While Susie and her Pa possess the spirit of optimism and adventure needed for survival in the West, Ma fails to share their outlook. Chronicling one day in their life, this story paints the emotional struggle, the determination, and the spark of hope one kind gesture offers. The lyrical text is one to be used as a model of outstanding writing. A lyrical novel about a day in the life of a young pioneer girl growing up on the Dakota prairie is now available in a "Knopf Paperback edition. This widely praised and beautifully crafted tale deftly evokes the vast expanse of the American West, the hardships faced by pioneer families, and the strong bonds of family and community.