In Nebraska Roots, Leah Lambert presents the story of her own evolution from sheltered child to self-aware young woman. Throughout the book, Lambert weaves in historical references along with some ghostly encounters. She depicts a childhood in the 1950s where her education happened in a one-room schoolhouse and children were affected by news reports about spies, the Cold War, and serial killers—and they responded in unique ways.
In high school, Lambert encountered classmates who did little to hide their blatant bigotry, teachers who openly promoted their political views, and counselors whose prejudices prevented them from supporting student goals.
As a college student at the University of Nebraska in the 1960s, she experienced a variety of contrasting cultures, from rabid support of college football, to the emergence of women’s issues, racial awareness, and a rising anti-war movement. After years of anti-war protests and growing feminism, two divergent worlds collide when Lambert falls in love with an Army officer.
Poignant and honest, Nebraska Roots narrates an eventful life spanning decades of unprecedented change.