Hattie Big Sky Out in Paperback

Author: Kirby Larson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 283

Kirby Larson’s Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky was released in paperback last week. I received a copy from the publisher right before I left to visit family over the holidays, and I was just able to pick up over the weekend to read it. I know, I know…I must be the last person in the world to read this book, but I’ve just started reacquainting myself with the world of young adult literature, and my TBR list is huge. However, if every book on it is as good as Hattie Big Sky, I’m going to have a lot of fun tackling it. But I have to be careful not to have too much fun…I literally couldn’t put Hattie Big Sky down and was up until 3:00 in the morning finishing it.

If you haven’t read it, here are some snippets from the publisher’s summary:

For most of her life, sixteen-year-old Hattie Brooks has been shuttled from one distant relative to another. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she summons the courage to leave Iowa and move all by herself to Vida, Montana, to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim.
Under the big sky, Hattie braves hard weather, hard times, a cantankerous cow, and her own hopeless hand at the cookstove. Despite daily trials, Hattie continues to work her uncle’s claim until an unforeseen tragedy causes her to search her soul for the real meaning of home. This young pioneer’s story celebrates the true spirit of independence.

And if you want to hear what some other great kid lit bloggers have to say, check out their reviews:
Jen Robinson’s Book Page
A Fuse #8 Production
Big A little a


Also, Hattie Big Sky is the focus book in this month’s issue of Readergirlz and will be discussed all month long on the Readergirlz MySpace Group. You should definitely check it out!