Prairie Town Redefining Rural Life in the Age of Globalization

Prairie Town describes the contemporary rural condition and efforts to sustain rural life in one small Minnesota community at the turn of the 21st century. The book considers the rural literacies that circulate in this community as residents work to redefine their position within the context of globalization. Prairie Town's story offers us hope as we learn that neoliberalism is not inevitable, nor is the demise of rural America. Instead, we learn that not everything can be bought and sold, and disidentification with dominant societal structures is possible within a participatory democratic society.

Jacqueline Edmondson is assistant professor of education, language and literacy education at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.