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Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Hattie Big Sky
Age Level: 9-12
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
About the Book
This historical fiction book, winner of a 2006 Newbery Honor for children's books, is perfect for girls graduating from the Little House on the Prairie series. Author Kirby Larson based this tale on her own great-grandmother's experiences as a teenage homesteader.
Sixteen-year old Hattie leaves her home in Iowa,where she's been shuttled between relatives, to take over her Uncle Chester's Montana homestead claim. Arriving in Montana, she creates a new family among her fellow homesteaders.
Also available on audiobook, this story is a great choice for family listening.
Below you'll find other historical fiction and non-fiction featuring strong female roles.
Possible Discussion Questions
- If you were in Hattie's shoes, what would have been the hardest thing for you to do? What would you have most enjoyed?
- Hattie is 16 years old, and nearly loses her homestead because of her age. Do you think Hattie ultimately lost her homestead because she was too young or for another reason? (Refer to her Honyockers Homily at the start of Chapter 20.)
- Traft Martin is thought by many to be a bad guy, but Hattie often gives him the benefit of the doubt. What do you think about Traft?
- The author's note tells us this book was based on a true story. Explore your family tree. Does your family have any stories that might make a good book?
Additional Books
A Northern Light
Age Level: 14-16
Sixteen-year old Mattie, an aspiring writer, leaves her family's farm to work as a maid at a resort in the Adirondacks. Set in 1906, Mattie's story incorporates the racism, sexism, and class conflict prevalent at the turn of the century. A subplot involves the murder of Grace Brown; a story familiar to readers of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy.
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson
Age Level: 9-12
Dramatic full color illustrations (which won a Caldecott Honor) and splendid, poetic language depict the bravery of Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery on a Maryland plantation only to return again and again to help other slaves escape. Deeply religious, Harriet became known as the Moses of her people and a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Age Level: 9-12
Told in the form of a recollection, these "confessions" cover 13-year-old Charlotte's eventful 1832 transatlantic crossing. She begins her trip as a prim schoolgirl returning from England to her home and family in America, but by the end she is in command of the Seahawk.
When My Name Was Keoko
Age Level: 12-14
Siblings Sun-hee and Tae-yul take turns narrating this story of Japan's occupation of Korea during WWII. As the occupation intensifies, Koreans are forced to change their names and forbidden from speaking their language, and members of the Kim family struggle to retain their personal and cultural identities.
