Bonus Staff Pick
Hattie Big Sky
Kirby Larson
Life on a farm in Montana in 1917 is hard. Especially when you’re 16, living alone, and know nothing about homesteading. That’s the situation Hattie finds herself in when her uncle leaves her his claim on 40 acres. She has to build a fence, plant crops, and harvest it all in order to “prove up” on the claim. As Hattie endures the extreme Montana weather, less than friendly neighbors, and pressure to sell her home she learns to rely on herself and a group of close-knit friends.
Why I liked it: A solid historical fiction novel that I would easily recommend to interested females. Larson includes good factual details about life as a homesteader but I enjoyed details about the attitude in America towards Germany during WWI more. While Hattie faces great adversity as any pioneer must, but the minor characters are particularly interesting, especially when they are stricken by Spanish Influenza.
Three words or phrases that describe this book: female pioneer, independent spirit, historical fiction
You might want to pick up this book if: you like reading about what it must have been like to live on the prairie, alone with just a hint of romance.
If you liked this book you might like: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi, Pirates by Celia Rees, or Spirited by Nancy Holder.
Reviewed by Stephanie, Library Assistant. Find more great books in our Staff Picks Archive.
