Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
After inheriting her uncle's homesteading claim in Montana, sixteen-year-old orphan Hattie Brooks travels from Iowa in 1917 to make a home for herself and encounters some unexpected problems related to the war being fought in Europe. Alone in the world, teen-aged Hattie is driven to prove up on her uncle's homesteading claim. For years, sixteen-year-old Hattie's been shuttled between relatives. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she courageously leaves Iowa to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim near Vida, Montana. With a stubborn stick-to-itiveness, Hattie faces frost, drought and blizzards. Despite many hardships, Hattie forges ahead, sharing her adventures with her friends--especially Charlie, fighting in France--through letters and articles for her hometown paper. Her backbreaking quest for a home is lightened by her neighbors, the Muellers. But she feels threatened by pressure to be a "Loyal" American, forbidding friendships with folks of German descent. Despite everything, Hattie's determined to stay until a tragedy causes her to discover the true meaning of home. (from library website: http://catalog.shelbycounty-al.org/POLARIS/search/searchresults.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.4&type=Keyword&term=hattie%20big%20sky&by=KW&sort=RELEVANCE&limit=TOM=*&query=&page=0#__pos1)
Ages: 10+
This is a very clean, wonderful, heartwarming story.
Things to consider:
Hattie is a great example. She is headstrong and can be impertinent but is very kind and loves people (most people). She is great with children and is very loyal to her friends.
There is one use of the d-word which is written, in the book itself, "d---" so it really isn't a technical use.
There is a great deal of prejudice against Germans in the time period of the book and it is magnified because of Hattie's location.
Hattie has good friends who happen to be German so she fights against the prejudice viciously.
Living in the wilderness is not easy and Hattie describes it very vividly. She is very descriptive telling of her blisters from hammering fence posts, how a coyote steals her cow's tail, and the squeak mice emit when Mr. Whiskers (Hattie's cat) catches dinner. None of it is gross, but gives you a good picture of what is happening.
Hattie is extremely loyal to her friends and tries to find the best in people. Sometimes, however, she is disapointed. Several people in her new town treat her with condescencion and disgust for associating with Germans. Hattie often stands up to them but more than once she fears for her safety and says nothing.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I recommend it to ages 10+ (due to subject matter).
Happy reading!
~Thalia
Ages: 10+
This is a very clean, wonderful, heartwarming story.
Things to consider:
Hattie is a great example. She is headstrong and can be impertinent but is very kind and loves people (most people). She is great with children and is very loyal to her friends.
There is one use of the d-word which is written, in the book itself, "d---" so it really isn't a technical use.
There is a great deal of prejudice against Germans in the time period of the book and it is magnified because of Hattie's location.
Hattie has good friends who happen to be German so she fights against the prejudice viciously.
Living in the wilderness is not easy and Hattie describes it very vividly. She is very descriptive telling of her blisters from hammering fence posts, how a coyote steals her cow's tail, and the squeak mice emit when Mr. Whiskers (Hattie's cat) catches dinner. None of it is gross, but gives you a good picture of what is happening.
Hattie is extremely loyal to her friends and tries to find the best in people. Sometimes, however, she is disapointed. Several people in her new town treat her with condescencion and disgust for associating with Germans. Hattie often stands up to them but more than once she fears for her safety and says nothing.
I enjoyed this book immensely. I recommend it to ages 10+ (due to subject matter).
Happy reading!
~Thalia
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