DNF'd around 20%. Despite loving historical fiction--especially prairie historical fiction-- I could not get into One Big Open Sky. Maybe I'll try it again with the audiobook. Sometimes free verse goes better via that medium.

Letty and her family are leaving Mississippi for Nebraska on a grueling wagon trail trip that will bring heartbreak and fear. Along the way, they pick up Miss Pratt, a school teacher heading to North Platte and her first teaching job. Told from Letty's journal as well as her mother and Ms. Pratt's points of view. The first great migration of African Americans is portrayed through the eyes of the women, who saw perhaps more clearly all that was around.

fun diary oriented historical narrative - some solid non-flat characters - not quite as strong as some other titles by Cline-Ransome.

For Lamb made my top 10 reads in 2023 so I was excited to see a new book from Lesa Cline-Ransome!
Post civil war reconstruction in the south, and the migration west, are areas of particular interest to me. I always love these stories and seeing how modern writers tackle all of the intersectionality.
It’s a bit unfortunate that One Big Open Sky is listed as children’s and young reader historical fiction because I feel that it is written to appeal to all ages. One of the POVs is a middle school aged girl but the other POVs are adults. I hope that people won’t dismiss this as juvenile fiction as it does unflinchingly tackle issues of enslavement, racism, sexism, parental death, etc. Granted, the descriptions weren’t as graphic as one might expect for an exclusively adult audience. I felt like the language and concepts were sometimes beyond the juvenile audience but definitely in scope for young adults and adults of all ages. This story is one I will likely revisit again as LCR is such a great writer. She captured the emotions and painted a very realistic picture of the experiences of Black Americans heading west after the Civil War to claim land of their own. One Big Open Sky and For Lamb are essential reading for schools and parents to teach these aspects our past. As an adult, reading them is just as important to fill in the gaps of what we learned (and didn’t learn) about American history!
*Thanks to Holiday House and NetGalley for the ebook copy

DNF 15%
The formatting of this book really hindered the reading experience. Being a novel in verse, a lot of weight is given to format in regard to cadence and continuity. This could have been an issue with the Netgalley version and to be fixed later, but it was hard to note POV changes from Sylvia to Lettie and there was odd text sizing in various places for which I wasn't sure if it was intentional or accidental. I found myself not really enjoying the story or connecting to the characters, perhaps because of the technical issues but it's hard to say.

A novel-in-verse following a family of exodusters as they pursue life and land in the west where they hope for more freedom. The story is told from a young girl, her mother, and a school teacher who joins the caravan late. Regular challenges from nature, outside attackers, and peer and familial pressure all combine stakes to drive a compelling story of a Black family in search of home, and what is lost and found along the way. I especially loved the growing connection between young Lettie and Philomena the school teacher who wants to forge her own way as a woman going west, but gradually opens her heart to the connections around her.

I loved Lesa Cline-Ransome's books Overground Railroad and Finding Langston, which both explore the Great Migration. This book tells the story of a black family leaving Mississippi earlier, post-Civil War, but for the same reasons—only for pioneers, the decision to leave was even scarier and more gut-wrenching, as they knew little of what they would find once they arrived at their destination.

The book alternates in free verse between voices, primarily of a bright girl, Lettie, her mother, Sylvia, and a hopeful young teacher, Philomena. From these points of view we not only witness up close the difficulties, dangers, and emotional anguish of traveling north with a wagon and by foot, we also see a group of families become like family as they support and protect each other. And we also feel the growth of Lettie, Sylvia, and Philomena as they discover their strength and power to survive and persevere.

Meaningful, emotionally complex, and deeply expressed. Loved it.

Set in 1879 Mississippi, the story follows Lettie, her mother Sylvia, and young teacher Philomena as they embark on a journey to Nebraska in search of independence and opportunity. Led by Lettie’s father Thomas, the family faces numerous challenges and dangers along the way, highlighting the harsh realities of post-Civil War America for newly freed slaves.

Through Cline-Ransome’s evocative verse, readers are transported to a time of both hope and uncertainty, where the promise of freedom is tempered by the harsh realities of poverty, discrimination, and patriarchal oppression. The author skillfully explores themes of autonomy, resilience, and the quest for self-emancipation, offering readers a poignant and intimate portrayal of the struggles faced by Black women striving for a better life.

As the characters navigate the hardships of their journey, they confront the legacy of slavery and the enduring impact of systemic injustice on their lives. Despite the obstacles they face, Lettie, Sylvia, and Philomena demonstrate unwavering strength and determination, inspiring readers with their resilience and perseverance.

“One Big Open Sky” is a masterfully crafted novel that sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of American history, highlighting the courage and resilience of the characters in their quest for freedom and opportunity. This novel offers a poignant and timely exploration of the enduring quest for equality and justice in America.

