Jessie

Jessie is the story of Jessie Benton Fremont, wife of explorer and politician John C. Fremont—who was instrumental in opening the west. Jessie helped demonstrate that by joining her husband in California to build a home at the time of the Bear Flag rebellion.

Judy Alter’s storytelling and impeccable historical research bring the era of the old west to life while highlighting the life of Jessie Benton Fremont.

Judy Alter is the author of over a hundred books, fiction, and non-fiction for both adults and young adults. Her awards include the 2005 Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Achievement, Spur Awards from Western Writers of America for the novel, Mattie, and the short story, “Sue Ellen Learns to Dance,” Western Heritage (Wrangler) Awards for “Sue Ellen Learns to Dance” and “Fool Girl,” and a Best Juvenile of the Year Award from the Texas Institute of Letters for Luke and the Van Zandt County War. She was named one of the Outstanding Women of Fort Worth by Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women in 1989 and was listed by Dallas Morning News (March 10, 1999) as one of 100 women, past and present, who made their mark on Texas. She has been inducted into the Western Writers of America Hall of Fame and the Texas Literary Hall of Fame.