The narrative follows Abigail Brubaker a young girl and she and her family struggle living on a farm on the Oklahoma prairie and while a long lasting drought causes the Dust Bowl. Set in Cimarron County, you get an idea of what it was like for the Brubaker family and in a way a child of around eight or nine would understand and be able to process. Children will learn real historical details and themes like hard work, challenges, sacrifices and the resilience and farmers and their families needed during this terrible time.

The Brubakers struggle to keep their farm, with all the top soil was blown away and their crops fail and Abigail discovers dust is deadly. Like thousands of others in their position they decide to walk off their farm and leave for California. As they travel along Routee 66 during the Great Migration, it’s not only an adventure for her, she meets all kinds of people and learns about sharing and kindness, poverty and migrants.

I received a copy of Cimarron Girl by Mike Blanc from NetGalley and Vanita Books in exchange for an honest review. I downloaded this novel for my son to read and he didn’t and so I did. It’s easy to follow and understand, my only issue is the colour of the font is in a reddish tone and maybe this represents the Dust Bowl and all the profits from the sale of this children's book is going to charity and this is another valuable life lesson learnt.

Three stars from me, and teachers could use this as a resource and for their students to acquire knowledge about the Dust Bowl and Great Depression.

I've always been interested in the Dust Bowl, and Cimarron Girl does a great job recounting the experience of living through the Dust Bowl as a young girl. The illustrations in this book were fantastic and complimented the story well. I wanted just a little bit more from the plot, but overall it was a great, fast read on the subject. This is a good book to get kiddos interested in the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

Thanks to Mike Blanc, NetGalley, and Vanita Books for the chance to read and review this e-copy. My opinions are my own.

I really liked this graphic novel about the dust bowl from a young girl's perceptive. It was a different take.

Read and reviewed a few years ago!
An interesting read, about a family in Oklahoma in the 1930s who are forced to leave their farm due to the drought. It's short and beautifully illustrated, nicely informative about something I had no prior knowledge of. I would have liked more; this could be nicely rounded out into a longer book, there's a kind of a Little House feel to it - the hardship of living on the land, the close family, the journey across the prairie.

Great book for the kids to learn about the dust bowl and how it affected the people who lived during the 1930's. It's heartbreaking to read how the people had to move to survive and how they struggled.

It's short and easy to read as an adult and it's one I would definitely have my kids read. I read the The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah and the basics are similar to that story.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 1 June 2016

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
I chose to read this book because I like history and have always found it fascinating. I remember learning about the Dust Bowl probably around 6th or 7th grade. (I grew up in New England). I thought this book was both educational and entertaining for children. Perfect for a teacher or librarian to add to their collection. With that being said, some children may not be too enthralled with this book because there isn't any color to the illustrations. It's to show what the Dust Bowl was like, but some kids may find it boring since there aren't any eye-popping colors. Still, I liked this book (but I am 25 not 7)


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Great book about life in the frontier. These people were definitely alot braver than I would've ever been. Talk about resourcefulness!

had so much fun reading this book, the story was so amazing and the illustrations were so well done and charming, there’s so many little details in every page that I couldn’t stop but be mesmerized by it all. I will definitely be recommending it! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this early copy

What an absolutely beautiful, yet heartbreaking story. 💙 I grew up hearing stories of the Dust Bowl so I assumed this would be like the ones I knew, but this one was unique and took my breath away.

This story follows Abigail Brubaker and details her experience on her family’s Oklahoma prairie farm during the Dust Bowl. Set in Cimarron, the reader gets a view of the ups and downs of the Brubaker family during this time in history. This novel is an excellent supplement that will align with a lesson on the Great Migration and the Dust Bowl.

Short but insightful historical fiction about a family living through the “Dust Bowl “ years. Gives interesting information about the devastating
dust storms and the huge migration of the “Okies” to places like California.
I would recommend this for middle-grade readers and teachers. It would be an excellent introduction to the Depression and Dust Bowl period of the ‘30’s.

