Hattie Big Sky

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Larson, Kirby. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 9780385733137.

PLOT SUMMARY

320 Montana acres are yours! Montana! Land of milk and honey! Sixteen year old Hattie Brooks calls herself Hattie Here-and-There. Orphaned at the age of five, Hattie has been shuffled from relative to relative, each stay ending when her usefulness runs out. Now, Hattie has inherited her maternal uncle’s homestead in Montana, and sets out to find herself a home. Tackling Montana with a strong will and an even stronger heart, Hattie learns a new meaning to the word family. As she struggles to tame the Montana prairie, building fence and planting wheat and flax, Hattie forges long-lasting friendships. Set in 1918, Hattie learns what it means to stand up for what is right, as her patriotism is questioned when she befriends her German neighbors. Insight into Hattie’s struggles and accomplishments are documented through first person narrative, newspaper articles written by Hattie, and letters exchanged between Hattie and Uncle Holt, and Hattie and her friend Charlie. Through hardship, pain, and sorrow, Hattie leaves behind Hattie Here-and-There to become Hattie Big Sky - Hattie Home-of-Her-Own.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

A sixteen year old? On a homestead by herself? Planting and fencing? Facing down ranchers? At first, Hattie’s character seems unbelievable. This could not really have happened. But it could and it did, for Hattie Big Sky is based on the author’s great-grand-mother, who homesteaded a claim in Montana.

Larson has used personal family history and careful research to accurately document the hardships faced by homesteaders in Montana in the early 20^th century. While it is always hard to accept how Americans have treated their neighbors during times of war, Larson skillfully depicts the prejudices against German immigrants during World War I, and the corresponding call to patriotism, as expressed through contributions to the Dawson County Council of Defense and the purchase of Liberty Bonds. Larson shares her research methods in her Acknowledgements, Author’s Note, and Further Reading.

Hattie Big Sky is outwardly about homesteading in Montana. However, the ideas of searching for oneself, finding one’s true strength, facing challenges head-on without backing down, and learning that family can mean a myriad of things are themes that are relevant to young people of any time and place.

PERSONAL RESPONSE

Hattie Big Sky is exactly the kind of book I would have picked up to read in elementary school. For me, the narrative started a little slowly, but it didn’t take long for me to become totally engrossed. I find myself wanting to know what happened next for Hattie, both the fictional character and the real person. I think this book is especially a good read for young girls, who need a lot of exposure to strong female characters in an effort to counter the images of girls and women they are inundated with on a daily basis.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Cybil Award, 2006

John Newbery Medal, 2007

Montana Book Award, 2006

Booklist: “Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she [Larson] creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters.”

Kirkus: “Based on a bit of Larson's family history, this is not so much a happily-ever-after story as a next-year-will-be-better tale, with Hattie’s new-found definition of home. This fine offering may well inspire readers to find out more about their own family histories.”

CONNECTIONS

• Use Hattie Big Sky as a jumping off point to discuss family trees. Have students do research on their own family trees.
• Do an oral history project. Have students choose one older relative and interview them.
• Other books that feature strong female characters while offering a glimpse at history:

·      Brink, Carol Ryrie. Caddie Woodlawn. ISBN 9781416940289.

·      Lenski, Lois. Strawberry Girl. ISBN 9780064405850.

·      MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall. 9780064402057.