Winner of the 1930 Newbery Medal
Hitty is a doll of great charm and character. It is indeed a privilege to publish her memoirs, which, besides being full of the most thrilling adventures on land and sea, also reveal her delightful personality. One glance at her portrait will show that she is no ordinary doll. Hitty, or Mehitable as she was really named, was made in the early 1800s for Phoebe Preble, a little girl from Maine. Young Phoebe was very proud of her beautiful doll and took her everywhere, even on a long sailing trip in a whaler. This is the story of Hitty's years with Phoebe, and the many that follow in the life of a well-loved doll.---from the publisher
256 pages 978-0689822841 Ages 8-12
Keywords: doll, adventures, sailing, ship, classic, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, Newbery Medal, historical fiction
**********
Other reviews:
"As was the sad norm of the time, Hitty does not fare well in the arena of political correctness. There was the assumption in India that the “little brown people” were waiting to be saved from their heathen ways. The “savages” who took Hitty as their god did not develop beyond the first dimension. Even in Field’s treatment of African-Americans, in which I truly believe she strived to be liberal and open-minded, there was still an implied assumption that she was describing a lesser bit of humanity. The collective “they” was used to group the former slaves on the plantation. She was sure to show that they were now happy and content to be working for wages. She described the plantation Colonel and his daughter’s magnanimous generosity in doling out Christmas presents from the big house. Of course Hitty was also much consoled when she passed from the black hands of little Car’line into the “quality” hands of Miss Hope. I’m a little uncomfortable dishing out to harsh of a judgment in hindsight, as I wonder with what blinders I’m viewing today’s world." - from DaNae on Goodreads
**************
Editor's note: This book was written in 1929 and reflects the some attitudes and beliefs of those times which are challenged today by those who recognize the racism and classism they reflect.
