Readers who enjoyed Out of the Dust (Scholastic 1997) or Skylark (HarperCollins 1994) will be drawn to this story of resilience, fierce pride, and independence.

Dallas crafts an authentic, character-driven story about the American past. As the Great Depression overwhelms the country and a “dust bowl” sweeps across the Great Plains, Tom, Hallie, and Benny Turner find themselves without mother or father. Unable to secure work, the children leave their home in Oklahoma and head toward California. When their Model T car breaks down in Kansas, they expect to stay only a few days, but a friendly farmer and his family soon persuade the children to remain permanently. For the first time in months, the Turners have hope. Tom has work, Hallie returns to school, and Benny has a friend to play with. But life is far from easy. Often called “Okies” and “squatters,” the children must contend with prejudice from many of the townspeople. However, when disaster strikes, the whole town miraculously offers the Turners a warm and helping hand. Despite the harshness of this time in history, Dallas’s focus on the children serves as a gentle introduction to the Great Depression. As in all good historical fiction, the dialogue and setting are accurate and natural. The plot is intentional and evenly paced; nothing is trite or modernized. The descriptions of Benny and his friend Tessie, who seem to be developmentally disabled, are carefully not anachronistic, though secondary characters do use insensitive language toward and about them. VERDICT This historical novel about the importance of family, belonging, and kindness will do well among young readers interested in the past.

The year 1933 is a rough time for three kids to be on their own, but the Turners prove themselves capable. The rest of their family has passed away or disappeared, and 12-year-old Hallie, 16-year-old Tom, and 6-year-old Benny are driving west looking for work when their car breaks down on the side of the road, beyond affordable repair. Luckily, the land where they camp is owned by the Carlsons, a nice farming family that understands both what it means to struggle and what it’s like to care for a child like Benny, since their daughter is similar. “His face wasn’t like other babies’ faces. As he grew older, he didn’t seem to learn as quickly as other children.” They make the orphans feel welcome as winter sets in. But will the rest of the community come to accept the Turners as more than squatters? It takes a near tragedy to find out. Dallas offers up her signature blend of compelling plot, vivid characters, and riveting history to both entertain and enlighten about a hard decade, though Benny, who evidently has Down syndrome, does come across as a plot device. Most main and secondary characters feel fully realized and three-dimensional, while the setting is drawn with delicate-but-vivid strokes and feels almost like its own character. This narrative is full of fascinating details about flour-sack dresses and bean sandwiches. Characters seem to default to white, with no mention of skin color. A story of the Great Depression that’s both gritty and gratifying.