The Middle Sister
Miriam E. Mason, Wayne Blickenstaff
(Scholastic Book Services, Jan. 1, 1973)
Depiction of life in the wilds of Minnesota during the 19th century, and Sarah Samantha being buffeted about by her older siblings who were sure they knew better than she about, well, everything. Sarah Samantha's desired to prove her bravery by baking an apple dumpling for her uncle, so she could win the lion's tooth her uncle carried. She had to keep an apple tree alive despite moving to wild Minnesota, a locust invasion not to mention an American Indian showing up in the kitchen (he ate apples, too).