Hattie Big Sky - Book Review - TWU LS 5603 - Spring 2012

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Larson, Kirby. 2006. HATTIE BIG SKY. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-440-23941-9 2. PLOT SUMMARY When orphaned Hattie receives a surprising letter informing her that a long-forgotten uncle has left her his homestead claim in Montana, a new life flashes before her eyes. Having been passed along from one unwilling family member to the next she leaves behind her harsh and uncaring aunt, yet mourns losing her more supportive and comforting uncle. When she arrives, however, her “proving up” appears more difficult that she realized. As she learns to live life under the big Montana sky, she becomes embroiled in the harsh realities of a country turning on its resident “alien enemies,” and anything else German in word or deed. As dachshunds become “liberty dogs” and threatening pamphlets of patriotism are left on her table, she begins to wonder what she has gotten into. While she makes friends with many of her neighbors she witnesses the depths that people will sink to in the name of patriotism. With fires burning and lives and well-being threatened, Hattie comes to see both the best and the worst of those she shares the Montana country-side with. In the end, however, courage and knowing right from wrong become the true measure of the kind of people Hattie wants to be around, and who she herself works to become. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Larson’s Newbury Award winning book stands tall on its character development. Hattie, Perille, her German husband Karl, neighbors Leafie and Rooster Jim, and the Civic League and the uncertain and at t9imes frightening Traft weave together to show the best and the worst of what can happen in homestead struggles and on the home front of wartime. Through the stories told by Hattie and experienced by her neighbors as well as through the letters Hattie gets from her school friend at war Charlie, we are shown into the world of war with the Germans and with the hard Montana country-side. The characters drive the plot of the story, that of determination, self-reliance and neighborly compassion in times of great trial. As days turn to months Hattie tries to “prove up” her claim by laying 480 rods of fence and planting forty acres of crops. During this time she finds strength in herself and in her neighbors. She learns to stand strong against what life throws at her, as well as the often despicable acts others will do in the name of their country, based on fear and lack of understanding. This proves to be the central theme of the book. While Hattie struggles to find a middle ground between rampant patriotism and supporting those she loves and cares for, both German and American, she begins to see her own strength and how community can be built and supported. Authenticity for this book is supported through a bibliography, further reading and a significant acknowledgement by the author of the basis of her story in the real life struggles of her own great grandmother. In addition a Reader’s Guide with questions for discussion and answers by the author allows students to better understand the validity of the story of the Montana homestead and wartime woven by the author. 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) Newbery Honor 2007 ALA Notable Children's Books 2007 COMMONSENSEMEDIA.COM: “This warmhearted and gritty story of early 20th century pioneering is more realistic than most novels of this genre. The bad guys are not quite as bad as they seem, things don't always work out as you might hope, people die unexpectedly of unadventurous things such as disease, and life is hard but never unremittingly bleak. The little moments of friendship and kindness shine bright, and the result is not rose-tinted, but recognizably true.” LIBRARIANSBOOKREVIEWS.COM: This story is fantastic! I just fell in love with Hattie and I laughed and cried through everything she faced and overcame. Her determination, her strength of character and will can inspire any person to do difficult things..” 5. CONNECTIONS *Students can create their own homestead in diorama form to better understand the fencing and crop requirements. *Students can connect this story to their math classes by figuring the area of Hattie’s homestead, multiple ways lay 480 fence rods as well as what percentage of her homestead would be farmed if she planted her original forty acres, as well as if she planted the sixty acres that Karl helped her to plow. *Other historical fiction books for children about homesteading: Landau, Elaine.. THE HOMESTEAD ACT. ISBN: 0-516-27902-5 Isaacs, Sally Senzell. LIFE ON A PIONEER HOMESTEAD. ISBN-10: 1-57572-313-1