By Melissa Fox, Grand Rapids Public Library
Part Annie Oakley, part hippy farmer, with a bit of Little House on the Prairie stirred in, Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm is the kind of book that grabs you from the first sentence, if that super cover and awesome title haven’t already. This is a fierce memoir, the sort of story that is common enough to be shared by many, but triumphant enough to be Mardi Jo Link’s alone.
The parts you will love are the boys, Link’s sons who are each unique and full of individual adventure, yet clearly on this particular journey with their mother. You will also love Link’s genuine approach to telling this story, how she admits her own weaknesses and struggles, as well as her achievements. You will love that she refers to her ex-husband as Mr. Wonderful.
If you read Blood, Bones, and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, you will love this book. If you read Wild by Cheryl Strayed you will love this book. There is much to hold onto in Bootstrapper — food, farms, family, but there is also the grit and the determination.
