ASU Book Group to discuss 'Emily Walks the Sheep Trail'

The ASU Book Group will discuss Cindy Shanks’ “Emily Walks the Sheep Trail” at noon, May 28, in room 316 of the Durham Language and Literature Building.

The short book is the story of the historic Heber-Reno Sheep Trail, as told through the eyes of Emily, a young lamb. Emily recounts her life on the farm and her adventures while walking the sheep trail with her mom.

The Heber-Reno Sheep Trail has been in existence since the 1880s. “Most of the trail passes through National Forest land, which belongs to the American people,” Shanks wrote.

“President Woodrow Wilson signed an executive order in 1916 making the Arizona driveways the only legalized stock driveways in America.”

Shanks, a retired primary-school teacher, followed the sheep for a year with the help of Sheep Springs Sheep Company. She also wrote “Alfonso Grows Up on the Sheep Trail,” about a burro that leads the sheep.

The ASU Book Group, sponsored by the Department of English, is open to the entire ASU community. It meets the last Wednesday of the month from noon to 1 p.m., September through May, usually with the authors present.

For more information, contact Judith Smith, jps@asu.edu.