. As Katie's confidence grows, so does her interaction with family and new and

Almost 15-year-old Carolyn, the baby of the Pierce family, is experiencing the growing-up difficulties and frustrations typical of the youngest child. In her attempts to find her own place in the adult world, Carolyn tries to help her older sister in her floundering romance, secretly befriends the daughter of an unfriendly homesteader, and discovers that words, her words, can make a difference in others lives. Recommended by Seton Home Study Grade 5, Seton Home Study Grade 6 Publisher: Bethlehem Books Format: 185 pages, paperback ISBN: 978-1932350135 Ages: 9-12

The Wind Blows Free is the first book in Erdman's trilogy about the Pierce family of "nesters" who homesteaded in the Texas Panhandle in the 1890s. The novel follows their difficulties as they try to wrench a living from the dry land. The Pierce family has three daughters, and the first novel tells the story of the oldest daughter, 14-year-old Melinda. This novel won the Dodd, Mead-American Girl Award as the best family book.