Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake is a novel-in-verse that takes place in 1938 and is as story about a young girl, Hattie Mae, who leaves her home in rural North Carolina to Philadelphia to attend boarding school – Miss Abigail’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies. As soon as Hattie Mae arrives, she feels out of place in this high society school for “well-to-do girls whose fathers are lawyers, architects and engineers” since her Ma is a schoolteacher and her Daddy works in a factory. While Hattie Mae forges a strong friendship with one other student as well as a young boy in the neighborhood, the other students at Miss Abigail’s look down on Hattie Mae due to her “pedigree” and one girl in particular makes life very difficult for Hattie Mae at this school.
Hattie Mae struggles to fit in, and at one point thinks her time at the school may be over, but Hattie Mae stays true to herself and keeps fighting for what she thinks is right – that all girls should have the opportunity for a good education, not just the wealthy.
This book takes place during a fascinating time in history and sheds light on the Great Migration, when hundreds of Black people from the South migrated to Philadelphia looking for better opportunities. It is a movement that I was not aware of, and it was really interesting to read about some of the nuances of racism and classism that existed within the Black community at that time.
For me, the historical context of this book is the best part about it. I felt like Hattie Mae was really underdeveloped as a character, but that may be because this book is actually a companion book to Once in a Blue Moon, where readers learn in more detail about Hattie Mae and her family. Hattie Mae Begins Again is billed as a stand-alone, and I think that does it a disservice. There are so many references to Hattie Mae’s family, her background, and her upbringing that, at the time of reading, confused me and made me feel like I had missed something. Had I read Once in a Blue Moon, I may have felt differently.
I think the Great Migration is a great backdrop for this book and recommend it for middle grade readers ages 8-12.
WHAT I LIKED
- The Great Migration backdrop
- Nuanced discussions of racism and classism at the time
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
- As a stand-alone book, Hattie Mae’s character is underdeveloped
Have you read Hattie Mae Begins Again? What did you think?
Birdie's Bookshelf 