Hattie Big Sky

Hattie Big Sky

By Kirby Larson

5 ratings 4 reviews 5 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 6 - 8Grades 3 - 8W4.470376
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.
ISBN-13: 9780606074902
ISBN-10: 0606074902
Published on 12/23/2008
Binding: Hardcover

Book Reviews (5)

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Hattie Inez Brooks, a 16 years old who lived through World War One. She used to live in Iowa with her Aunt Ivy and Uncle Holt. Hattie is well known as Hattie-There-And-Here to her relatives. Her good friend, Charlie Hawley, who is a soldier who basically on the way to England then to France. Charlie has taught Hattie how to play baseball properly and gave her a cat named Mr. Whiskers. Hattie moved to Vida, Montana to move in her homestead from her another uncle, Chester. She met one possible enemy, Traft Martin who has offered to buy her homestead at least twice. She also met a loving family which are very good friend to Hattie; Karl, Perilee, Chase, Mattie (decreased by young age), Mattie`s doll, Mulie, and younger sister, Fern Mueller, Leafie Purvis, Mr. Edgard, and newborn baby in Mueller family, Charlotta "Lottie". In nearly every chapter, we could read the letters between Charlie and Hattie, they kinda really like each other but never admitted...just yet! While some other chapters, we also could read newspaper-like at the starting of the chapters. In nearly ending of the book, nearly everyone were affected by Spanish influenza. Then in the ending of the book, Hattie has discovered that she made a "home" on her late uncle, Chester which is finally sold to Mr. Martin. I would def recommend this book because this is super good! I also rate this 5 stars! - Happy Reading!

lh lh

I love this book so much! I got it less than a month ago and am already reading it for the second time. I love the lessons it teaches about family and standing up, and how hard work always pays off, even though maybe not in the way you want it too. I like that it's first person, and I like her letters and her newspaper articles. I love everything about this book except for the sadness at the end :(. Even though I'm not an orphan or a farmer or the same age as Hattie or living alone and I don't have a cat or horse or cow- really Hattie's life is completely 100% different than mine- but I feel like this book still connects to me so much! This book is so great, and probably my favorite book ever!

Orphaned when she was young, teenage Hattie jumps at the opportunity when her estranged uncle wills her his homestead claim, and she makes the courageous trip to Montana to prove up his claim. There she faces many challenges such as weather problems, natural and manmade disasters, and one of the biggest challenges: conflict about treatment of German families, specifically her German next door neighbors who have become like family to her. There are so many aspects of this book that I love. For one thing, it is Christian Historical Fiction, which is one of my favorite genres, and I feel like this is a unique story. Another thing I liked is the different ways Hattie’s story is told, particularly of her internal conflict and her faith in God. While most of the story is told from Hattie’s POV while it is happening, letters to her soldier friend Charlie who is across seas fighting in the war, her prayers and newspaper articles she writes and sends to her hometown also reveal her thoughts and details of the plot. I recommend this book to historical fiction lovers, especially people who enjoy reading about life in America during the time of World War 1. I also recommend it to people who are looking for a book with a strong Christian MC, where the faith is not the main focus but is a strong underlying theme. This is without a doubt one of my favorite books, and I rate it 5 out of 5 stars!

I absolutely love this book. It was very interesting. It was both happy and sad. I love historical fiction. I highly recommend this book.

A great historical fiction novel set in the early 1900's!