书名：Hattie Big Sky 海蒂的天空

作者：Kirby Larson

出版社名称：Random House

出版时间：2008

读者对象: 8-12岁

语种：英文 

ISBN：9780385735957

商品尺寸：13 x 1.8 x 19.4 cm

包装：平装

页数：304

本书荣获2007纽伯瑞儿童文学银牌奖

从小失去双亲的海蒂一直过着寄人篱下的生活，不停地在亲戚家之间“穿梭”。她对于不得不看别人脸色过活感到十分厌倦。当她听到从未谋面的查斯特舅舅在蒙大拿留下一大片土地让她继承时，她决心离开这个自己不是很喜欢的家，尝试去寻找完全属于自己的天空。对于人生地不熟的海蒂来说，在一块全然陌生的土地上建立一个新家，是一份颇具挑战性的工作。幸好有卡尔·慕勒一家人的帮忙，加上公鸡吉姆、莉菲等人的拼死相帮，才使她有勇气继续苦撑下去。

在努力垦荒的过程中，她领悟到，原来离家的目的是为了寻找一个更好的归宿。她不但有了朋友，而且收获了青涩的爱情。虽然蒙大拿并不是她的终点，但在她今后的人生道路上，蒙大拿之行一定会成为她永不磨灭的记忆。

媒体评论：

作者通过研究大量的档案和家庭遗留下的资料，使这部传奇作品具有更高的真实性，让读者身临其境，如同观看一部好莱坞大片一样。

——有声杂志

作者细致、美妙的描写让书中充满了蒙大拿草原的声音、气息和色彩，丰富的内容加上灵动的角色，让本书成为一本不可多得的优秀作品。

书中用一幅犹如大师绘制的画作展现出那个年代的垦荒者的坚持与决心。

——美国《学校图书馆杂志》

Alone in the world, teen-aged Hattie is driven to prove up on her uncles homesteading claim.

For years, sixteen-year-old Hatties been shuttled between relatives. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she courageously leaves Iowa to prove up on her late uncles homestead claim near Vida, Montana. With a stubborn stick-to-itiveness, Hattie faces frost, drought and blizzards. Despite many hardships, Hattie forges ahead, sharing her adventures with her friends--especially Charlie, fighting in France--through letters and articles for her hometown paper.

Her backbreaking quest for a home is lightened by her neighbors, the Muellers. But she feels threatened by pressure to be a "Loyal" American, forbidding friendships with folks of German descent. Despite everything, Hatties determined to stay until a tragedy causes her to discover the true meaning of home.
After Kirby Larson heard a snippet of a story about her great-grandmother homesteading in eastern Montana, she spent three years working on this story. The author lives in Kenmore, WA.

December 19, 1917 Arlington, Iowa

Dear Charlie,

Miss Simpson starts every day with a reminder to pray for you—and all the other boys who enlisted. Well, I say we should pray for the Kaiser—he’s going to need those prayers once he meets you!

I ran into your mother today at Uncle Holt’s store. She said word is you are heading for England soon, France after that. I won’t hardly be able to look at the map behind Miss Simpson’s desk now; it will only remind me of how far you are from Arlington.

Mr. Whiskers says to tell you he’s doing fine. It’s been so cold, I’ve been letting him sleep in my bedroom. If Aunt Ivy knew, she’d pitch a fit. Thank goodness she finally decided I was too big to switch or my legs would be striped for certain.

You should see Aunt Ivy. She’s made herself a cunning white envelope of a hat with a bright red cross stitched on the edge. She wears it to all the Red Cross meetings. Guess she wants to make sure everybody knows she’s a paid-up member. She’s been acting odd lately; even asked me this morning how was I feeling. First time in years she’s inquired about my health. Peculiar. Maybe this Red Cross work has softened her heart.

Mildred Powell’s knitting her fifth pair of socks; they’re not all for you, so don’t get swell-headed. She’s knitting them for the Red Cross. All the girls at school are. But I suspect the nicest pair she knits will be for you.

You must cut quite the figure in your uniform. A figure eight! (Ha, ha.) Seriously, I am certain you are going to make us all proud.

Aunt Ivy’s home from her meeting and calling for me. I’ll sign off now but will write again soon.

Your school friend, Hattie Inez Brooks

I blotted the letter and slipped it in an envelope. Aunt Ivy wouldn’t think twice about reading anything she found lying around, even if it was in my own room, on my own desk.

“Hattie,” Aunt Ivy called again. “Come down here!”

To be on the safe side, I slipped the envelope under my pillow, still damp from my good cry last night. Not that I was like Mildred Powell, who hadn’t stopped boo-hooing since Charlie left. Only Mr. Whiskers and my pillow knew about my tears in the dark over Charlie. I did fret over his safety, but it was pure and sinful selfishness that wet my eyes at night.