This past week my wife and I finished listening to Frontier Grit: The Unlikely True Stories of Daring Pioneer Women by Marianne Monson. As my wife said, "It might be the best book I've read all year."
I agree. It is the best book I've read all year! If I ever write historical non-fiction, I want to write like Marianne Monson and write something as compelling as Frontier Grit.
She listened to Frontier Grit first, and after hearing a bit of the book and listening to her high praise of the stories, I downloaded a copy for myself. We listened to the audiobook on Hoopla through our library (the narrator was very good), but you can also pick up a copy on Amazon.com, local bookstores, or request a copy at your library if they don't already have one.
The women and stories she shares are truly amazing. Their frontier experiences, tales of adventure, and amazing determination will make you think you're listening to wild fiction--but it's all true and equally inspiring.
I can't recommend it enough. If you're looking for a summer read/listen, I highly suggest Frontier Grit.