The Bell family is struggling to keep the farm alive in 1930s Oklahoma while the dust keeps stirring.

Samuel is a man of the good book, and has dreams of rain, he starts to build an ark. Annie is slowly blowing away, wishing for more to her life, and her two kids Fred - who's lungs are gunky and he can barely breathe with the dust, and Birdie who dreams of running away with her boyfriend.

I was invested in learning more about the timeframe, but I struggled to connect with these characters. It was as though they were as thin as the rain in their world. I couldn't find a reason to root for them, and by the end just was ready to move on to another story. The meals and food that Annie makes seemed unreasonable given how hard the world was at the time, and I was disappointed in the ending. There were just too many threads that were hard to believe in.

i probably got 20% of the way through this years ago and never felt pulled to pull it back up. that probably says more about me than the book, but this definitely didn't hook me or stay with me in ways i'd hoped.

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

A well done coming of age story with strong characters and a terrific setting. It's emotional, evocative, and poetic. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.

The writing is powerful, the visuals and emotions palpable, the dust on everything, food, animals, just incredible. Many left, some went on the dole, others took another way out and some, like the Bell's stayed hoping for a better day, a better time, just hanging on to the best of their ability. The pastor with him own crisis of faith, trying to uplift his parishioners outlooks, feeling helpless in the face of so much pain. The family turning inward as the dust destroys everything outside, their lives begin to implode on the inside. Reaching for any way out, their manifestations of grief take different turns, small moments of joy stolen. A final tragedy and then a bit of hope.

Highly recommend
Loved this book
Didn't want it to end

Though at times dismal and bleak, the hope felt by the elder male in the story and his daughter, though in different ways, keeps the reader going. Dust Bowl Depression tales have a soft spot with me, as that was my grandmother's entire coming of age. This story flowed right along with enough to keep my curiosity and interest piqued. It was a great tale of faith, hope, despair and strength.

Got incredibly bored reading this and didn't finish so feel like it would be unfair to review online.