Alone in the world, teen-aged Hattie is driven to prove up on her uncle's homesteading claim.<br>For years, sixteen-year-old Hattie's been shuttled between relatives. Tired of being Hattie Here-and-There, she courageously leaves Iowa to prove up on her late uncle's homestead claim near Vida, Montana. With a stubborn stick-to-itiveness, Hattie faces frost, drought and blizzards. Despite many hardships, Hattie forges ahead, sharing her adventures with her friends--especially Charlie, fighting in France--through letters and articles for her hometown paper.<br><br>Her backbreaking quest for a home is lightened by her neighbors, the Muellers. But she feels threatened by pressure to be a &quot;Loyal&quot; American, forbidding friendships with folks of German descent. Despite everything, Hattie's determined to stay until a tragedy causes her to discover the true meaning of home.<br><br><br><i>From the Hardcover edition.</i>