 | |
| Author | Kirby Larson |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Chapter book |
| Publisher | Yearling Books |
Publication date | 2006 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 289 pages |
| ISBN | 978-0385735957 |
Hattie Big Sky is a children's historical novel by Kirby Larson, published in 2006. In 2007 the book was named a Newbery Honor book [1] and an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. [2] Hattie Big Sky was also an Illinois Rebecca Caudill Award nominee.
The novel is set during World War I. Hattie Brooks, a sixteen-year-old orphan who has tired of being shuttled between relatives she hardly knows, receives a letter from an uncle who has recently died. He leaves her all of his land, and Hattie travels to his farm in Montana to start life as a homesteader. She has less than a year to prove herself capable of taking care of the land. In the book we learn about Hattie through her letters to her friend Charlie who is at war, and to her Uncle Holt. One difficulty Hattie faces is being called upon, as a loyal American, to shun her kind neighbors because of their German descent.
According to Sharon Morrison in School Library Journal: "Larson's vivid descriptions of the harshness of the work and the extreme climates, and the strength that comes from true friendship, create a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered." Morrison also said "it was a heartwarming yet poignant story about homesteading in early-20th-century Montana." [3] Kathleen Odean in Booklist praised Larson: "Writing in figurative language that draws on nature and domestic detail to infuse her story with the sounds, smells, and sights of the prairie, she created a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." [4] Sally Miculek in Booklist describes the story as being "historical fiction at its best." [5]
A play adaptation of the novel, written by Cassy Maxton-Whitacre, was announced on January 3, 2025. On March 28, 2025, the world premiere of Hattie Big Sky was performed in Staunton, VA at ShenanArts. [6]
| Character | World Premiere [7] |
|---|---|
| Hattie Brooks | Charlotte Hadfield |
| Charlie Hawley | Noah Brown |
| Perilee Muller | Sarah Wendtlandt |
| Karl Muller | Sam Hostetter |
| Leafie Purvis | Elizabeth Brandon |
| Traft Martin | Shaye Klingensmith |
| Aunt Ivy | Melissa Hostetter |
| Uncle Holt | David Lusk |
| Mr. Ebgard | Ryan Workman |
| Mrs. Martin | Stacey Fregosi |
| Traft's Man | Garner Coiner |
| Ensemble | Xander Burdette, Jordan Huffer, Maddie Little-Thornton |
 | This article about a children's historical novel of the 2000s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page. |
