“Hilda carefully wiped the dishes that Papa had washed.”

From Matilda Nordtvedt’s Secret in the Maple Tree.

Ever since her mother’s death, life has consisted of Hilda, her little sister Lois, and her father. Despite only being eight-years-old, the young girl has come to realize that as long as she has Papa and Lois, she doesn’t need anyone else. As the daughter or Norwegian immigrants, Hilda has grown up on their Minnesota farm, managing the chores that Papa gives her. However, when Papa announces that he is going to get remarried to a widow he was friends with in Norway, Hilda’s world is turned upside down. When Papa travels to marry and bring back the new Mama and John, her young son, Hilda and Lois are left waiting both for their father’s return and the arrival of their new family. Despite all her maple tree prayers to not have a new Mama, Papa soon brings her home and everyone struggles through this new life as a blended family. While everyone else learns to get along, Hilda is left angry at John and resistant to her new mother. When Hilda learns that her family will soon be growing even more, she is forced to lean on her faith as she tries to trade in her anger for love.

Offering a simple, but sweet story for young readers, this book will appeal most to fans of the Little House series. The main character is realistic and honest which makes her very easy to relate to for readers. There are elements of faith that are developed throughout the book and a happy ending, but the real success of Secret in the Maple Tree lies in the genuine story.