The writer relates events of her childhood growing up in rural Georgia. I learned about the long leaf pine vs. the slash pine silviculture of this area plus the woodpecker and Bachman's sparrow which dwell there. Her difficult childhood in poverty with mentally ill relatives makes for an overall depressing read.

Our group ratecd this on a scale of 1-10 about 51/2 or 6. We wondered just what she is doing for the environment in her area. Also what are her brothers and sisters doing now. She is a very descriptive writer.

The book alternates chapters about the author's family life and family tree with chapters about the native plants and animals existing in the south Georgia environment where she grew up. Ms. Ray has an aspirational view of ecology and environmentalism. I enjoyed the hopeful tone of the book, and a couple of our members had read the book more than once and enjoyed it the second time.