In 1918, Hattie Brooks receives word that an uncle she's never known has passed away and left his homestead in Montana to her. She travels across the country to plant roots in this new place. She is understandably hesitant when she first realizes how much work she has to do to "prove up" her land, but she tackles the many jobs with determination and her own two hands. Those hands also craft letters to her friend Charlie, who is fighting in France, and articles for the newspaper. She befriends a lovable family and others in town as she fights to stake her claim.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson, is about sixteen year old Hattie Brooks. Her parents died when she was very young, so for most of her life she has been shuffled around to different relatives to live with. She even thinks of herself as "Hattie-Here-and-There." When she receives a letter from her late uncle, leaving a homestead claim in her name, Hattie jumps at the chance of a new life. So all by herself, Hattie travels from Iowa to Vida, Montana. Even with hard work, failing crops, and a homestead she must prove up on, Hattie feels at home for the first time.