One Big Open Sky

By Lesa Cline-Ransome

A perilous journey west tests three women's quest for freedom and survival against poverty and patriarchal constraints.

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304 pages

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Bookroo's summary

In 1879 Mississippi, Lettie, her mother Sylvia, and teacher Philomena embark on a treacherous wagon journey to Nebraska, seeking freedom and independence. Promised a new life by Lettie's father, Thomas, they face the harsh realities of limited supplies and his overbearing control. As they navigate the dangers of the trail, these women must confront the challenges of poverty and societal constraints. Will they find the freedom they seek, or will the journey cost them everything? This verse novel explores the resilience and determination of those striving for self-emancipation in the face of overwhelming odds.

From the publisher

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