Hattie Ever After

February 18, 2013
Hattie Inez Brooks, the determined 17-year-old heroine of Larson's Newbery Honorâwinning Hattie Big Sky, returns in this follow-up set in 1919. Her homestead claim having failed, Hattie soldiers through her menial job in a boardinghouse until a traveling acting troupe offers her a job that thrusts her into city life in San Francisco, giving her the chance to pursue her real dream: becoming a reporter. Larson deftly balances first-person narration with charming letters and newspaper stories written by Hattie. The city presents a colorful cast of characters, including an attractive reporter and a duplicitous con artist who pretends to be her ally. Hattie's struggle to become a journalistâworking first as a maid, graduating to researching, and beginning to writeâforms the emotional heart of the story, though there's a moving romantic undercurrent, as well, as Hattie contemplates whether she should settle down with Charlie, her love interest back home. Fans of the first novel will gladly reconnect with this memorable heroine, but the narrative stands firmly on its own, too. Ages 10âup. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

April 29, 2013
This sequel to Hattie Big Sky, set in the early 20th century, sees young Hattie taking a chance and traveling to San Francisco to follow her dream of becoming a newspaper reporter. In doing so, she struggles both with her heart—because it means leaving behind the man who wants to marry her—and with the difficulty of proving herself in a field dominated by men. Kristen Potter ably portrays Hattie, conveying her emotions—particularly her terror when she takes a wild ride in a small plane, and her pain when a friend betrays her trust. Potter also creates character-distinctive voices, such as a cleaning woman’s Irish lilt and a detective’s French accent. Fans of the previous installment will enjoy Hattie’s further adventures, as will anyone interested in getting a glimpse at life in the early 20th century. Ages 10–up. A Delacorte hardcover.