A personal health crisis, stories from environmental refugees, and our climate in danger prompt a meditation on intimate connections between the health of the body and the health of the ecosystem

The body of the earth, beset by a climate in crisis, experiences drought much like the human body experiences thirst, as Ranae Lenor Hanson’s body did as a warning sign of the disease that would change her life: Type 1 diabetes. What if we tended to an ailing ecosystem just as Hanson learned to care for herself in the throes of a chronic medical condition. This is the possibility explored in a work that is at once a memoir of illness and health, a contemplation of the surrounding natural world in distress, and a reflection on the ways these come together in personal, local, and global opportunities for healing.

Beginning with memories from a childhood nurtured among the waters of Minnesota, Watershed follows the streams and tributaries that connect us to our world and to each other, as revealed in the life stories of Hanson’s students, Minnesotans driven from their faraway homelands by climate disruption. The book’s currents carry us to threatened mangrove swamps in Saudi Arabia, to drought-stricken Ethiopia, to rocks bearing ancient messages above crooked rivers in northern Minnesota, to a diabetic crisis in an ICU bed at a St. Paul hospital. With the benefit of gentle insight and a broad worldview, Hanson encourages us at every turn to find our own way, to discover how the health of our bodies and the health of the world they inhabit are inextricably linked and how attending, and tending, to their shared distress can lead to a genuine, grounded wellbeing. 

When, in the grip of a global pandemic, humans drastically change their behavior to preserve human life, we also see how the earth breathes more freely as a result. In light of that lesson, Watershed helps us to consider our place and our part in the health and healing of the world around us. 

Watershed is a sensational book written by the exceptional and talented Ranae Lenor Hanson and what an emotive tale. Watershed is a book I was keen to read ever since discovering it because I always love to find unique stories with a poignant message laced throughout so when I discovered Watershed I thought ‘is this finally the perfect book?!’. Now that I have finished Watershed I can happily write that yes it is book lovers. Watershed is one of the most well-written and well-developed memoirs I have ever come across, and I truly mean this as Watershed is exceptional and should not be missed! That is why I already recommend that you lovely readers have a read of Watershed, however, if you need more convincing then continue to read to learn more about the incredible Watershed!

Watershed is a compelling and unique book unlike anything I have read before that is of great importance and leaves a lasting impact on you. The reader in Watershed will meet the author of the book, Ranae Lenor Hanson as she details her life and her struggle with chronic illness, and documents the earth, climate change, and how our bodies are connected with the earth. It makes for a stellar book in with Ranae openly shares her struggles with Type 1 diabetes, as well as the world’s ecosystem and how our natural world is in distress but that there are opportunities to heal ourselves and the earth and this book lovers is the short premise of the incredible Watershed!

Watershed is a moving memoir that will have the readers turning the pages with haste from beginning to end. I love books that involve a journey, and the reader has just this in Watershed as the reader is taken on an emotional journey from start to finish. What I loved most about Watershed is that the reader is taken on an a journey through Hanson’s life that moves and inspires you from the get-go.

Watershed is a remarkable and addictive read that managed to entertain me for many hours on end thanks to the book as well as the excellent literature courtesy of Ranae Lenor Hanson. Very rarely do I discover a memoir that captivates me as fast as Watershed has so the fact that I am so taken with this book shows you, readers, that this book indeed is incredible and not to be missed!

Ranae Lenor Hanson is an incredibly talented author who clearly knows how to write and has so beautifully shared her journey and thoughts with us. It was evident to me from the start that Ranae Lenor Hanson is a passionate writer who surely loves moving and inspiring her readers with her message. I loved this about the author but what I loved the most about Ranae Lenor Hanson’s writing is her remarkable thoughts that inspired and amazed me as well as her openness to share her journey with us readers to help and inspire us.

To conclude my thoughts, Watershed is a marvelous and inspiring poignant book that will entertain, move, and inspire readers from start to finish and so I, of course, have to award this book five stars! Be sure to have a read of the preview below book lovers, you won’t regret it!