Julia Brown Tobias gives us a giftthe realistic story of growing up on the prairie with her unforgettable family and neighbors who seem to have just arrived from central casting. There is Mama whose strongest epithet was "Thunder and Mud" which she muttered when the preacher arrived unannounced; Boo who was born with what was then called "thyroid deficiency"; the hired man that caused Mama to get out the buggy whip; and Ralph, a young harvest hand who became a major part of Julia's life. You can read this story aloud to your family and count on two thingsbefore they know what's happened they'll be mesmerized and when you reach the last page, they'll be disappointed it's over.