This is one of the best historical fiction books I have read.  Starting in 1928, the story unfolds through the eyes of a girl in Chicago, whose father moves the family to Dalhart, Texas in hopes of a better life.  The father, sick of his job in the Chicago stockyards, hopes to become a wheat farmer.  The first couple of years in Texas go well, then the Dust Bowl years occur.  The descriptions of the dust storms, the deterioration of their farm, and their personal suffering and losses is gut-wrenchingly vivid.  Absolutely loved this book.
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I really liked this book. It kept me engaged the entire time and I found myself rooting to the kids and all of the hardships they faced. This was written in a way that made you feel like you were there and were part of the family. ( )

I read The Worst Hard Times several years ago and recognized a lot of the events from that book that the author incorporated into the story. I liked the thread of hope that was maintained throughout and the understanding that Nona gained of her mother and their reconciliation.

Realistic story-telling of the folks who stayed on their land throughout the Dust Bowl. Horrific years. I was amazed at the fortitude it required to ha g on there. Well done tale. ( )

Like Dust I Rise
By
Ginny Rorby
Like Dust I Rise was a very interesting story about a sad and poor family and all their life tragedies. Being raised on a rainy coast I had never experienced the dry dust storms and weather mayhem that this family did. This story kept me reading and was well written with great detail. I hung on every word and was as sad as the family many times. I enjoyed the ending when the child found success after a very hard life but she never gave up. The characters in this book were well loved, hard working, country folks. I always enjoy a book in which children are main characters and I spent my life teaching elementary school. I must search out a few more of Ginny’s books because I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. ( )