I am hoping the new version of “Little House on the Prairie” Netflix is working on is more realistic. But I have my doubts. The jarring thing about reading the books as an adult is all the hardship and danger.

• Pa gambled by moving the family onto Native American territory at one point. They got kicked off later.
• The “long winter” was a real event in American history.
• The family relied on crop planting as their income. The crops frequently died due to locusts, weather, etc.
• The family almost drowns when Pa insists on crossing the river in their covered wagon. Realizing this, Ma tells her children to close their eyes and lie down in hopes that they won’t get frightened, but it’s obvious this just scares them more.
• Someone almost dies from lack of oxygen when digging a well.
• The family actually lives in a dugout that would later become a root cellar while their house is being built.
• The family nearly starves to death (multiple times).

Etc. Etc.