A riveting, uplifting coming-of-age historical tale…
Pain, memories, and the difficulty of letting go permeate Serko’s heartening story about family, friendship, and finding self. At 14, Harriett “Hattie” Alanson Howell has experienced major loss—her closest sibling died, and her father, Hannibal, was killed in the Civil War shortly before she was born. Struggling with mental health issues, Hattie looks for answers on her own and begins to correspond with her Uncle Byron, her father’s brother and the only war survivor in the family. Inspired by the author’s family history (Hattie was his great-great-grandmother and Hannibal was his great-great-great-grandfather) and told in accessible, breezy prose, this novel explores Hattie’s day-to-day struggles as she tries to fit in an unfamiliar surrounding while working on her artistic talent. The characterization is strong throughout as Hattie demonstrates growth. She proves to be a resilient and inspiring main character, and the ingenuity she displays in overcoming obstacles is compelling. At the same time, her struggles with the debilitating depression, a curse that runs in the family, ring entirely true, as does her inability to let go of her desire to unravel the questions surrounding her father’s death. The secondary characters are well defined. Historical details about the war and the post-Civil War era add layers to the well-developed setting. There are plenty of kid-friendly resources here, along with historical photographs and personality-laden illustrations, all combining in a deeply compelling read. A gripping story about family, war, mourning, resilience, and self-discovery told with heart; a must-read.
Hattie’s War
Peter Serko
SageLand Press
Pub date August 14, 2023
ISBN 979-8218129514
Price $12.99 (USD) Paperback, $8.99 Kindle edition
