You might know Mary J. MacLeod from her charming (and Bas Bleu-bestselling) memoirs that chronicled her years working as a traveling nurse on a remote Hebridean island in the 1970s. If so, you'll love this prequel about her childhood in rural England; if not, The Country Nurse Remembers makes an excellent introduction to a simply lovely person. The resilient young Mary has more than her share of heartbreak, but she carries on with grace, ultimately finding independence by becoming a nurse.