tion that although she has been abandoned and starving, she has been taught the values required to live a life of decency and goodness. She has an epiphany that set her on the road to strength and independence in Under the Jimbilin Tree. Without resources, her goals seem unattainable yet she persists and celebrates each small step that gets her closer to "that great America." Propelled by her pact with God, made while eating jimbilins to quench her hunger, she never gives up. This amazing true story brilliantly illustrates that anguish and deprivation are not always a deterrent to success. Instead, such hardships can be excellent motivators in life's long road.