Thank you to Net Galley for providing me this book for review. This was a historical novel about one Texas farming family’s struggles during the Great Depression. Through their lens, we learn about the thousand of Americans who migrated from the Dust Bowl part of our country to other states, primarily California.

With millions of people out of work, and thousands losing their land due to drought, tornados, dust storms, extremely hot weather, farming families from Oklahoma, Texas, etc. ultimately had no ability to grow crops and feed themselves. Many moved to California looking for work during one of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era.

When this family (a mother and her two children) fails to be able to sustain themselves on their Texas farm, they see no other course of action than to migrate to California, in search of a better life. Unfortunately they discover that their lives are even worse there. As they try to survive as migrant workers picking cotton, they find themselves living in unimaginable conditions, preyed upon by wealthy land owners, and abhorred by Californians who don’t want their taxes to go towards helping their fellow Americans who have fallen on hard times.

This book reminded me of The Grapes of Wrath, when I first learned about this difficult time in our American history. Even though it was a sad story, I couldn’t put the book down.

I had a tough time with this one. Had to take a break in the middle and come back to it. Reading about people and times so vivid and real, struggling with them and feeling everything is how Kristin Hannah’s books hit you. Hand your heart over as you turn the first page.
This has the same effect as her other book. So much sad and struggle and heartbreak. Given the times we are living in in 2020, it was too much for me. I think it could have been 100 pages shorter. BUT, her characters! The research you know she put into this book! The specific time in our history she chronicles! It’s like a history lesson in fiction.
Glad to have been asked to read a pre-publication copy of this book.

I having been wanting a book to suck me and feel a part of the story and this one did just that. Set in the bleak time period of the Depression and the environmental disaster of the Dust Bowl, the story is one of bravery, strength, perseverance and most of all love. I found this an unputdownable read!
“Love is what remains when everything else is gone.”

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley. Thank you.
I really like Kristin Hannah's books and this one was is as good as her other books. Growing up during the Depression especially in the Dust Bowl area was very hard and she doesn't mince words when describing the conditions of the time.
My mother was a teenager during this time living on a farm in Oklahoma with her 3 sisters and a widowed father who spent what little money they had at the bar every Friday. My mother rarely spoke about this time of her life and I wish I could have learned more about it was like in those days from her but I think she did not want to relive those days. One thing I remember growing up in the 60's and 70's is that my mother saved and reused every bag whether is was plastic like a bread bag or a paper bag. She also saved used but clean aluminum foil. Because I grew up that way, I did that when I was married and it would drive my husband crazy to open a kitchen drawer and see it full of plastic bags and neatly folder aluminum foil scraps.

I really liked the main character Elsa. She was such a strong woman yet the upbringing she endured gave her no self esteem but as her story progresses the reader can see what an admirable and hard working woman she is.

The author's description of the migrant camps in California and the mistreatment by the company owners and other Californians of the Dust Bowl migrants made me want to cry. And in 2020 have we still not learned from the past?

Elsa is lonely, sad and living with a unloving family who reject her because she is unattractive. Then she meets Rafe and her life quickly changes. While living on the family farm, her in-laws and children teach her how to love and be loved, even in the midst of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. When her son gets sick, they travel West to start a “better life”.
Elsa and her family show the reader the struggles of poverty, hunger and homelessness and how no matter how brave and hard working you are, it is difficulty to get out from under it.
Whether you like historical fiction or not, add this to your to read list now. Thank you to NetGalley for a digital arc of this book!

THE FOUR WINDS is a good read, but definitely not a light read. It is set in the dust bowl and the Great Depression time period. It is a very sad story and some of it reminded me of what we are going through in today’s world. The writing is great and highly recommended.

A powerful story about loss, survival and bravery during the Great Depression.

I'll be upfront, historical fiction is not a genre I read very often. But I make an exception when Kristin Hannah is the author. Why? She is one of the best authors, in my opinion, to capture the strength of women under some of the harshest of conditions.

Elsa/Wolcott/Martinelli, the heroine of this book, is no exception. However, if you asked Elsa's family, or Elsa herself, she would be described as weak. After suffering from rheumatic fever as a young teen, her body projected that weakness. But page by page, Elsa showed that she has a fighting spirit. Some internal mechanism within her that pushed her to dust herself off and get back up after each time she is knocked down.

"I want . . . to be brave," she said, almost too softly to be heard.
"What scares you?"
"Everything."

While I hated life for Elsa under the Wolcotts, the family that should have loved her at all costs, I loved that she got a second chance with the Martinelli family. Her union was far from welcomed, but with time, Rose and Tony, began to accept her as one of their own. And I think that unexpected love repaired some of the damage that her own family caused over the years.

"You have the heart of a lion. Don't believe anyone who tells you different."

This isn't the first book that I've read about the Great Depression, but it is one of the first that explored what drove a family to take the treacherous journey West in search of a better life. A good portion of the story centers on life in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl. I had no idea how persistent and horrific life under these conditions could be. It amazed me that each day, this family got up and tried to provide for one another instead of giving up. And the strength they showed during this time would become invaluable when they have no choice but to pack up and go West.

