By the Shores of Silver Lake is an autobiographical children’s novel written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. A real childhood adventure, the novel is based on the author’s late childhood spent near De Smet, South Dakota, USA, beginning in 1879. Because her sister, Mary, was recently blinded due to scarlet fever, Pa asks Laura to “be Mary’s eyes” by describing what she sees, and she becomes more patient and mature through this service. The story begins in Plum Creek, shortly after the Ingalls have recovered from the scarlet fever which caused Mary to become blind.