Prairie Skies & Kansas Links

Especially for beginning readers (or anyone who likes short books), the Pairie Skies trilogy is set in one of the most exciting periods of American history, Bleeding Kansas. 

Many students have to memorize that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed in 1854, but they don't always get have a sense of what it was like to live at this crucial time.

Prairie Skies tells the story of an abolitionist family who leave Massachusetts for Kansas. The books include historical notes and are based on some of the actual events that took place.

 

The Kansas-Nebraska Act and "Bleeding Kansas"

Prairie Skies takes place in Kansas Territory in 1855, a critical time in our history.
Many historians believe the conflicts in Kansas led to the Civil War. Here are links
to information and lesson plans related to "Bleeding Kansas."

Kansas Children's Books
A bibliogaphy of children's books about or set in Kansas.

The History Place
Information on the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854.

Websites for Teaching about Kansas
Links from the Shawnee Mission School District.

PBS Africans in America: Bleeding Kansas
Includes Teachers' Guide.

PBS New Perspectives on the West: Lawrence

Kansas State Historical Society.
A superb website! The Kansas State Historical Society is perhaps the best
place to start your search for information on Kansas history.

The Kansas Collection
This University of Kansas site is a rich repository of primary documents.

Kansas Territory:Crucible of American Experience

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Civil War Album: Bleeding Kansas
Includes links to other Kansas websites.


 
Now Available!
 
 

REVIEWS




  

From Publishers Weekly...
Hopkinson introduces the Prairie Skies trilogy with this solid chapter book set in 1855. After the passage
of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, eight-year-old Charlie's abolitionist parents decide to move their three
children from Massachusetts to Kansas... The author delivers several suspenseful plot twists along
with the historical facts. Distinguished by taut sentences well tailored to the audience, this informative
tale rolls at a promising clip.


From Booklist .... The characters are engaging--and the story ends on a note that's designed to
hook readers into the next volume... this Ready for Chapter Books entry breaks a long story into
manageable parts for younger readers who may find a full-length novel too daunting. An author's
note at the end explains Hopkinson's loving research and nicely distinguishes between fact and
fiction for children just learning about historical fiction.

 

To research Prairie Skies Deborah traveled to Kansas and read many primary manuscripts. 

"When I visit schools, kids want to know if I'm going to write a chapter book, and if I'm going to write about boys," says Deborah.  "Well, in PIONEER SUMMER I do both!"

 
My friend, Michele Hill, often helps me research books. Here she is in the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Cottonwood Falls, Kansas.
 

Now Available!

ALA Notable Book
Winner of the IRA Award

Nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet Award 2005-06

Get Ready for Darwin's


Billy and the Rebel 2005


Nominated for State Awards:

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