There is so much tragedy and heartbreak in this story, that I cherished every positive moment for Elsa, no matter how small.
New friends.
Repairing a damaged relationship with her daughter.
Four walls and a bed.
Small compliments from a new man.
Elsa deserved each and every one of those moments.

While the Great Depression exposed the vulnerabilities of those in need, it also brought to light the strength of character and resilience of the American worker. Although Else always wished for bravery, she proves on more than one occasion that this is a characteristic that hasn't alluded to her. And it's a critical moment, she lets that bravery shine for everyone to witness. *sobs*

"Sometimes you have to fight back."

This is a beautifully written story, as always, that will have you cheering for the underdog. A MUST READ for fans of this author/genre!

Kristin Hannah never disappoints. This book, set during the depression in the Dust Bowl ravaged Great Plains, broke my heart over and over again. The story of Elsa, an “ugly duckling” whose family was beyond cruel, is the story of a woman who only wants to be loved. While she was looking in the wrong place, she found a family of her own. And she will do anything for that family.

I will read anything Hannah writes. She is amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for this ARC.

Than you NetGalley for the early read!

I wish there was a 4.5 star rating, because I loved this book, but not a perfect 5 for me. I very seldom give 5 stars.
Most of the story kept my interest, but not spellbound. I think the author struggled a little to get all the physical details of the living situation into text. "Boarded Up" was used countless times and it was too much for me personally.......I get it, the town(s) was boarded up. I would have liked Elsa to have become fed up and ready for action much earlier and see what she may have accomplished to build her self confidence instead of the fast realization and an all too soon end.

All and all a great book in brining to life the struggles of the dust bowl and great depression.

I have been struggling with reading lately. Every book I begin, I am in three pages and not a word has entered my unfocused brain. Then along comes Kristin Hannah to wake me up. All I can say is thank you Ms. Hannah. Thank you for reminding me why I love your writing. This time I am feeling the dust in my throat and the sorrow I have often seen in my own mother’s eyes. So if you love a novel that tears at your heart, then Four Winds is what I would recommend.

Beautiful.. Heartbreaking..
Set in the 1930’s Great Depression, Dust Bowl
Such a tragic time in history.
Great characters.
This is a story of hope, resilience and fighting for what is right.
A story of America and the American Dream.
4+ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

4.5 stars
“Hope is a coin I carry: an American penny, given to me by a man I came to love. There were times in my journey when I felt as if that penny and the hope it represented were the only things that kept me going.”

Kristin Hannah has written a number of novels and I’ve read several. In my view, her strength lies in historical fiction. This novel depicting the trials of so many people in the Dust Bowl in Texas and other places during the 1930’s, and the Dust Bowl Migration, who endured the horrible effects on their lives, is another example of how she excels in this genre.

Elsa, at twenty three has lived a sheltered having suffered from rheumatic fever as a young girl, treated as an invalid and outsider by an uncaring family. She reads and she’s restless to live and wants more of a life. She does get another life, but it’s a difficult one filled with heartache, unbearable heat and dust you could taste, and a livelihood with her beautiful and loving in-laws that is in peril. In the midst of the Great Depression on top of all of the natural disasters, she takes her two children to California in hopes of a better life. What she finds there is a harrowing existence of poverty, horrible living conditions and slave like working conditions. But she also finds friendship that she never knew, love that she dreamed of, but never thought possible, and a role in the fight for workers’ rights.

Hannah tells us in a note that Elsa is a fictional character, but she represents the resilience and strength in the wake of seemingly uncontrollable circumstances of so many real people who lived through these times. Like most good historical fiction, reading this had me looking for information about this place and time and these events. Hannah has done justice to these times with characters to care about and a captivating story and a realistic portrayal of this slice of American history. Not quite 5 stars because I felt at times it was a little drawn out, but highly recommended for historical fiction lovers, especially. This is a heartbreaking story that had me in tears in the end, but yet the hope of the penny remained.


I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through
Edelweiss and NetGalley

Kristin Hannah nails it!

As a High School Librarian I am always looking for Historical fiction books that tell a story from an angle students haven't seen before. The Four Winds does that! You will ugly cry!

1921: At twenty-five Elsa Wolcott knows how to be alone. She has spent her years as an outsider in her own family trying to earn the love of her parents "There was a pain that came with constant disapproval; a sense off having lost something unnamed, unknown." Things change for Elsa after meeting, Rafe Martinelli, and getting pregnant. Though initially rejected by the Martinelli's she finds the first true love she has ever known with them.

Elsa lives the mantra from her grandfather "Pretend to be brave if you have to." She learns how strong she truly is working alongside Rose and Tony Martinelli who love her as a daughter. But the Dust Bowl takes it's toll on Elsa's family. Looking for a better life she and her children head to California. There they find a United States of America they never knew existed.

