Librarian Mara passed along her review of “My Name is Mary Sutter [2] by Robin Oliverira.”

“Following in her mother’s footsteps as a midwife is not enough for Mary Sutter.  She wants to be a doctor—a surgeon.  In 1860, this can be done by apprenticeship, not necessarily through medical school.  But when the Civil War breaks out, Mary heads for Washington DC to serve as a nurse.  With no understanding of infections and a shortage of medicines and equipment, there is no glamour and a lot of hard work.  There’s plenty of surgery to be done, too, mostly amputations.  This is a fascinating book.”