Hattie Big Sky - book review

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson is a heartwarming book. Since the death of her parents 16-year old Hattie has lived with so many relatives and "near" relatives that she calls herself "Hattie Here and There". Her current living arrange is less than ideal as her Aunt Ivy wants her to drop out of school and earn a living as a chamber maid and her Uncle Holt doesn't dare cross his wife. Then Hattie gets the chance of a lifetime when a real Uncle dies and leaves her his "almost" homestead in Montana, land of the Big Sky. In order for her to really get the homestead she must "prove up" the homestead by living on it, putting in so many rods of fencing and raising so many acres plus making the final payment of $37.75, a significant sum at that time.

The book tells, in her own words, of Hattie's trials and triumphs between January and November of 1918 on the unforgiving Montana plain 3 miles north and west of Nowhere. This year is also the final year of the First World War and the great Influenza Epidemic, two tragedies that leave their mark on Hattie as they do with virtually everyone else in the developed world. In fact, a strong sub-text in the story is the story of zealous patriots who become vigilantes in search of a hidden enemy - the American German. Like our modern "patriots" who renamed French fries "Freedom Fries", these "patriots" of 1918 renamed sauerkraut "Liberty cabbage". And that was just the harmless part of their antics. They weren't above burning down barns, pushing over fences, and harassing Americans of German ancestry or accent.

This book is cataloged in our local library as a teenager's book. It is indeed easy enough for a bright 3rd grader to read but it's an enjoyable read for an adult as well. It's also a wonderful book on tape. The book was "inspired by" the true story of the author's great grandma who indeed "proved up" a homestead as a young woman. I would highly recommend it for a young girl because of the strong role models in the story.