Book Review: One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Publisher’s description

Three women narrate a perilous wagon journey westward that could set them free—or cost them everything they have—in this intergenerational verse novel that explores the history of the Black homesteader movement.

1879, Mississippi. Young dreamer Lettie may have her head in the stars, but her body is on a covered wagon heading westward. Her father, Thomas, promises that Nebraska will be everything the family needs: an opportunity to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land.

But Thomas’ hopes—and mouth—are bigger than his ability to follow through. With few supplies and even less money, the only thing that feels certain is danger.

Right after the war ended/and we were free/we believed/all of us did/that couldn’t nothing hurt us/the way master had when we were slaves/Couldn’t no one tell us/how to live/how to die.

Lettie, her mother, Sylvia, and young teacher Philomena are free from slavery—but bound by poverty, access to opportunity, and patriarchal social structures. Will these women survive the hardships of their journey? And as Thomas’ desire for control overpowers his common sense, will they truly be free once they get there?

Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome’s striking verse masterfully portrays an underrepresented historical era. Tackling powerful themes of autonomy and Black self-emancipation, Cline-Ransome offers readers an intimate look into the lives of three women and an expansive portrait of generations striving for their promised freedom.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Amanda’s thoughts

Set in 1879, Lettie’s story of moving west where her family, and the other Black families they are traveling with, can own land and be truly free is just as powerful, harrowing, and upsetting as you may guess it is.

Told in verse and narrated by Lettie, her mother Sylvia, and Philomena, a young teacher they pick up along their trip, readers see every mile of their long journey west. The caravan has wagons but much of the trip from Mississippi to Nebraska is spent walking. Lettie keeps meticulous notes of what they use up and what they spend as well as detailing the trip. Her father has such big dreams for what life may look like for them in Nebraska. Her mother is less enthused, sad to have left behind family. The caravan of travelers becomes their new family and over the months that they move west, the losses pile up. Our narrators make it clear how affecting the losses are but have no real choice but to keep moving forward. Readers will travel with them through storms, rushing rivers, and heat, watching them stretch supplies and wear holes in their shoes as they make what will feel to probably most readers like an impossible journey.

Despite the many sad moments and challenging task of the long walk across the rough, uncertain terrain, there is so much love and hope in this story. Every character Cline-Ransome writes here, and there are many of them, jump off the page. Philomena becomes such a blessing on the trip, not just for the help she is providing Lettie’s family, but for becoming a companion to Lettie, someone she can talk to and learn from. Sylvia is quiet but strong, forging ahead with the plan even when things take a terrible turn. The small actions of caring—sharing food when families run thin, offering a hug when things are hard, halting the pace when someone falls ill—are lovely and show hope, love, and connection even in the hardest of times. The homesteaders are resilient and determined. Their story of the new life they seek post-Reconstruction is not often seen in middle grade fiction. As full of beauty as it is hardship, this is an excellent and important read.

Review copy (ARC) courtesy of the publisher

ISBN-13: 9780823450169
Publisher: Holiday House
Publication date: 03/05/2024
Age Range: 8 – 12 Years

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