Laura and her family move to Minnesota where they live in a dugout until a new house is built and face misfortunes caused by flood, blizzard, and grasshoppers.
In 1856, Kirsten and her cousins look after the farm while the adults go to town for supplies, and everything is fine--until a blizzard surprises them.
After getting married and settling at Wild Plum Creek, David's and Caroline's lives are turned upside down when disaster strikes and David must go east to find work for the winter.