Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park, 272 pages. Clarion (Houghton Mifflin), 2020. $17.
Content: G (some racial comments)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Hanna and her Papa have made their way from San Francisco to LaForge in Dakota Territory over the course of several years – really since Hanna’s Mama died. They know that the prairie people aren’t as used to someone like Hanna – half Korean, but Hanna just wants to finish her last couple of courses of school and make her way as a dressmaker like her Mama was. She will have to stand strong in the face of the prejudices of the townspeople.
Park is unabashed in her love of the Little House books growing up. This is her homage to those books, showing the life of other groups who were also looking for homes in America at the same time. Lovely book – I admire Hanna’s spunk and her ingenuity. The Little House books and other historical fiction is not a big seller at my library, but those who find it will fall in love.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
Posts
1 comment:
Linda Sue Park nailed it! Prairie Lotus feels like another Little House on the Prairie book. If you are a fan, watch for the characters you are familiar with - different names, but they are there. Park has represented the frontier towns, the people, even the prejudice of the time accurately. It was sad to read about how Hanna was treated, even by the other children; difficult to learn about the historical conditions people of color faced at that time. I appreciated the author's notes at the end - don't skip them. Well done! - Lisa Librarian
Post a Comment