First published 1996
In these interconnected tales, readers meet characters like Martha, a factory worker who refuses to let layoffs define her worth, and Tom, a farmer facing foreclosure who discovers unexpected allies in his community. Each story reveals how ordinary individuals navigate life's challenges through quiet determination and ingenuity. A waitress finds her voice when management tries to cut her hours. A retired teacher confronts loneliness after her husband's death by reaching out to former students. A teenage mother balances night classes with childcare, refusing to abandon her dreams. Ansay writes with precision about small-town Midwest life, capturing the weight of economic uncertainty and personal loss. Yet her characters never succumb to despair. They adapt, persist, and surprise themselves with their capacity to endure. These stories celebrate the unsung heroism found in daily acts of survival and connection.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, quiet-determination
Setting: Midwest
Period: 21st-century
Paperback · Univ of Massachusetts Pr