Four children homestead in South Dakota

1930 Newbery Honor Book

Four young homesteaders strive to succeed on a quarter section in Tripp County, South Dakota, at the beginning of the 1900s. Faced with the prospect of the upcoming harsh winter, the youngsters work hard to “prove up” the land and buildings. All the while, Becky, Dick, Phil, and Joan contend with drought, discomfort, and sabotaging squatters. As winter looms, the battle for their land heats up. Short of money and fearful for their lives, the children learn that the prairie is not as lonely as it looks and that they are stronger than they thought. With the help of new-found friends and their own derring-do, the youngsters seek to hold the enemy at bay and withstand whatever the elements throw at them.

Marian Hurd McNeely (1877–1931) wrote numerous books, articles, and poems for young readers. The Jumping-Off Place, a Newbery Honor Book written in 1929, is based on McNeely’s own experiences as a homesteader in Tripp County.

Award-winning children’s author Jean Patrick provides a new introduction, placing the story in its historical context and exploring the realities of homesteading in the Dakotas and the life of Marian Hurd McNeely.