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

Rating: 3 Stars

Summary: In "One Big Open Sky" by Lesa Cline-Ransome, three women narrate a dangerous journey westward in 1879, exploring the Black homesteader movement. Lettie, a young dreamer, her mother Sylvia, and teacher Philomena seek freedom and independence as they travel to Nebraska in search of their own plot of land. However, facing limited supplies and looming danger, their hopes for a better future are challenged.

Review: First off, I have to give a shoutout to the captivating cover of this book – it definitely caught my eye. Now, diving into the story, I really wanted to love "One Big Open Sky." The characters were well-rounded and the storyline was engaging. However, the freestyle verse and the absence of punctuation made the reading experience a bit arduous. While the narrative was compelling, the unconventional writing style hindered my ability to fully immerse myself in the emotional journey of Lettie, Sylvia, and Philomena. Despite this drawback, the exploration of themes like freedom, poverty, and the struggles faced by Black homesteaders added depth to the novel.

In conclusion, "One Big Open Sky" offers a poignant portrayal of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Though the writing style may not be for everyone, the story's powerful message and well-developed characters make it worth a read for those interested in historical fiction with a unique storytelling approach.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

A story of the Black homesteader movement in the late 1800s, from the pov of three women. Told in verse, this intergenerational journey of a mother, her daughter, and a young woman who joins them is unforgettable.
Multiple pov’s is not my thing a lot of the time, but this worked so well for this book. Getting three different angles and experiences of the same journey really rounded it out, and painted a clear view of events and the feelings around them.
I thought it was so beautifully written and engaging.

I had all these grand plans to read and talk about so many novels in verse this month, and instead, here I am, talking about the first one on the last day of April. Alas. It’s a book worth talking about, though, so I’m not sorry about that!

I picked up a copy of One Big Open Sky on Netgalley. After reading the description of the story, I was hooked. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book about the Black homesteader movement, so I love that this book explores that part of history.

Three women tell the story. First, we meet Lettie, the oldest daughter in her family, who has just learned about her parents’ plans to move from Mississippi to Nebraska, a journey of about 1500 miles. Lettie’s mom, Sylvia also shares her perspective, listening as her husband complains about the group’s leadership choices and dreams for the future. Philomena, a single woman on her way to Nebraska for a job as a teacher, joins the group, sharing space with Sylvia, Lettie, and their family.

It took me a few chapters to catch that Sylvia was Lettie’s mom. At first, I thought they were in two different families. Once I understood the relationship, though, the two perspectives on the same family gave me a more complete picture of what was going on and how each person felt about it.

Sylvia and Lettie have very different relationships with Thomas, Sylvia’s husband and Lettie’s dad, for example. They also have different fears and worries about leaving Mississippi.

Thank you, NetGalley and Holiday House for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome! I was immediately interested in the description of the book to read about homesteading during the early pioneer times from a black perspective. I deeply appreciate this book, simply due to the representation. This book would be a wonderful historical fiction choice for middle-grade students learning about subjects like slavery, racism and women's rights. It effectively conveys slavery's impact on the characters, especially the generational trauma, without the use of derogatory language.

Set in 1879, the story is told from multiple perspectives and follows Lettie, her two brothers Elijah and Silas and her mother Sylvia, led by their father, Thomas, the family leaves their home in Mississippi to follow his dream of owning his own homestead in Nebraska. Readers will learn about the hardships of this era as the characters experience tragedy and dangerous situations from which not all travellers survive.

An area to consider is the fact that this novel is written in free verse - heavy on the free. I found that the lack of punctuation sometimes clouded my comprehension.

Reminiscent of the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, this is the story of Lettie, a young African American girl who is traveling across the West with her mother, father, little brother, and eventually, a young woman traveling to become a teacher in the new settlement. The story begins with Lettie's father being sold as a slave, then being freed, and wanting to go where he can own land and his family can be free. It is a difficult road and is told this way - rougher than the Little House books and geared toward older children, but it is told in a verse-like manner from the perspective of Lettie, her mother, and the teacher. I loved reading this and would enjoy reading it to my older grandchildren - I think it is very readable and also teaches so much history. This is a sad story, but ends with hope. I love that it is from the perspective of a family of color! I think this is destined to become a classic!

One Big Open Sky is a beautifully written middle-grade novel told from the perspective of three women about their treacherous journey to Nebraska. I have never read a full-length novel that used verses before, and although it does take some getting used to, it is well-utilized here.

We follow the story from the perspective of young Lettie, her mother Sylvia, and teacher Philomena as they navigate a world that was not made for them, striving to survive while clinging to the desperate hope of a better life. They travel from Mississippi to Nebraska, facing pregnancy, heartbreak, racism, and many other obstacles along the way. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat, hoping and rooting for Lettie's family and Philomena's safety and happiness.

