The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver

The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver

232 pages

"Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots."

A really interesting story told from a great perspective. Rich writing, lots of detail. And the minor characters never really feel minor at all.