Song of Years

by Bess Streeter Aldrich

An accurate and engrossing history about the pioneers who settled Iowa, focusing around the life and times of one family. The family is based upon the author's own grandfather and aunts and their stories. This book movingly draws you in with the history of pioneers clearing virgin land and creating homesteads and cities out of isolated but beautiful and productive land. The settlers face Indians, burgeoning politics, the Civil War...not to mention loves, losses, personal choices, and the daily ins and outs of living one's life in a new civilization.

More by Bess Streeter Aldrich

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?