Hattie Mae Begins Again

by Sharon G. Flake

From the three-time Coretta Scott King Honor winning author of The Skin I'm In comes a poignant story about a southern girl far from home at an elite girls boarding school in the north, who must find the courage to be herself and to dream of a brighter future, set against the backdrop of the great migration in South Philly.

Hattie Mae hails from Seed County, North Carolina. She knows hard milking cows, plucking chickens, minding the garden. Her hands are made for manual labor—her feet for dirt—that is according to Lisa and some of the other girls at Miss Abigail’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies in Philadelphia. Hattie could never be a doctor or a scientist or anyone worthy cause she’s a hick from the south.

Hattie is afraid they might be right. She sticks out like a sore thumb from the way she dresses to the way she eats to the way she carries herself. Hattie has more in common with the hundreds of Black folks pouring into the city looking for better opportunities away from Jim Crow’s south. She doesn’t belong and doubts that she ever will.

A moving coming-of-age story about finding the courage to be yourself and chasing a better life, lifting other folks up with you along the way.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Sharon G. Flake is the author of five books, The Skin I'm In (1998), Money Hungry (2002), Begging for Change (2003), Who Am I Without Him? Short Stories About Boys and the Girls in Their Lives (2004), Bang! (Sept. 2005), and her latest novel The Broken Bike Boy and the Queen of 33rd Street (2007).

Her work is used in public and private schools around the nation, from elementary to high school, and is often required reading in colleges for students in education, child development, children's literature and English writing programs. Beyond that, her work is also a favorite among adults and adult book club readers.

Flake and her work have won numerous awards and recognitions including: Best Books for Young Adult Readers; Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers; the New York Public Library Top Ten Books for the Teen Age; 2005 featured author in the Ninth Book of Junior Authors & Illustrators; 2005 Capitol Choices; Noteworthy Books for Children; 2004 Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Book; 2004 Texas Lone Star Award for Top Ten Books; 2002, 2004 Coretta Scott King Honor Award; Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Grant; 2004 Bank Street Best of the Year; 2004 Bulletin Blue Ribbon Book; 2004 CCBC Choices; Booklist Top Ten Fantasy Book; 2004 Booklist Top Ten Romance Novels for Youth; 2004 Booklist Editor's Choice Award; 2003 Detroit Free LIbrary Author of the Year; 1999 YWCA Racial Justice Award; 1999 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award and more.

Flake's work appears on the Anti-Defamation League's website which stresses the use of children's literature to help educators address the problem of bullying in schools.

Flake was born in Philadelphia, PA, but has resided in Pittsburgh, PA with her daughter for many years. She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in English. For several years she was a youth counselor for a foster care agency, after which she spent 18 years working at the University of Pittsburgh in public relations. She has written numerous articles for national publications. Prior to having her first book published, she wrote for approximately 15 years.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid middle grade fantasy that focuses on the experience of a Southern Black girl who heads north for boarding school. 3.5 Stars

What Worked: I think I'm coming to the realization that I'm a massive fan of historical fiction. I've know that I've enjoyed in the past; however, I think that it's a genre that can pull me in as a reader unlike any other genre. Hattie Mae Begins Again is an interesting insight to not only the Black experience in the earlier part of the 20th century, but also an analysis of the relationship between the Black community in the North and that of the South. Unfortunately, I do not think that many K-12 schools in the US teach about the intricate relationship between the two groups, both the positive and negative. Flake did an excellent job highlighting the fact that Black wealth flourished in the 20th century and that this same exact wealth led to issues of classism between Northern and Southern Black communities. There is also an underlying conversation (though it may not be apparent to younger readers) about the impact of the search for proximity to whiteness and the desire to remove oneself from the "undignified" Southern roots. It was enjoyable to see some of these major conversations be woven into the heart of the story. Hattie's character development was well done and illustrated the benefit of community, family, and confidence in oneself. Flake did an excellent job capturing the feeling of the 20th century and the struggles and success of a boarding school that felt almost reminiscent of A Little Princess.

What Didn't Work: I think that it would have been in the best interest of the author to note that this is a companion novel to Once in a Blue Moon. Though there appears to be enough context to read this story as a standalone, I think that readers would have a more robust understanding of Hattie as a character, her brother, and family if they read the first book.

Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable historical fiction middle grade read.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hattie Mae has the chance to attend a prestigious girl’s school in Philadelphia. In 1938, an opportunity like this for a Southern born Black child was almost unheard of. Encouraged by her loving family, Hattie begins life at the boarding school, under the condition that her relationship to the director, who is her cousin, is not to be revealed. Almost immediately, the differences in Hattie Mae’s upbringing and that of the other girls’ begin to cause divisions between the pupils. And she’s not sure if they can ever be overcome…
This book is a sequel to another book by this author, which I was not aware of before reading it. I think the plot of “Hattie Mae” would have been bit easier for me to follow if I’d read the first book.

* I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Skye Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review!!!

