title: Mattie
author: Alter, Judy
description: Young Mattie, poor and illegitimate, was introduced to an entirely new world when she was hired to care for the daughter of an influential doctor. By sheer grit and determination, she eventually became a doctor herself and set up her practice amid the soddies and farmhouses of the Nebraska she knew and loved. During the years of her practice, Mattie's life was filled with battles won and loved ones lost, challenges met and opportunities passed. Through it all, she endured--and triumphed. Mattie offers a realistic and haunting portrait of life on the plains--and of a most unforgettable woman.