Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park- ADVISABLE

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park, 272 pages. Clarion (Houghton Mifflin), 2020. $17.

Content: G (some racial comments)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Hanna and her Papa have made their way from San Francisco to LaForge in Dakota Territory over the course of several years – really since Hanna’s Mama died. They know that the prairie people aren’t as used to someone like Hanna – half Korean, but Hanna just wants to finish her last couple of courses of school and make her way as a dressmaker like her Mama was. She will have to stand strong in the face of the prejudices of the townspeople.

Park is unabashed in her love of the Little House books growing up. This is her homage to those books, showing the life of other groups who were also looking for homes in America at the same time.  Lovely book – I admire Hanna’s spunk and her ingenuity. The Little House books and other historical fiction is not a big seller at my library, but those who find it will fall in love.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS