Published: New York: Delacorte Press, 2006.304 pages
Target Audience: Young Adult
Reading levle:
Cenre: Historical Fiction
Themes: Character and Values, Culture and Diversity, Friends and Friendship
Synopsis: 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.
Newbery Honor 2007
CHARACTER: ****
PLOT: ****
THEME: ****
LANGUAGE: ****
OVERALL RATING: ****
I found Hattie Big Sky to be completely wonderful. I loved how kind Hattie is, how big-hearted, honest, and firm in her convictions. She refuses to let the anti-German sentiment keep her away from the Mullers, and she stands up to the people in town even though she is desperately lonely and looking to make a place for herself, a home, a family. In spite of the sure knowledge that she will stand alone, she takes that stand and refuses to give up her friendship with them. That alone would make Hattie Big Sky a great book but there is more, much more and I highly recommend it for the young adult audience.
About author: Kirby Larson
http://www.kirbylarson.com/hattiebigsky.html
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