Hattie Big Sky, written by Kirby Larson, describes the life of a sixteen-year-old girl named Hattie during the early 1900’s. The story gives the reader a closer look into Hattie’s orphan life and orphan life during that time period in general. Also, the story conveys that with determination anyone can create the future they most desire for themselves. Although the story’s beginning was rather depressing, Hattie’s positive and courageous attitude created an uplifting, prideful, and inspiring mood. Hattie spent much of her younger years living with different relatives because both of her parents had died when she was five. As Hattie was “tossed” from one relative’s home to another throughout her childhood, she never had a sense of belonging. To make matters worse, her relatives treated her like a hassle—as though her very existence was an annoyance. Needless to say, Hattie’s relatives were neither supportive nor encouraging of her. By age 16, Hattie’s feeling of self-worth was at an all time low. The story did not describe her appearance in depth, but it did say she was very modest and dressed humbly. When the story began, Hattie was living with her Uncle Holt and her Aunt Ivy in Arlington Iowa. Even though Hattie would finish her schooling that year, her Aunt Ivy was insistent that she be sent to a boarding school. Aunt Ivy felt that having to take care of Hattie was a burden and wanted to be rid of her as soon as possible. Before Aunt Ivy had a chance to send Hattie to the boarding school, Hattie received a letter stating that her Uncle Chester had passed away. It also said that she was to inherit his 320-acre property in Montana if she would fulfill the remaining homestead requirements in order to keep it. The homestead req... ... middle of paper ... ... books with a theme as relatable as this. Similar to Brent from Whirligig, Hattie learned that material items are not all that person needs to have a fulfilling and prosperous life. Rather, she and Brent discovered through different means that supportive, loving, and forgiving relationships are what make life worth living. It was fortunate that both of these characters learned this lesson at a young age because their newfound maturity would help them to become successful adults that would value strong relationships. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction books where the characters learn life-altering lessons. I also feel that people of all ages would enjoy this book because it’s messages and theme was very positive. While I did enjoy this book, I think I will not be reading another historical fiction novel for my upcoming book response.
Over this entire novel, it is a good novel for children. It train children how to think logically, and notes people we should cherish our family, and people around us, very educate. Children can learn true is always been hide.
Sandra Cisneros writes a memoir through the eyes of an eleven year old. Turning eleven happens to be a tragic day for the main character, Rachel. Through various literary techniques such as hyperbole, simile, and syntax, Rachel is characterized. Rachel is a fresh turning eleven year old who finds herself in an awful situation on her birthday. Forced to wear a raggedy old sweater that doesn’t belong to her, she makes it defiantly clear her feelings towards the clothing item, and we see this through use of hyperboles. Rachel describes the sweater as ugly and too “stretched out like you could use it for a jump rope.” This extreme exaggeration demonstrates the fire within Rachel. She is a defiant and pouty little girl who out of stubbornness has to defy the sweater in her mind. “It’s maybe a thousand years old”, she says to herself in act to degrade the filthy red sweater even more. The sweater to Rachel has become an eternal battle of ages. She is torn on whether or not to stand up and act bigger th...
Ebgard. Hattie enjoyed writing back to Uncle Holt, the man she was living with before she moved west, and her good friend Charlie who was fighting the Kaiser in France. Hattie's dream of proving up was dwindling after several events took place. Hattie was determined to prove up but first she had to figure out what having a home and a family really meant. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson was inspiring, captivating, and possessed a determined character.
My overall opinion of this book is good I really liked it and recommend it to anyone. It is a good book to read and it keep you interested throughout the whole book.
Her family life is depicted with contradictions of order and chaos, love and animosity, conventionality and avant-garde. Although the underlying story of her father’s dark secret was troubling, it lends itself to a better understanding of the family dynamics and what was normal for her family. The author doesn’t seem to suggest that her father’s behavior was acceptable or even tolerable. However, the ending of this excerpt leaves the reader with an undeniable sense that the author felt a connection to her father even if it wasn’t one that was desirable. This is best understood with her reaction to his suicide when she states, “But his absence resonated retroactively, echoing back through all the time I knew him. Maybe it was the converse of the way amputees feel pain in a missing limb.” (pg. 399)
what the reader once thought of Dorothea, a woman of dignity, into a naive child.
I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys stories centered on the maturation of youth during their teenage years. I felt that the climax of this story was not as exciting as it could have been. However, the storyline was very interesting as well as entertaining. I look forward to reading other stories by this author!
Did you like the book? would you recommend this book to others? Why or why
I really enjoyed this book because it was not a story about the middle of the Second World War. Instead it was right before, when things were not as bad, but they were bad enough. It helped me understand how people lived before the hatred grew and how families were torn apart right from the beginning. Likewise, it gave me hope to see that not everything was destroyed and that some people were able to escape. I would recommend this book more for boys but for girls as well, between the ages of 13-15. Even though Karl’s age throughout the book is 14-17, the novel was written more for my age group. Once again this was an amazing book that I could not put down, and I am sure many others were not able to either.
Having been raised in the south has allowed her to believe that she must be catered to as a woman no matter how old she gets. The grandmother constantly refers to herself as a lady and has made herself a priority in her sons life and has a difficult time being considerate of other peoples feelings. At the beginning of the story she tries to convince her son Bailey to change the destination of their planned vacation to where she would like to go. In order for grandma to go see her old house in Tennessee she must convince Bailey that his family may be in danger after a
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to visit the world of the wild west in the early fifties that is about to be lost to the new world of machinery and urban lifestyles. Also recommended for those who enjoy quality writing that engages you sense of relatability to characters that seem as tangible as the book itself.
Her parents meet at a social gathering in town and where married shortly thereafter. Marie’s name was chosen by her grandmother and mother, “because they loved to read the list was quite long with much debate over each name.” If she was a boy her name would have been Francis, so she is very happy to have born a girl. Marie’s great uncle was a physician and delivered her in the local hospital. Her mother, was a housewife, as was the norm in those days and her father ran his own business. Her mother was very close with her parents, two brothers, and two sisters. When her grandmother was diagnosed with asthma the family had to move. In those days a warm and dry climate was recommended, Arizona was the chosen state. Because her grandma could never quite leave home, KY, the family made many trips between the states. These trips back and forth dominated Marie’s childhood with her uncles and aunts being her childhood playmates.
This is an odd little book, but a very important one nonetheless. The story it tells is something like an extended parablethe style is plain, the characters are nearly stick figures, the story itself is contrived. And yet ... and yet, the story is powerful, distressing, even heartbreaking because the historical trend it describes is powerful, distressing, even heartbreaking.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and believe it to be one of the best books I have ever read. It was extremely well written and challenging for me to understand at times. It conveys that dark side of human ambition very well, and it has given me much to think about.
good novel to read if the reader likes stories of a true legend. Also, it is a novel that