Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century--1951--in the middle of the United States--Des Moines, Iowa--in the middle of the largest generation in American history--the baby boomers. As one of the funniest writers alive, he is perfectly positioned to mine his all-American childhood for memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero. In his case, he ran around his house...

The story of eleven girls from Ames, Iowa, the ten women they became, and the mysterious death of their eleventh member demonstrates how female friendships can shape every aspect of women's lives.

Waterloo started out like many other towns: as a small pioneer village located along the banks of the Cedar River. It must have been a breathtaking sight—a beautiful river lined with red cedar trees, prairie grasses blowing in the breeze, and abundant wildlife. After winning the battle to become the county seat in 1855, Waterloo began to grow into the metropolis it is today. The popular slogan, "Waterloo Way Wins," has proven true over the

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