My Reading Spot

From the Publisher:
After leaving Uncle Chester’s homestead claim, orphan Hattie Brooks throws a lasso around a new dream, even bigger than the Montana sky. She wants to be a reporter, knowing full well that a few pieces published in the Arlington News will not suffice. Real reporters must go to Grand Places, and do Grand Things, like Hattie’s hero Nellie Bly. Another girl might be stymied by this, but Hattie has faced down a hungry wolf and stood up to a mob of angry men. Nothing can squash her desire to write for a big city newspaper. A letter and love token from Uncle Chester’s old flame in San Francisco fuels that desire and Hattie jumps at the opportunity to get there by working as a seamstress for a traveling acting troupe. This could be her chance to solve the mystery of her “scoundrel” uncle and, in the process, help her learn more about herself. But Hattie must first tell Charlie that she will not join him in Seattle. Even though her heart approves of Charlie’s plan for their marriage, her mind fears that saying yes to him would be saying no to herself. Hattie holds her own in the big city, literally pitching her way to a byline, and a career that could be even bigger than Nellie Bly’s. But can making headlines compensate for the pain of betrayal and lost love? Hattie must dig deep to find her own true place in the world. Kirby Larson once again creates a lovingly written novel about the remarkable and resilient young orphan, Hattie Inez Brooks. 

Review:
I was so excited to read this book and I was not disappointing.  I LOVED Hattie Ever After.  It is a book after my own heart.  When I was a little girl, with the help (and probably influence) of my older sisters I could write and publish little neighborhood newsletters.  I loved being able to write and report. I have always thought being a journalist would be fun.  Fast forward to college, I tried out a couple different majors (education, business, marketing) before settling on public relations.  It was reporting, but also a little bit of marketing.  I graduated from college 13 years ago, and while I dab here and there in marketing and public relations, I still think being a journalist would be one of the best jobs.  I couldn’t help but think of my little childhood dreams as I read this book.  

I loved the series idea that Hattie came up with for her news article series, I would love it if Kirby Larson would write them so we could read them.  There were so many different scenes that I enjoyed reading in this book, the elevator, the airplane, I loved all the women that Hattie worked with.  It was a clever fun book.  I was so happy with the ending this time too.

I think this was a perfect ending to the Hattie series.  I think if you love historical fiction it’s a great find.  I also think if you enjoyed “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis, or any of his books, or even I think if you liked Little House on the Prairie books you would enjoy these books as well too.  I would love to read both of these Hattie books out loud to my own daughters when they get a little older.  I think Hattie is a such a fun heroine.  I am so glad I happened upon this book at the library.