Nothing daunted

If this were a fiction book, the plot would be charming and a touch unrealistic. The fact that it’s non-fiction makes this tale of young society women during the pioneer era truly remarkable. Educated and privileged, best friends Dorothy (the author’s grandmother) and Ro decide to leave their luxurious lives in New York and seek adventure in the mountains of Colorado, working as teachers in a small community. Their stories of hardscrabble living and moments of professional triumph, meticulously researched and vividly depicted by the author, are totally captivating (and might make you want to hop a train).