“Hattie Big Sky” by Kirby Larson

I’m not a fan of historical fiction set in America, but this one got to me. The first young adult novel by Ms. Larson, the idea for this story came from her own family. Surprised to hear that her great-grandmother had been a homesteader in Montana during World War I, she set out to discover how a young woman might have done this on her own. In the course of her research she discovered the struggles faced by many German immigrants during this period and that becomes one of the more compelling plotlines. It was in no way pedantic, but I felt I learned a lot. It is a novel of westward expansion, but the setting, with cars and motorcycles as well as carts and horses, makes for a very fresh take. Hattie Brooks is a delightful lead character and her historically appropriate musings make for an entertaining and satisfying tale. From time to time some of the events seem a tad staged – the evil neighbor is only a mustache away from caricature, and bad things can be anticipated because they happen right when they should. It is Hattie’s voice, however, and her heartfelt letters to a soldier at war and an uncle who took her in which make this story sing. Larson lets the stunning beauty of Montana add to the texture of the prose and woven phrases tend to stick, like “My bounce-around life had taught me that dreams were dangerous things – they look solid in your mind, but you just try to reach for them. It’s like gathering clouds.” The ending was real but was a little open. One could imagine a sequel, or perhaps just an epilogue. Definitely a worthwhile read. Take the journey.