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There are currently 20 member reviews
for When the Sky Turned to Dust
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Joanne S. (Haddonfield, NJ)
Introducing the Dust Bowl to Middle Schoolers
When the Sky Turned to Dust by Catherine Matthias is an excellent historical fiction account of a Kansas family's experience living through the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Aimed at children in the middle grades, this story is narrated by twelve-year-old Caroline Dolan. Matthias does an excellent job of depicting the hardships experienced by the Dolan family and pointing out how individuals deal differently with adversity, fear, and grief. It is a story that integrates history with empathy and compassion. While the plot is extremely sad at times, there are times of hope, joy, and appreciation. This book would be an excellent reading choice to acquaint middle-schoolers with the drought that spawned horrific dust storms in the American Prairie during the Great Depression.
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Judi R. (Jericho, NY)
Dust Bowl story
I love that this young adult, historical fiction novel, about the Dust Bowl in the Midwest from the 1930s is written in the first person POV from a 12 year old, female protagonist. This structure makes the story more approachable and compelling for today's young adults. Today's middle schoolers can not understand the hardships that a character like Caroline experienced. The writing is beautifully descriptive and engaging. As an adult, I learned a lot and found myself tearing up at times. Matthias also describes how the adults and other children were affected by this devastating period of history. I'm glad she ended on a high note.
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Marianne L. (Syosset, NY)
A Story of Resilience
When The Sky Turned to Dust, a middle grade novel about life during in the Dust Bowl during the Depression, is an action-packed story of family resilience in the face of unfathomable odds. Young teens take on roles to combat the forces of nature as their family is separated by tragic events. This is a wonderful historical depiction of human courage and the will to survive during the early 1900s dust storms. This book is exciting, edge-of-your-seat action that will keep readers turning pages right to the end. Can be used as an inspiring teaching tool about American history and the capabilities of young people.
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Mary Jane D. (Arlington Heights, IL)
Realistic Historical Read
When the Sky Turned to Dust is a gripping account of a family's dilemmas during the terrible dust storms in Kansas in the 1930's. Wholesome values are emphasized and there are rich historical details of the times. The deep character development helps the reader care about and be sympathetic to the children and their parents and relatives.
The story should grab the attention of young readers and keep their interest to the end. Some of the plot is predictable but especially the ending is not expected. Readers will learn a lot about the time period and tragic results of the dust bowl years.
The book would be a good one for a class reading project.
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Lynne B. (Somersworth, NH)
When the Sky Turned to Dust, a Family Fighting Against the Dust Bowl
The story takes place in Kansas in 1934. This is the beginning years of the Dust Bowl in the Midwest US. Many farmers are just trying to recover from the Depression and hoping for a good farm crop and selling of farm products and animal products to provide for their family. The Dolans are a farm family in a better position than many of the time. Michael Dolan had carefully watched his finances and was able to purchase his farm and land so that he did not owe the bank. He planned to outlast the drought. As the dust storms became worse, younger children would become very sick from the dust in their lungs. Many babies had already died. The Dolans decide that they will split up for the rest of the dust period by having Mrs. Dolan and her youngest child go to Albany, NY to join two of their children who had already been sent to live with their aunt and uncle. Daniel and Caroline love the land in Kansas and agree to visit NY but return to their father to provide help with the farm. The story goes on telling about all the many difficulties family members and neighbors face throughout the worsening conditions. This is primarily a story about a strong family faced with survival in tough conditions but how they handle it by pulling together with love and perseverance. The book is very readable for young adults and I would say children over 11. It reminded me of Little House on the Prairie and O Pioneers. Triggers for the death of children.
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Viqui G. (State College, PA)
When the Sky Turned to Dust
I recommend this short novel to anyone interested in historical fiction. I had heard about the Dust Bowl during the 1930's, but I didn't really understand the full scope of the consequences that the dust clouds caused until I read this book. Families that lived in the Great Plains during those years endured overwhelming losses to their properties and livestock as well as dangerous health risks to their lungs. This novel personalizes the Dust Bowl years very well as it follows the Dolan family through the eyes of 12 year old Caroline Dolan. She is a brave child that helps her Kansas family get through the 5 worst years of the Depression and the Dust Bowl. The novel is very readable and heartwarming.
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Kay L. (Broken Arrow, OK)
Brought back memories
When I was a child, I loved listening to the stories my great-aunt would tell about life during the 1930's depression. While my family did not experience the drastic conditions of the drought like those in Kansas, Oklahoma & Colorado - life on a farm NE Missouri was still hard work and a struggle to make ends meet.
Catherine Matthias's book for middle school readers – When the Sky Turned to Dust – felt like I was listening to my great-aunt again. The Dolan family's life felt as real as those of my family's. Matthias' words authentically show the Dolan's struggles, successes, joys and heart ache with candor and genuineness. A reader will easily be able to imagine themselves or their forebearers living through this calamitous time in our country's history.
Thank you to BookBrowse for the ARC of this book.
