Hattie Ever After

      

At the beginning of the story the reader finds Hattie with many choices to make.  This theme runs throughout the story as Hattie calls on prayer, friends and at times her inner voice to help her find her place in life.  When Hattie left her Montana homestead she also left dreams and a sense of purpose.

 Throughout this novel we find Hattie not taking no for an answer and working hard to meet her goals.  We are introduced to new character, some we will cheer for and others we will jeer.  The characters are well developed, white still giving the reader the opportunity to make them it is great to find old friends from Hattie Big Sky in this novel as well.  There is less of a focus on the war in the sequel, but it does give readers an insight to life after the way as the "boys" returned from fighting over seas.

The readers are lead through an adventure in perseverance and will as Hattie works to become a female reporter in a world where they are few and far between.  We learn about Hattie's unwillingness to accept no for an answer and  that she is not afraid of hard work.

Hattie is a tremendous role model for all girls.  She is strong and determined.  She does not
let being a girl stand in her way of things or use it as an excuse either.  She thinks for herself and does not allow her judgement to be clouded by suitors.  

I loved how this book ended and thought that it brought together all the loose ends and gives a sense of closure more than the previous novel.  I think it shows that hard work pays off and that if something is important to someone they will find a way to make it all work out.

Hattie is a character that will stay with many for years to come.   I will highly recommend this book to middle school students!