Monday, October 21, 2013

Hill Hawk Hattie and a Giveaway!


Hill Hawk Hattie by Clara Gillow Clark, fiction for upper elementary school girls, tells the beautiful story of 11-year-old Hattie Belle in the late 1800's. With her mother dead, Hattie is left alone with her father, a rough logger who makes his living by rafting the logs down the Delaware River. 

One day her father comes home and announces that Hattie is going to pass as his son and join him on the river. Concerned that she's no longer "his girl," Hattie still settles into the logging routines and befriends 13-year-old Jasper, another logger's son. 

Clara Clark describes the trip down the Delaware in vivid detail. The reader gets to experience the perils of riding through rapids on a raft that can break apart any minute and how fearful Hattie is that the other men will discover her identity and turn against her father. 

Towards the end of the book Clark uses the metaphor of Hattie's journey to show Hattie's inner life. In reflecting on her mother's death Hattie confides to Jasper, "I think my ma got stuck in her mind somewhere between her fine home in Kingston and our hills. Somehow, I think it just pulled her apart, like a raft breaking apart on rocks you can't see." (p. 146)  

After they get off the river, Hattie discovers that her father has a different plan for her life.  A river of thought spun around in my head, floated together, fit into a pattern like logs and lash poles, pieces that shaped the story of our journey, mine and Pa's. "You taking me to Kingston, Pa?"
Young and old enjoy Hattie's adventures! This is
the infamous Uncle Bob devouring the novel in
two days. 

When I received this book several years ago I thought I'd give it away on this blog. But after my husband's uncle read it and recommended it, I fell in love with it too. Now I have a 7-year-old granddaughter who I think will also love it. Fortunately, Clara is willing to give away an autographed copy herself.  

Clara also now makes felt dolls of her characters! This set of Hattie and Jasper dolls, plus the teaching guide sells for $19.95 plus postage.



And last, but not least, Clara, who is presently teaching at several Highlights workshops, also offers critique services at reasonable rates. You can best reach her at this email address.  


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To enter this contest, just leave me a comment and your email address if I don't have it. Clara and I would love it if you shared this on Facebook or Twitter too.  And since my blog followers now number 99, if you become a new follower, I'll enter your name twice, and I'll reach the 3-digit mark! 

I'll draw a winner on Friday, October 25th. Thanks in advance for entering!

22 comments:

Lisa Fowler said...

Would love to read Hattie's story and I love the name of the book.

Thank you Ms. Clark for the opportunity to win.

Thank you Carol for sharing. Looking forward to the read.

Anonymous said...

This looks like a great book for my 11 year old granddaughter. :) I will share this on both Facebook and Twitter.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks Janie & Lisa. You are the first entries!

Rosi said...

This book sounds so wonderful. I would love to share it with my granddaughter. I tweeted (https://twitter.com/rosihollinbeck/status/392446154400481281) your link. I'm so happy Ms. Clark is offering this.

Carol Baldwin said...

Your granddaughter would love it, Rosi! Thanks for sharing.

Linda Phillips said...

I don't have a granddaughter who can read it yet, so I'll just have to enjoy it myself until the time comes. Thanks for the great review, Carol.

Linda A. said...

A great book for boys and girls seeking adventure, without the hazards of a river ride. I'd love a chance to read this one. What a nice gift pack.

Kathy Cannon Wiechman said...

Historical fiction at its best!

Gretchen Griffith said...

Sounds like a wonderful book! I'd love to read it.
Gretchen

Anonymous said...

I'm follower 101! Would love to be entered into the drawing. Thanks for the give a way, I will share on Facebook. I love reading (and writing) historical MG fiction - it's one of my favorite genres. Janet My email is wvsmarties (at) yahoo.com

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks everyone for leaving comments and entering the giveaway. Janet, I have your name in twice!

Beverly CD said...

I would love this book. I am a librarian and would like to have a drawing for the young people who come into my library. Many of them cannot afford to even own a book.

Carol Baldwin said...

Beverly, I added your name to the list!

Clara Gillow Clark said...

Thank you everyone for the wonderful comments.

Carol, thanks for doing such a great job on this post and for including your infamous Uncle Bob.

Lois said...

Thanks for the great review, Carol. Sounds like a wonderful story.

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks Lois for stopping by. Clara, I wish you could meet my husband's uncle. He is one of the biggest characters in the world!

Kim Van Sickler said...

Congrats! You're over one hundred now! Sign me up for a chance to win an autographed copy of Hill Hawk Hattie. I wish Candlewick Press was open to unsolicited submissions. I'd love to submit my book with my 12-year-old mule driver navigating life on the Ohio Canal...

Carol Baldwin said...

Thanks, Kim. Yes, your book does sound like a fit for Candlewick!

Kathleen said...

I love historical fiction and this is a topic I have not read about before. Sounds like a really interesting read. Thank you Carol for interviewing Ms. Clark.

Carol Baldwin said...

Kathy, your name is in the hat! Thanks for stopping by.

Clara Gillow Clark said...

Congratulations, Lisa Fowler! I appreciate everyone who stopped by to leave a comment.

Thank you, again, Carol, for this wonderful post and for promoting my Hattie around the entire cyber world!

Carol Baldwin said...

It's been my pleasure, Clara!

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