The Dust Bowl Orphans by Suzette D. Harrison - Book Review

The Dust Bowl Orphans by Suzette D. Harrison

Publication Date: 7th Feb 2022

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Dual Timeline, Women of Color, The Great Depression

4.2 Stars

One Liner: A compelling read about a girl’s determination to save her family. 

Oklahoma, 1935: A fifteen-year-old Faith and her five-year-old sister Hope are on their way to California with their parents and brother. However, a black blizzard separates them from the parents. They somehow manage to reach California but realize that things have taken a turn for worse. Being black in a white country is always a risk. 

After countless adventures, tricky situations, and nights with empty stomachs, the sisters seem to have found hope. But can they trust the woman to help them? Does she have a sinister plan for the sisters?  

California, Present Time: Zoe has been a museum and art curator for almost all her life. She is no stranger to racism and prejudice. It’s no wonder that she plans an art exhibition to promote black and marginalized artists.

When her work brings her in touch with someone who shares an old picture, Zoe feels her world spinning beyond control. Grieving the loss of her child and marriage are no match for the sudden urge that fills her to trace her roots. Why did a child from the old photograph look exactly like her? How are the two of them related across generations? 

With almost no trial to follow, Zoe stumbles ahead, guided by her determination and maybe a little help from the other world. Can Zoe find the truth of what happened all those decades ago? How will her discovery change her future? 

What I Like:

• Faith and Zoe are strong in their own way. That made both tracks equally good, though I liked the historical one a tad more. 

• Family plays a vital role throughout the book. It's the central theme. 

• The characters are quite realistic with strengths and weaknesses. I could understand their decisions to a great extent. 

• The story deals with racism without being preachy or over the top. Not surprising since the book is by an African-American woman. Doesn’t get authentic than this. 

• Religion plays multiple roles in the book. One, as a way to expose the ultra-orthodox rigidities, and another to support the lead characters when things go wrong. 

• There’s some otherworldly stuff in the book. I wasn’t sure how it would work. However, it came together better than I expected. (Still, it’s not for everyone.) 

• The second half of the epilogue was a pleasant surprise. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

• The writing was heavy and slow in the first half. Even if it sets the stage, some adjectives and adverbs could go from the historical track. 

• A few things seemed too coincidental towards the end. But I was ready to wrap up by then and didn’t mind the ease with which everything was streamlined and presented. 

To sum up, The Dust Bowl Orphans is a poignant book with strong women whose love for their families is their biggest asset. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley #TheDustBowl