First off, this book is written very well! And unlike most books, it’s written like poems!
The storyline is very intriguing and very well planned!
Definitely recommend reading this!

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hattie Mae is given the rare opportunity to travel to Philadelphia to attend Miss Abigail’s School for Exceptional Young Ladies at the behest of her cousin. A farm girl from Seed County, North Carolina Hattie Mae knows how to milk a cow, not what fork to use at dinner. Sticking out like a sore thumb, Hattie Mae isn't sure Miss Abigail's is the place for her. Though forming friendships with some of the girls comes easy, Hattie Mae is relentlessly bullied by Lisa; a rich snob who's been abandoned by her father. When Hattie Mae is given lessons in more than just how to walk, talk and dress, she isn't sure she likes how political polite society has to be and what difference attending school will have on her future. A smart and precocious young lady, Hattie Mae Begins Again is a story of finding ones place in the world.

Written in verse, Hattie Mae Begins Again is a deeply moving middle grade historical fiction that details what life is like for young Hattie Mae after leaving the Jim Crow South for the free city of Philadelphia. We see her develop from a naive child to a young lady who can hold her own, even if it means causing Miss Abigail some annoyances. I really enjoyed her friendships with the girls, and even Lisa who also grew from start to finish as the reader unlocks why she acts the way she does. There is value in the lessons, in the story and in the writing.

Thank you Random House Kids for the gifted copy.

[Sails and Scales · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know until after I read this that it’s technically a sequel. I didn’t feel like my experience was dramatically changed from not having read the first book, but I think more context about her family would perhaps have made her emotional journey and communications with her family more meaningful to me.

I usually don’t like books in verse, and I didn’t realize this book was going to be. I decided to give it a try and found that it didn’t bother me. It’s still not my favorite way to read a book, but it worked fine for this one. It was an interesting way to convey Hattie’s voice.

I didn’t know a lot about the historical context of this book, so I was intrigued by the historical aspects of this book. I was particularly interested in how important the distinction between Black people with Southern roots were looked down on and how that reflected Hattie’s struggles. I was interested to see the discussions of class and privilege represented with this dynamic.

I wished that I had gotten some more character development from almost everybody. I left feeling like it was somewhat shallow and Pollyanna-ish but not in a particularly good way. I liked it fine, and it’s a great historical novel from a time period and population not commonly written about for the target age. I think a lot of young readers will like this and see themselves in it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read Once in a Blue Moon, so I was a little worried I would be lost reading its companion. I did feel like this book held up really well as a standalone, so if that's your concern don't let it keep you from reading this book. This is a very compelling historical fiction novel set in 1938 Philadelphia, where 11-year-old Hattie Mae takes part in the Great Migration - traveling north to attend a girls boarding school run by her cousin. Pretending she has no relation to cousin, to avoid accusations of preferential treatment, Hattie struggles to fit in with the wealthy girls from Old Philadelphia families. She starts to come into her own and sets her sights on improving the school. I liked this novel and its perspective on history we don't often get from middle grade novels. Written in verse, this novel flows lyrically.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have such a deep love for middle grade historical fiction. In verse novels are usually hit or miss for me, but this is really immersive and well-written. I loved Hattie's friendship with Bert and Alabaster. Lisa reminded me a bit of Harriet from the Addy Walker books, though Lisa is definitely meaner. I do wish her character had been developed more. She's a typical lonely rich kid who acts out because she feels unwanted, and her redemption happens a little too quickly after tormenting Hattie for most of the book. I also would have liked to learn more about Hattie's family, particularly her brother.

[Kyra Approved · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve years old, brave heart, big dreams, and absolutely NOT here to shrink herself.
She leaves rural North Carolina for a fancy boarding school in Philadelphia and suddenly has to figure out identity, belonging, class, and confidence all at once. Add judgmental classmates, unspoken rules, and pressure to change who she is? Yeah, it gets real.
But when the school itself is threatened, Hattie does not stay quiet. She rises. She leads. She shows exactly why her voice matters.
This novel-in-verse is powerful, emotional, and packed with history, heart, and growth. A beautiful middle grade read about resilience and knowing your worth.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this middle grade novel in verse, enough that I ended up staying up late to read it. What I liked is that while it is firmly rooted in a historical time and place (Philadelphia during the great migration), it didn't feel didactic to me. The focus stayed firmly on Hattie Mae and what she was thinking and feeling. The format of poetry means it won't be overwhelming for reluctant readers, and there's enough action to draw them in as well.

Review based on a DRC received through NetGalley.

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading children's books written in verse. I also like it when the author adds their own notes in the back. It's meaningful to see how they connected to the topic and the research that went into writing it. I enjoyed my time reading about Hattie Mae. I would recommend this book to school librarians for their collection.

[Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hattie Mae is such a great character. She isn't afraid to be herself, but also learn new things. I loved being on this journey with her as she finds her place among the girls at the girls school.
The verse is really great and you can really hear Hattie's voice.
This is a great verse novel for anyone to read.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E RAC provided by Netgalley

Review to come closer to publication date.