in the ozark mountains of missouri, a ten-year-old girl is living in a three generational household on a sprawling seven hundred acre cattle ranch. she has always dreamed of having her very own garden. she rides her horse up to a mountain to sit and daydream of flying and her garden when she is almost stuck by a rattlesnake. she approaches her grandfather to catch it for her because she has a school project due. madison's grandfather, who is called gramps by the locals at the hardware store, puts out a cry for help by them. this part of the book is very funny, yet realistic. the old cronies tease and yet are afraid. the snake is caught and he becomes somewhat of an icon with the town. madison's dream tree house is built then under it, she is given the space for her very own garden, the center point of the story where she, her family and friends develop life bonding. this story is the first of a sequel and in it, the ground is laid for the second book, "madison's new jersey", an action packed adventure, where madison and her boyfriend are involved trying to apprehend a criminal. this second book in the madison series takes place when madison is four years older than in the first book. the third in the sequel is named "fit to be tied", picking up three years later. "madison's