Little House in the Highlands was written by Melissa Wiley. Its copyright date is 1999. It is available from Harper Trophy.

This story takes place in the Scottish highlands in 1788. The main character is Martha Morse who grew up to become the great grandmother of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Other characters include Mum and Father. Martha’s three brothers Alisdair, Robbie, and Duncan, and her sister Grisie, are also in the story. In the story Martha is 6 ½ years old and the youngest of the Morse children. Martha’s father is a Laird and the family has two maids and a cook. Martha’s mum and father want her to be a proper young lady, but Martha would rather play out of doors with her father’s tenants or visit cook in the kitchen.

This book tells a lot about everyday life. It also tells about their beliefs, customs, and foods. Martha enjoys playing on the moor and going to see the new baby at the tenant’s cottage. Martha wants to learn to spin, but she is too small to reach the peddles on the spinning wheel. She goes to ask Auld Mary and Auld Mary gives her a
spindle.

This is the first book in a four book series about Martha Morse. It is interesting because it tells about life in Scotland a little after the American Revolution. I think this is a good book to read. It is a good book because by reading it you can learn a lot about history and Scottish customs.
Review by Becca, age 12