The Basket Woman - Public Domain

The goodhearted but mysterious Basket Woman

Through the goodhearted but mysterious Basket Woman, swaggering young glaciers, an ancient Paiute Indian, and sharp-minded rabbits become the companions and teachers of Alan, the young son of homesteaders in early Nevada. The Basket Woman doesn't simply tell these stories: She transports her young friend into a powerful mythic realm where Alan learns the secret of the trees and animals and the wisdom of the people who flourished before the arrival of white settlers. A preface by Austin provides ample context for a scholastic appreciation of one of this remarkable writer's most important works.