Just So Stories

Scholastic Australia

March 2026

ISBN: 9781761728662

RRP: $15.99

My introduction to the work of John Steinbeck was watching the movie adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath aged around 11/12 and thereafter, reading my father’s copy of the book plus all his other Steinbecks, including my all-time favourite book Of Mice and Men, also set in this period (what a writer that man was!). Both these books underlined the gravity of the Depression as well as the Dust Bowl, and the subsequent desperation of the poor, especially the farming people.

Now, Lauren Tarshis, chooses the same scenario for her 25th I Survived historical novel, bringing this terrible and desperate period of American history to a young audience. While it is true the Great Depression affected many around the world and created unimaginable hardships, those in America and Canada affected by the Dust Bowl had double the misfortune.

The collapse of the economy plus the degradation of farmland exacerbated by poor farming methods and drought that led to violent, dangerous and even deadly dust storms.

Set in the Texas Panhandle, 11-year-old Ray’s story is intertwined with his best friend, Dolly, and the awful situation that his town faces. There were many people moving westward to California abandoning farms long worked, the bankruptcies and the terrible sickness of many due to the ingestion of the contaminated air that seeps through every crack in the meagre houses.

When Ray finds out just how desperate his parents’ financial situation is, he sets out to attempt to help them and is caught in one of the worst of the storms. Nobody survives such an experience alone but by a complete chance, Ray is saved by someone he thought was already dead. It’s a thrilling episode followed by a new start from then on for Ray and his family.

I loved that the backmatter of the author’s research journey including visits to museums and survivors, offers more rich depth to the narrative. This is a series that has long been popular with many readers as so many relish and draw hope from survival stories. A fascinating insight into this period for readers from around Year 4 up to Year 7 or 8. I give it a 4 💨💨💨💨rating.