Thank you to Holiday House for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

It's 1879, and Lettie is living sharecropper life in Mississippi, but her father was born into slavery, and he has big dreams for their future: there's land free for the claiming out west. So the family, packs everything they will take into a Conestoga wagon and join a group of other Black families to head through the dangers toward the promised land of Nebraska.

Told in blank verse, this is a thought-provoking and gripping story: there's danger and tragedy matched by the settlers' hope, but also despair. Like the Trail itself, the story leaves some behind while other forge a community during this hazardous adventure. The blank verse may prove a bit of a challenge for some readers, but award-winning Cline-Ransome puts so much power into these elegant, telegraphic lines that a reader must pause to savor the story.

This would make a great companion read for novels of the settlement of the west, like <I>Hattie Big Sky </I> and the <I>Little House</I> series, and offers a valuable and compelling perspective on this quintessential American bit of history.

Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

I grew up playing endless rounds of Oregon Trail. I loved seeing all the ways one could die on the journey, but I also loved planning the trip, and doing all the shopping to figure out what we'd need to survive. That game imprinted on me, and I often turn to stories about people journeying out west to start a new life as homesteaders. I haven't read many, however, that feature an all-black cast of characters.

Lesa Cline-Ransome wrote one of my absolute favorite books last year, For Lamb, so I was really looking forward to reading this book. The story begins with a family starting their journey west from Mississippi. We read from 3 perspectives - Lettie, her mother Sylvia, and a young teacher Philomena. I was surprised and pleased at how much depth the author put into this story. Novels in verse don't always work for me, I often find they need more story and can sometimes be hard to follow. But this story was so good I frequently forgot that I was even reading a novel in verse.

I think this would be a great addition to any US History curriculum or pioneering unit. I think it is best for ages 12+

One Big Open Sky is a thorough look into the journey of Lettie, a young girl born in the years not long after emancipation, and her family to claim homesteading land in Nebraska. The trip is long, arduous, and fraught with peril, and author Leas Cline-Ransome does not shy away from describing the kinds of issues faced by Lettie's family.

The story of this pioneering band opens with the family returning home after church , and Lettie questioning her father about his parents. Unfortunately, he bears the scars of being separated from them during childhood, as his family was sold off piecemeal as their master saw fit. We are immediately thrust into the emotion of the story, witnessing it through Lettie's eyes and having the benefit of her level of understanding.

The opening sets a tone that informs us of the adult character's motivation for setting out on the journey, while allowing us to familiarize ourselves with Lettie's perspective. Over the course of the tale, we see how her experiences affect her, how she grows and changes, and how the journey impacts the family and those they meet, like Philomena.

A novel written in verse, the writing has a lyrical quality, which serves to set a rhythm for the reader, while in some areas constraining the depths of details and characterizations. This leads to a balance in the narrative that, in this writer's opinion, works well.

Cline-Ramsome's choice to thoroughly explore the pioneer journey and include many of the harsh realities of such an experience, particularly the additional challenges that a Black family would have faced, was a worthy pursuit. One Big Open Sky is a work that has the potential to be as widely known as the Laura Ingalls Wilder novels. Such representation is welcome, and necessary, in the genre.

I started and finished this book on April 3 and I did enjoy the topic, the characters, and some of the writing style, but my download was filled with issues that should have been addressed during editing. On more than 20 pages I found an editorial comment to (close the space). When I read, I do not skim but read every word, therefore; those who speed read might have missed that. There were also a few typos, words with no spaces in between, and verses on the wrong line. That is why I am giving this book 3 stars; the verse structure was not a good choice for this historical fiction novel.

One Big Open Sky by Lesa Kline-Ransom (March 2024, Holiday House) is a free verse historical fiction novel about Black covered wagon pioneers in 1879. It features a young Black girl and her family, told from her perspective and that of her mother and another young woman. They journey from a sharecropping atmosphere in Mississippi to the open territory of Nebraska in a covered wagon. The journey is dangerous and difficult, but these young women find the strength to persevere and stand up to the men around them as they succeed in their journey and face the future.

It’s such a great premise and the characters are strong. But I found the book tedious to read. The free verse was almost completely devoid of punctuation. Dialogue is presented in italics. Without punctuation it was sometimes hard to follow who was speaking. The narration alternated among the three women. Although I liked the characters, the story, and the setting, the structure just made it difficult to read. I’ve read plenty of free verse novels, but this was not my style. The stanzas were too devoid of structure.

I'm always on board for books that explore lesser known parts of history. In this case we're looking at the westward movement of People of Color escaping the rise of Jim Crow laws in the south. As a verse novel it's more about impressions and emotions than events but still manages to deftly weave together three perspectives of the same events. Thought provoking more than thrilling.