One Big Open Sky

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One Big Open Sky
One Big Open Sky - Lesa Cline-Ransome.jpeg
Author Lesa Cline-Ransome
LanguageEnglish
Genre Children's literature / historical fiction
Publisher Holiday House
Publication date
 Aug 19, 2025
Publication placeUnited States
Media type Hardcover
Pages304
ISBN 978-0-8234-5016-9

One Big Open Sky is a 2024 children's historical fiction novel written in verse by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Set in 1879 and told through the narratives of three women, young girl Lettie, Lettie's mother Sylvia, and traveler Philomena, it follows Lettie and her family as they relocate from Mississippi to Nebraska. Lettie's father, Thomas, is convinced that life in Nebraska will be better, as the family will no longer have to work on land owned by whites and can own their own land; Lettie's pregnant mother, Sylvia, is apprehensive about leaving their community in Mississippi behind. In Missouri, Philomena, an orphan hired to be the new teacher in North Platte, Nebraska, joins the family, offering her services as cook and washerwoman. As the group sets out on their journey, they're forced to brave the perils of the frontier and endure personal tragedies. [1]

Reception

The book earned a Coretta Scott King Award honor and a Newbery Honor in 2024. [2] [3] The School Library Journal praised Cline-Ransome's use of the three narrators, saying they added "depth and breadth to the storyline and character growth". [4] Publishers Weekly's review was also positive but offered a small criticism, saying the three narratives eventually became repetitive. [5] Kirkus Reviews, which named the book to its best of the year list, singled out the book for its "unique depiction of African American homesteaders". [6]

References

  1. ↑ Tillet, Salamishah (April 12, 2024). "A Child's-Eye View of One Black Family's Covered-Wagon Journey". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  2. ↑ "2025 Winners and Honors". American Library Association. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Reviews of the 2025 Newbery Medal Winners". The Horn Book. January 27, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  4. ↑ Beasley, Emily (March 2, 2024). "One Big Open Sky". School Library Journal. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  5. ↑ "One Big Open Sky". Publishers Weekly. December 18, 2023. p. 95. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
  6. ↑ "ONE BIG OPEN SKY". Kirkus Reviews. January 1, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
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