Larson, K. (2006). Hattie Big Sky. NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 9780385733137.
Plot Summary: Hattie Brooks is sixteen, orphaned, and living with her aunt and uncle as a charity case in Iowa during 1918. Her uncle is kind to her but her aunt is not. Despite these troubles, Hattie remains a spirited and generous girl during a time when the effects of World War I lingers and that nation is in turmoil.
An unexpected inheritance of a homestead from an unknown uncle sends Hattie off to the wilds of Montana to work her uncle’s land claim. She looks forward to her newfound freedom and a life of adventure as a homesteader until she arrives in blistering cold to find out that she has less than a year to cultivate her fields, build a huge perimeter fence, and somehow manage to survive the harsh winter. The kindness of her German neighbors, the Mullers, makes life bearable and in at least one instance, saves her life.
Hattie’s friend, Charlie, is away at war in France, and Hattie’s lively letters to him, as well as her articles for the Iowa newspaper, reveal her bravery, fortitude and loneliness. She learns lessons about friendship, racism, love, mistrust and the meaning of home.
Critical Evaluation: This is a book that is filled with lots of good things for teen readers. It’s an historical book that depicts how life was lived during that era, including the farming industry, the anti-German sentiment of wartime and the reckless thievery that was rampant in the wild country. Most memorable, though, is the depiction of realistic and sympathetic/nonsympathetic characters in the novel. We see Hattie engage in trusting both well-meaning friends as well as unscrupulous town villains, yet all characters are three-dimensional and no one is entirely good or bad. In addition, the progress of the novel is not predictable and it is with mixed feelings that readers will accept Hattie’s decision to sell her hard-won claim and find happiness in her future instead. Interestingly enough, the author provides an afterword that explains her research of the time period and the historical accuracy of her ending.
Reader’s Annotation: Imagine a life without parents. But also imagine a huge plot of land that you inherited and are expected to cultivate all by yourself. You have to live in the wild country of Montana and experience the hardships of drought and blizzards. Plus a World War going on that make your new neighbors angry and nervous. Meet 16-year-old Hattie Brooks and her story about being brave, smart and a good friend.
Information About the Author:
Kirby Larson’s great-grandmother, Hattie Inez Brooks, was a young woman homesteader in Montana. Researching her family history inspired her to write this novel and depict the national concerns of the country during World War I. She grew up in Washington state as one of four children. Though she has always loved books, she never thought about becoming a writer until after she married a high school classmate and was reading books to her own children. Since then, she has devoted her life to writing children’s books and presenting workshops and seminars. Among the prestigious awards she has won are the 2007 Newberry Honor Book Award, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and the Oppenheim Platinum Award.
Genre:
Teen Issues: Homelessness and Foster Living
Contemporary Life: Coming of Age
Adventure: Survival, War
Historical Novels: Twentieth Century (1900-1920)
Multicultural Fiction: Multiple Cultures and Culture Clash
Alternative Formats: Diaries and Journals, Epistolary Letters
Curriculum Ties: English class, Ethnic Studies class, Book Clubs, Social Clubs, Social Studies class, History class, government class
Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Independent living as a teen during a turbulent era
2.) Being an orphan and creating a foster family out of friends
3.) Discovering who to trust and whom not to trust
4.) World War I and the effects of anti-German sentiment
5.) Homesteading history in the United States
Reading Level/Interest Age: Grades 9-12
Challenge Issues/Defenses:
Potential Challenges:
• Depictions of violence
• Racist language
• Depictions of tabacco chewing and smoking
• Portrayal of a childbirth scence
Defense Strategy:
• Provide advisory reviews for parents about this book's content and age appropriateness:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Hattie-Big-Sky.html
• Provide our Collection Development Policy (which includes Young Adult scope): http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/library/collection.asp
• Refer to awards granted to this book by reputable organizations:
http://www.hattiebigsky.com/awards.html
• Provide a link to book reviews by actual readers from a publicly accessible website:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/207798.Hattie_Big_Sky
http://www.amazon.com/Hattie-Big-Sky-Kirby-Larson/dp/0385733135
• Provide guidelines book clubs have used to address issues or book content: http://www.christievilsack.org/summer_book_club/index.php?pgname=show_book&book_id=50
Why This Book Was Included: It’s an enchanting story with a strong female protagonist. Also, it can teach teens about a particular period in American history through an entertaining and engaging medium. I remember when this first-time novel became a Newberry Honor book and I’ve been meaning to read it since. The inclusion of letters, newspaper articles and basic recipes as part of the narrative adds elements of realism for readers.
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