Moving out on her own for the first time, Rozella Ehalt begins a teaching job during the1930s Great Depression. No longer subject to sharing a bed with her sisters, Rozella is thrilled to be living alone. With barely any money for life's necessities, she is nevertheless thankful to become an independent woman. Every new friend changes her life. She befriends John, the landlord's son, who brings both passion and mystery, Tillie, icon of heartland womanhood, who brings stability and courage, and Joan who brings the sophistication of Europe. Cameo insertions depict Rozella's childhood life and help us understand her reactions to life changes. Heartland: Survival in the 1930s, illustrates the passion and power of Midwestern USA, as it deals with the trials of that time. Written in the descriptive style of Faulkner, the writer's poetic imagery emphasizes the content. How does Rozella recreate herself and survive in the 1930s? This is a novel about a woman's struggle for independence.