Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl

by Grace Lundmark

Chloe May's father found his wife's tactics incredulous as she dealt with their impoverished life and her own restlessness. Then came the Depression and the droughts of the Dust Bowl. It took more than their losses, near starvation, and apparent defeat to put a tear in her father's eye. In fact, even the women in the Whitehurst family were seldom reduced to tears-conniving and rash behavior, perhaps, but not to tears! The family knew laughter and fun, balancing heartaches and poverty. Chloe Daughter of the Dust Bowl is based on the true story of the author's mother, Chloe May, and her family's frequent moves in, around, and out of the Oklahoma Panhandle of the '20s and '30s. Laced with historical facts of the time, Chloe Daughter of the Dust Bowl is a must read for younger readers wishing for a glimpse into one of America's most difficult eras, and older readers who will identify with one family's modes of survival.

Genres: Historical Fiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2008

About the author

New, first-time author, Grace Lundmark wrote "Chloe May, Daughter of the Dust Bowl," a novel based on the true story of the author's mother. The Whitehurst family's story of living through one of America's most difficult eras -- the depression and the droughts of the Dust Bowl on the plains during the 1920's and '30's. Have had very good response to this first book. Hope to keep writing.

Reviews

[Cara Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Chloe May, Daughter of the Dust Bowl" is a tale of the 1920’s and 1930’s in the Oklahoma Panhandle Dust Bowl. There was much suffering, and yet, it is inspiring to read of the resilient spirit of the American people in that time frame and life work.

Grace Lundmark recounts the stories that her mother, Chloe Mae Whitehurst Atkin, told many an evening around the dinner table as Grace was growing up. But she also weaves the family history within the details. Grace has a very charming writing style, and though she must tell us of abject poverty and deprivation, she does so with the elegance of faith, hope, and love.

I recommend "Chloe May, Daughter of the Dust Bowl" to all ages from about fifth grade reading level on up. I am a home schooling mother, and I value this book for sharpening my children’s appreciation and understanding of American history as it has mine.

~Cara, author uncoverednomore.com

[Linda Niemeir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Lundmark's 'Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl' was a fascinating read for me because I did not know much about the dust bowl era until I read this book. I know that her older relatives told her about their lives trying to survive through some very hard times in the Oklahoma dust bowl and she relates those stories handed down to her in a beautiful way in this book. The interaction of the family members was so real that they almost jumped off the pages. Once I started reading the book I could hardly put it down because I wanted to know what adventure would be next for this family. I highly recommend the book.