Book Summary and Reviews of Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Book Summary

Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered novel about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father's shop, and making at least one friend.

Acclaimed, award-winning author Linda Sue Park has placed a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America's heartland, in 1880. Hanna's adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople's almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story.

Narrated by Hanna, the novel has poignant moments yet sparkles with humor, introducing a captivating heroine whose wry, observant voice will resonate with readers. Includes an afterword from the author.

This moving historical novel is from Newbery Medalist Linda Sue Park, whose beloved middle grade books include A Single Shard and A Long Walk to Water.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Prairie Lotus is a work of historical fiction. Did you enjoy reading it? Have you read other historical novels? Which ones? Do you think that plot, character and theme can make a historical novel interesting to readers who don't enjoy studying history? Did you like the main character, Hanna, even though she isn't a contemporary of yours? What are some of Hanna's characteristics, good or bad?
2. The history of westward expansion is most often presented in a positive light, without the full truth of the injustices done to the Native nations of North America by the United States. Hanna and her father are themselves settlers in LaForge, and thus are part of that terrible legacy. Think about the language usually used to describe ...