Joy Don Baker

Robin, has just finished her first year of nursing school in Texas with her fellow nursing students Katie, Franny, and Leslie and is spending the summer with her Grandmother. However, times are changing and with it comes chaos and tragedy for fiery young Robin. While trying to prevent her Gram's house from being bought and demolished, she tries her hand at working at Marshall Field Department Store, and makes new friends along the way...and enemies. As Robin reaches out to reestablish a relationship with her mother, she finds that door is quickly closing against all her efforts. Can Robin help prevent the loss of her Gram's home, remain in contact with her mom, and continue her nursing studies with her fellow Nurseketeers? Only time will tell....

Against the World is a door opening into the 1970s and the lives of four nursing students trying to broaden their beliefs, expand their horizons, and pave the way for their future nursing careers. Their quest is not only to survive the rigors of nursing school, but the chaotic times in which they live. Amidst the challenges of domestic violence, physical abuse, sexism, and racial tensions these young women find acceptance, tolerance, enlightenment, and awakening as not young girls, but blossoming women.… (altro)

Four young women find friendship and solidarity as they begin their nursing journey in 1970s Texas.
Katie is a young woman whose Native American ancestry drives her to become a nurse and help her people see the benefits of both their traditional medicine that of Western medicinal healthcare. Leslie is also looking forward to becoming a nurse, but is challenged by the additional responsibilities required of her athletics scholarship and must find balance between both worlds. Outspoken Robin has moved on from turbulent Chicago and is seeking a new life balancing studies, work, and her new roommates. Frannie is making the exciting jump from high school in Pennsylvania to university life in Texas. However, life in Dallas and as a college student is not as easy as Frannie thought it would be. She is excited to begin her studies as a future nurse, but is more drawn to making friends, finding a boyfriend, going shopping, and attending social events. When events spin beyond Frannies's control, it will be her fellow nursing students and roommates who will help her overcome the academic, social, and life-altering challenges that lay ahead.

This was a really good book that sheds some light on life as not only a first-time nursing students, but any students that are trying to acclimate to life away from home and in participate the larger arena of university life and studies. I enjoyed seeing how these characters unfolded and learning a bit about their backgrounds...which I hope continues in the next book of the Nurseketeers Series. Being a nurse, I cannot wait to see what lies in store for these students as they progress through the joys, pains, and awe that is nursing school.… (altro)