{"product_id":"california-or-dust-9780823462520","title":"California or Dust","description":"\u003cb\u003eA powerful story of the devastation of the Dust Bowl--and the courage of those who survived it--in the tradition of \u003ci\u003eOut of the Dust\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe came all the way from California to make something of ourselves.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eToday's the day we start.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCalifornia, 1939. It's hard being the new kid in school. . . but it's harder for eleven-year-old Lark, after she and her family fled Oklahoma's Dust Bowl for a not-so-sunny welcome in California. Kids whisper \u003ci\u003eGo back to Oklahoma! \u003c\/i\u003eLark would give anything to go back to where she came from, but she can't: the dust storms destroyed everything. The farm labor camp she, her parents, and her siblings live in is her life now, and even Lark has to get a job. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCan California really be \"the land of milk and honey\" she was promised? More than that. . . can it ever be home? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMindy Nichols Wendell's sophomore historical middle-grade novel is a heartfelt, powerful, and incredibly well-written story of resilience, pride, and tenacity in the face of overwhelming obstacles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mindy Nichols Wendell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Holiday House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/25\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780823462520\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAudience:\u003c\/b\u003e Ages 9-12\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAccelerated Reader:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/b\u003e 5.1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/b\u003e Middle Grade\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eQuiz #\/Name: \u003c\/b\u003e559147 \/ California or Dust\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/15\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/18\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/12\/2026 pg. 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMindy Nichols Wendell \u003c\/b\u003eis the author of LIGHT AND AIR, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection that Shelf Awareness called \"richly detailed\" and \"timeless\" in a starred review. She was a professor of writing and pedagogy at SUNY Fredonia, where she served as the Director of the Composition Program. In 2019, she received the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Mindy lives in Western New York with her husband, Steve, a retired teacher.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Ingram","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59648824082718,"sku":"9780823462520","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0777\/4247\/3502\/files\/9780823462520.jpg?v=1784656128","url":"https:\/\/i55bookfairs.com\/products\/california-or-dust-9780823462520","provider":"I55 Book Fairs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}