This is an excellent historical fiction picture book for younger readers to teach about the Dust Bowl. Amazing illustrations included which really add to the overall learning experience. It deals with the themes of natural disasters, grief, loss, family and strength in a way which is easy for childen to understand, without glossing over the facts.

Cimarron Girl: The Dust Bowl Years of Abigail Brubaker is a beautifully written historical fiction that vividly portrays the challenges and struggles of a family living through the devastating Dust Bowl era. The story follows young Abigail and her family as they try to survive the harsh conditions on their Oklahoma farm, where the drought and dust storms have left their land barren and their future uncertain.

Author Mike Blanc has done an excellent job of immersing the reader in the world of the Dust Bowl, bringing to life the daily struggles and hardships faced by families like the Brubakers. The writing is both engaging and informative, providing readers with a detailed account of the history and culture of the era.

At its core, Cimarron Girl is a story about family and the virtues of courage, fortitude, and kindness. Through the eyes of young Abigail, we see the strength and resilience of her family as they face one challenge after another. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and their experiences are sure to resonate with readers of all ages.

What sets this book apart from other historical fiction novels is its commitment to supporting a worthy cause. Net profits from the book will be donated to the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis, a non-profit organization dedicated to treating and empowering individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis, regardless of their ability to pay.

Overall, Cimarron Girl is a touching and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on a pivotal moment in American history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the Dust Bowl era, as well as those who appreciate a good family drama with a strong moral message. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Abigail Brubaker is a fictional 12-year-old girl living on a farm in Cimarron, Oklahoma. In this story, she shares her experiences working on the farm alongside her parents, playing with her dog Penny and attending school. But the dust storms of the 1930s affect the family's livelihood, income and home. Eventually, Abigail must move to California as part of the Great Migration.
I appreciated the look at regular life on an Oklahoma prairie farm. And the Dust Bowl did indeed affect millions of people. The author includes some historical facts and a timeline that's helpful to readers. Unfortunately, the story has a saccharine ending that isn't reality.
I enjoyed the illustration and the photos. Also, some of this book's proceeds support the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis.

This is a heartfelt story of a young girl recalling her life during the Dust Bowl. The descriptions in the story allow the reader to visualize the events happening during that time. This would be a good read-aloud for 3rd -5th grade as it would bring up great discussions for the class. Science can also be incorporated with this book as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Vanita Books for accepting my request to read and review Cimarron Girl.

Author: Mike Blanc
Published: 06/01/16
Genre: Children's Fiction

A fictitious account of life on a prairie during a drought. The book centers around one small family. The story is told through the eyes of a 10-year-old little girl. There are terms used for the dust clouds. The family attempts to stay on their farm by cutting back on essentials. The author wrote well a scene where a 12-year-old boy died. The story continues on through a move to California, and the problems they encounter.

I didn't fact check, and find myself wondering why fiction? The story cannot be unique. I did like how the illustrations reflected like a sand coloring.

My first choice would be nonfiction. This is a nice story that could be built on.

First and foremost, I would love to thank NetGalley, the author, and publishers for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced copy. This book has so many moral values. Recommended

Thank you so much Netgalley for the e-copy in exchange of honest review!

I LOVE this book! It portrays the horror of Dust bowl so vividly and empathetically that I was deeply moved by the narration. The illustrations are eye-catching as well. It's like 'The Four Winds' - kid version. Definitely recommended!

This is a good learning resource for teaching children about the 1930s in the Great Plains. It highlights how poor farming conditions contributed to the Dust Bowl years, the effects of the drought, and the forced migration of many families westward.

A significant educational text told in the format of historical fiction. Rustic drawings compliment the story, and period photos further illustrate the Dust Bowl during these grim years.

Even though it was about real events and a real person, it was also fictional in some ways. It was a easy read full of interesting facts and fun tales about farmers who had to leave Oklahoma and travel to California.

I think middle aged kids would really enjoy this book!

**I reviewed Cimarron Girl by Mike Blanc for free in exchange for my honest review. #NetGalley**