Even people who don't know much about rural California have generally heard of the Owens Valley, in the Eastern Sierra. That's where Los Angeles leaders maneuvered to take the valley's water, to run the sinks and toilets of LA.
Kendra Atleework grew up in the Owens Valley, then left it behind when her family fell apart. After a while, she felt compelled to return. Her reflections on the pull of the place of her childhood are contained in the book Miracle Country: A Memoir.
It is environmental history in addition to memoir. The author joins us to talk about her observations.