Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson - ADVISABLE

Larson, Kirby  Hattie Big Sky, 283 pgs.  Delacorte Press, 2006.  $15.95  Content: Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.  

Hattie is a sixteen year old orphan girl who has been moved around among her relatives, so when her uncle passes and deeds her a homestead claim, she decides to move to Montana and give it a try.   While alone on her claim she writes to her best friend Charlie who is serving in World War I and finds that although the war is taking place in Europe everyone is affected by it, including her German neighbor Carl.  Hattie befriends Carl and his wife and their small children and finally feels a part of a real family, but when hardships hit Montana Hattie is going to have be stronger than she thought.  

This is a unique historical perspective about westward expansion in the United States during World War I.  Hattie is a strong character and her story helps the reader to understand how hard it was to work a claim and the many dangers and hardships of living out West.  The book is a Newbery Honor, but I feel like the story and the issues that Hattie dealt with would be hard for a young reader to relate to and better appreciated by an older reader.  

MS, HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.