Hattie Mae Begins Again

Gr 3-7–The year is 1938, and Hattie Mae Jenkins, a 12-year-old Black girl, is on her way from Seed County, NC, to the bustling streets of Philadelphia, where she will enroll as a student at Miss Abigail’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies. Upon arriving at Miss Abigail’s, Hattie Mae struggles to fit in with the other girls, who hail from elite Black families and high society; Hattie comes from a community of laborers and farm workers and is proud of her roots but can’t match her classmates’ privileged lives. Trouble comes particularly from Lisa, a perennial bully who chooses Hattie as a target. As the novel develops, Hattie makes true friends within the school and the surrounding community and slowly learns to understand her purpose and identity. With the help of her new friends, she seizes the opportunity to remake herself as a leader and community advocate. Written in verse and featuring snappy chapters that read smoothly, this novel delves deep into historical details and Hattie’s journey of transformation without feeling weighed down. The book is a follow-up to Flake’s 2023 novel Once in a Blue Moon, which centers Hattie’s brother Henry James, but it also stands well on its own. Back matter includes a list of historical sources and an extensive author’s note delving into the history of Philadelphia and Flake’s roots in the city.