No Grass [Paperback]

Shawna Legarza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 4, 2009

Wildland firefighters, especially “hotshots,” are a breed alone. It is a lifestyle many will never understand. They are dispatched throughout the Nation, always ready to work in the very worst kind of disaster. They sleep wherever it’s safe and often do not shower for weeks. So why would a young woman, reared on a Nevada cattle ranch, give up the open spaces for a life of danger? This is only one of the questions answered with humor and insight in Shawna Legarza’s memoir, No Grass. After working her way through college as a firefighter, the author was part of the World Trade Center Recovery Efforts, where she met her husband who, like Legarza, was a firefighter. When he took his own life, the author mustered a new brand of courage and formed a non-for profit program to help the many physically and emotionally wounded firefighters, too brave to ask for help. This is a passionately told story, filled with determination and hope.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shawna Legarza, "Legz" as she became known throughout the wildland firefighting community, was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern Nevada. Her adventure as a cowgirl evolves into a career as a wildland firefighter. She has worked on fires throughout the United States and Canada as well as assignments at the World Trade Center Recovery Efforts, Hurricane Rita, and the Greensburg Tornado. She wrote this memoir as a personal reflection of her life only hoping to help overcome the grief of her husband's suicide. Currently, she is a Fire Management Officer for the US Forest Service. The author, who resides in Durango, Colorado, has earned three degrees--two Bachelors and a Master's Degree and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Psychology. This is her first book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (June 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439227624
• ISBN-13: 978-1439227626
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,093,784 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Triple Loved This Book!!!, June 21, 2009

By 

Valarie Chavis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Grass (Paperback)

This book was fantastic. Such a hardworking American family. Seems that these days many of our youth are entitled and don't even know the meaning of a hard days work for honest pay. I don't have children but if I did this book would be required reading. I laughed and cried through the entire book. Shawna's sharp sense of humor is threaded through it all. Bravo to her parents for raising such a confident, strong and independent woman! I believe her Father's motto of "Get It Done" stuck with her through her entire life. It carried right over into her career as a firefighter. While the others were trying to figure what the plan should be she was already working on implenting one and "getting it done"! I also believe what he told her about "the sun will rise tomorrow" came into play while dealing with the devastating loss of her husband.
I highly recommend this book to one and all!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Grass, July 14, 2009

By 

Vera Pena "Abuelita" (Durango, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Grass (Paperback)

Having worked in "Manland" forestry/firefighter for 30+ years it was refreshing to read Shawna's book. From front to back it was a page turner. It brought back many memories...Her childhood was the best! Very insightful and thought provoking. Hope she can overcome her anger but that too will take time.

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the grammatical errors fool you, August 2, 2010

By 

janny - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: No Grass (Paperback)

This is an amazing book. I read it over a year ago and it has still stayed with me. It is self published, I think, but please don't let the lack of an editor stop you from reading it. It's am amazing book with an exceptional timeline and heartfelt, honest writing. Shawna is an amazing woman.