book details

Book: Hitty and Her Next Hundred Years by Jody Provost

categories: Book, Dolls, History, 1930's, Great Depression, Dust Bowl, World War II, Children, Rachel Field, 20th Century, Miniatures, Hitty Doll

Jody Provost

about this book: I was inspired by Rachel Field's book of Hitty, written in 1929, to carry on her story. I am a collector and have a hand-carved wooden Hitty doll and make her clothing, but I wanted to continue her story for the next generation.

This book is a step into the 1930's through the eyes of a Hitty doll, a little wooden doll made of white ash, deemed as good luck. She travels across the USA and experiences many adventures such as flying with a Ninety-Nine (female pilot of the 1930's trained my Amelia Earhart), traveling to Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, and at one point, arriving in California by train.

While the character Hitty was originally geared towards children, many collectors are adults and enjoy Hitty's story, so I took this into consideration while writing. I made the chapters shorter for the busy person who likes to complete an entire chapter in one sitting, or the child who is challenged with reading anything at all.

I feel this book can introduce older children to history without making it boring and teach adults things they may not know about this part of the 20th century. Hitty meets people from all walks of life, races, a creeds.

Hitty's viewpoint is much like that of an innocent child who has no control over what life is like and is a victim of circumstance. She rolls with the punches and retains her dignity throughout and "speaks" with wisdom that a doll of such age should only be able to do.

I researched an entire year the decade of the 1930's, from history to slang, to intense study of maps, furniture and inventions. Do you ever wonder when a Popsicle was first made? What about bubble gum? Hot dogs? What about if the bridge you just traveled over even existed over 50 years ago?

My mind is a curious one, much like Hitty's, so I asked all these questions to myself as I wrote. I was always taught to write what I know, and if I didn't know it, find out. This is one of the most valuable pieces I can relay to writers of all ages. It helps to bring your story life and be believable.