Bibliography:
Larson, K. 2006. Hattie Big Sky. New York: Random House Children's Books. ISBN 0-385-90332-4.
Summary:
Ever since she was little, Hattie Brooks was orphaned and shuffled from relative to relative until her late Uncle Chester leaves his land in Montana to Hattie. Given a year, Hattie is to prove her claim to keep the land and is hoping to find her new home. She encounters a new lifestyle of learning how to cook, building fences, learning how to farm, and milking a stubborn cow. Hattie also comes across various challenges such as people's views of each other to the worries of money marked by the war. Through this journey, she meets people of interesting characters and finds more than she bargains for: family.
Critical Analysis:
In the author's note, Larson provides the research and time spent gathering the information for the basis of this story: her great-grandmother. Larson spend years gathering information on the journey of Hattie Inez Brooks and her adventures in Montana. The author uses the historical facts of the war and how the war affected life back at home in Montana: the people started to turn on each other, prices for supply and demand changed, the costs of supplies and necessity greatly differed from today, and priorities/lifestyles were different.
The main character, Hattie, is a 16-year old girl looking for the one thing she lacked in her life: a family. In this story, her character is relateable in the sense of her wanting to belong to a family and to be surrounded by those she loved and who loved her. Growing up, she never had a steady life or family. She wanted a place to belong. The typical audience of Hattie's story could be of the same age, going through the stage of life where things seem uncertain and relationships are vital to an adolescent's sense of being and belonging. Readers will learn to appreciate the value of family and good friends and neighbors. This story also touched on the value of community and helping others. Throughout the story, characters such as Perilee and Karl Mueller, along with their children, helped Hattie in any way they could. Rooster Jim gave Hattie chickens in exchange for her gracious acts. Leafie took care of all her neighbors when they were in need. The characters created more than physical community, they created a place to belong and to share a life with.
During the time period of this novel, Larson describes how the war has affected the characters. Hattie has to work to claim the land left to her by working it and is depended on the product to receive an income to live. Other land owners depended on each other to help when needed. Farmers were constantly worried about if their land would produce the crops needed to make profit. Tensions rose between neighbors because of their background. The author does a good job in touching on facts about how the war affected some citizens without overwhelming readers with details.
Review Excerpts:
Bestseller Lists: Booksense; New York Times; Publisher's Weekly
Newbery Medal Award Nominee 2007
American Library Association Notable Books for Children Award Winner 2007
Montana Book Awards Award Winner2006
California Young Reader Medal Award Nominee 2008
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Book Award Nominee 2008
Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee 2008
Virginia Reader's Choice Award Nominee 2008
William Allen White Children's Book Award Nominee 2008
Maine Student Book Award Nominee 2007
Volunteer State Book Award Nominee 2008
Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee 2009
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, Larson creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters."
Connections:
- Research life during WWI through the internet and documented books.
- Interview people/family members who lived through this era and have a class share of learned information.
