"In this striking memoir-part poetry, part narrative-RuthTicktin plumbs the geography of a childhood spent in the Midwestand her consequent trajectory to the Northeast, all the while givinga human face to key points and developments in U.S. history. In suchpieces as 'Lines from Letters' and 'From Those Who Came BeforeUs, ' she maps what it meant then and what it means now to be femaleand to stand for what is just. Ticktin brings to the page not only herskills as a poet but her unique background as a long-time ESL teacher.Her deft use of word play and rhythm stand out."-Naomi Ayala, author of three books of poetry with contributionsin numerous anthologies; is an education consultant, translator, andteacher in Washington DC