This is so much more than a book about the Dust Bowl and migrant workers in California. It is a book about adventure, family, love, and the depths we will go to protect our families.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to anyone! You experience life through the eyes of a strong female at a time females were not recognized as being strong.

I will recommend this to any students interested in US History that want to feel the real story. FEEL what it was like to live in the Dust Bowl. FEEL what it was like to be a migrant worker. FEEL what it was like to be a woman trying to protect her family.

I felt emotionally wrung out after finishing this book; anger, fear, disbelief, sadness, hope, love. You will feel them all as you live the life of Elsa Martinelli.

One word always comes to mind when I think of Kristin Hannah’s historical fiction novels: Epic. Hannah’s gift for creating multi-dimensional characters, intricate detail, and a deeply researched plot are spot on in The Four Winds.

The story of Elsa Martinelli’s will and spirit to fight for her family throughout the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl is heartbreaking yet beautifully written. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well written historical fiction. Shared with my mom for her insight as well as in her words- sad story but historically accurate and true to the time. We both really enjoyed it

The Four Winds is very easy to love, but sadly just as easy to loathe. Of course you'll love The Four Winds-Kristin Hannah is the author-for many that's all you need to know. The writing is spectacular-you'll literally feel the wind in your hair as she describes dust storms that come roaring across the Great Plains with little warning. Your heart will break for all the characters endure-unspeakable living conditions, back breaking work for little pay, and brutal discrimination no one should ever experience. The Four Winds holds up a mirror to life in depression era America-and what is reflected there is devastating to read. These are the parts you may loathe. Many of the things we take for granted-indoor plumbing, electricity, access to clean water and decent food- are as elusive as rain during a drought. What's even worse is the way people treat each other. But what shines brightest from The Four Winds is the power of unconditional love (especially the love of a mother for her children), and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable loss and betrayal. Although The Four Winds is set nearly a century ago, many of its themes are just as relevant today. Kristin Hannah's passion for her characters and their pursuit of the American dream spring from the pages. What she has accomplished with The Four Winds is nothing less than magnificient

A total riveting read from start to finish. From the dust bowl of Texas to the cotton picking farms of California and all the despair that goes with it, this novel will take you on a journey of a tough woman who beats all the odds and takes her children in search of a better life. Kristin Hannah brings the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era days to life in this story of Elsa Martinelli, a tough as nails main character who will occupy your thoughts the entire time your reading this book. This is one of the best books I've read this year with engaging characters and vivid descriptions. I didn't think a book could beat The Great Alone but here it is - Kristin Hannah can't wait for your next book!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

Kristin Hannah, you have done it again! I've read almost everything written by Ms. Hannah and I can say without a doubt that her books hit me right in the feels every time. I ugly cried in the first half of the book. The relationship between Elsa, the main character, and her daughter Loreda remind me of some rough years between my own mother and I - fighting and feeling like we could not get on the same page until I had grown up enough to see her for who she truly was; my biggest champion, my best friend, the catalyst for who I would become as an adult. I think anyone who is a daughter will understand the relationship between these two.

I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know all that much about this time frame of the Great Depression but this book opened my eyes to a truly terrible time in our US history. I appreciated how much this book exposes the trials that these families went through and I immediately started doing my own research after reading the author's note. Based on other books by Hannah, like The Great Alone and The Nightingale, I certainly expected a well-researched book but this was epic. It truly paints a picture of how difficult this period was for people in this area of the country and the limited resources at their disposal to change the situation. It was also a poignant reminder of what is currently happening in our country today with Americans treating other Americans like they shouldn't have the same rights as everyone else. Hannah points this out herself in her author's note by recognizing how timely this publication is.

If you're looking for a book filled with happiness and positivity, this ain't it. But, if you're looking for something thought-provoking, with characters you can't help but love or hate, and a story line full of hope, this is definitely the book for you.

A week after finishing this book, I'm still thinking about it. Fascinating look at 1930's Midwest during the depression and dust bowl and then the migration to California that ensued.. There are clear parallels to what is happening to farm workers in pandemic America with lockdowns and servitude through mechanisms like the company store. It gave me a new appreciation of the migrant workers that are picking our food and a desire to improve conditions for them. This book was heartbreaking but hopeful in the sense that we did come through this period as a country. Strong female characters and family relationships helped put the reader into the family's dusty shoes.
Thank you to Bookclub girls and Netgalley for advanced review copy of this book.

I loved Kristin Hannah's books and this book was not a disappointment. It isn't my favorite of her books but it is close to the top. I would definitely recommend reading this book as I was really drawn to the book so I could learn more about the characters. I found myself drawn into the story and once again, by the end of the book, I was in tears. I love books in which you find yourself drawn into the character's lives.

The Four Winds tells the story of a woman who faced many challenges in her lifetime. It begins with a family that never really loved her, a husband who didn't love her but rather was forced to marry her, and also physical hardships faced by her and her children. I didn't know much about this part of history - the dust storms and drought in Texas and then the "Okies" that found themselves never really fitting in to life in California.

If you love Kristin Hannah's books or enjoy Historical Fiction, I highly recommend you read this book.