Montana Here She Comes!

Hattie Big Sky

Author: Kirby Larson

Publisher: DeLacorte Press

Year: 2006

ISBN: 9780385733137

Plot:

Year 1917

Hattie has never had a home of her own. Both of her parents are long dead.  She has been passed from relative to relative like last years’ hand me down clothes. Hattie is the Here-and-There girl seemingly destined to serve at everyone’s whim.  Until the day a letter arrived in the mail and changed her life forever. An unknown uncle has left her his homestead claim along with a trunk full of memories, a mean and ornery cow and steadfast horse named Plug. Determined to create a life for herself and eager to prove that she belongs somewhere, Hattie plunges into homestead life in Eastern Montana. Backbreaking work, heartfelt friendship, and hard lessons learned of sorrow and pain, between friends and enemies, patriotism and hatred are woven throughout this story set during the days of WWI. Intertwined within this skillfully crafted tale are personal letters to her longtime friend Charlie who is somewhere in France fighting the enemy while Hattie is learning life’s difficult lessons at home.

Critical Analysis:

Careful research into homestead records and journals lends Larson’s story an authentic, true to life feel. This is enhanced by the figurative language and authentic first person narrative that entices the reader into Hattie’s life. The letters to Charlie that are interspersed throughout the book  and the newspaper articles Hattie writes to earn extra money give the reader added insight into Hattie’s hope, dream, and struggles making this a powerfully written novel made more so by the knowledge that it is loosely based on Larson’s family history. Well written and deeply moving.

Award/s:

Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2007: Banks Street College of Education; United States

Starred Book Review, Booklist, Sept. 1, 2006  

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2007; American Library Association; United States

Connections:

Here is the link to an excellent teaching resource for Hattie Big Sky. It contains some insightful questions, related books and information about the author Kirby Larson.

http://www.lesliepreddy.com/yhba/08-09/Middle/HattieBigSky-Scharbrough.pdf

Hattie wrote letters to her friend Charlie while he was away at war. Have your students write letters to soldiers overseas or get well cards for those at the local VA hospital.

Have students create a diorama of their favorite character in the book.