Dixie Storms: A YA Coming-of-Age Story of First Love and Secrets in a Small Southern Town

by Barbara Hall

Dutch Peyton has spent all of her fourteen years in the small farming town of Marston, Virginia, and life is pretty good. It seems so, at least, until that blazing hot drought-plagued summer when Dutch's sophisticated and apparently flawless cousin, Norma arrives. Norma knows all about life, all about love, all about how to get what she wants--and she's ready to teach Dutch everything she knows.

But even with Norma's advice, Dutch can't seem to decipher the feelings of red-haired Ethan Cole. And she feels helpless against the drought crippling both the tobacco crop and her family's morale. Dutch's troubles build like summer rain clouds as she uncovers family secrets that threaten to bring changes as powerful as the Dixie storm so desparately needed by the parched land.
Includes an interview with the author.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

To TV audiences she may be better known as a four-time Emmy-nominated writer and producer (Joan of Arcadia, Judging Amy) and the co-Executive Producer of Homeland, but to avid readers she’s a novelist with 11 published works whose imagination has been honored by numerous institutions, including the American Library Association in both their Best Books and Notable Books categories.

Reviews

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 stars!

Well, Dixie Storms was a random book that I purchased online for a couple of pounds to read. And it didn't meet my expectations. The main character Dutch lives in Virginia in a small farming town, her family feels pretty broken what with the family farm declining in profits, child custody issues and now Dutch's cousin Norma coming to stay after her parents get a divorce. During this summer full of hot weather and a severe lack of farming, this coming-of-age story had a lot of promise but a few things really bugged me. Firstly, Norma's severe mood swings at times was uncomfortable to read about. One minute, she would be smiling hard and the next screaming at Dutch to get lost. The second is that I struggled to connect with the characters and finally, with chopping pacing, it moved too slowly. The novel length itself is quite short, so it was easy to read. This for me however, won't be a re-read!

[Victoria Hayhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading Dixie Storms. There are six main characters in the book. Dutch is fourteen years old and is a busy person. Her real name is Margaret but her papa called her Dutch since she was a little kid. She is either doing chores or is with her friends. Bodean is Dutch's nephew. Bodean is short for Bobby Dean and he has a big attitude towards everyone. Norma is Dutch's cousin and is fourteen years old. She is visiting for the summer from Richmond. She is beautiful and sophisticated, determined to teach Dutch all she knows about life and love. Dutch doesn't want any of her cousin's advice. Flood is Dutch's older brother and Bodean's father. Papa is Dutch's and Flood's father and takes care of everyone. In the book its summer time and there is a drought and the family is worried because they have crops and what if they die? and what would they have for food?

A lot of events have happened during the summer. When Norma was visiting, there was a drought known as a dixie storm. The crops started to dry out, the family still some food from last summer in the basement freezer. Soon they were going to run out. While the crops were slowly fading, they were eating the food from last summer and they are trying not to eat it all at once and they go out to eat more often.

I have to give this book five stars. There are so many interesting events that has happened throughout Dixie Storms. There is a drought that is slowly fading away their crops. I'm happy I got to finish this book and got to know what was going on.

If you like realistic fiction stories, you will live Dixie Storms. It has some drama that was going on because of the crops that will interest you. There is a little love that happens too! I think this story should be made into a movie! It will make people want to read the book too!!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good teen read. I could see it being read in an English class.

[Victorine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as a child.

[Ashley Aselin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from my childhood. It was nice to read it again and have that nostalgia feeling. 💗

[bdr0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 20 times now. Absolutely love it. Between the lines there are a lot of lessons about growing up. The characters and the family dynamic were very interesting as well.

[HannahBeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, handles the theme of relationships well.

[Azuryah Ornelas · Rating 5 out of 5]

very lovely book;)

[Presley]

This is one of the first books that I have read of Barbara Hall and I thought it was a pretty good book. Barbara Hall does a good job of explaining each of the people in the book. This book is about a girl named Dutch and her family one of Dutch's cousin comes that she has never met. Dutch is excited and somewhat not excited about her cousin coming.


After Dutch's cousin comes Dutch is very mysterious about her cousin she does a lot of different things than Dutch does since her cousin is from a bigger city and Dutch and her family are from a smaller town.

I plan on reading another one of Barbara Halls book's because I thought she did a very good job of writing the book. This book is probably one of my favorite books that I have read.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the only books I won. I was so excited when I received a copy in 5th grade. As the years have passed somewhere along the way I must have given it away or something along those lines.
I do remembering like it very much and even read it twice. It would be cool to able to receive this edition that has the author's interview. What I do distinctly remember was that her brother was named Storm and she was in charge of cooking. I remember I could feel the weather and hometown through the pages. Favorite is the ending. At first I was like is that it?!?!? and why? But now I get it:)

[J. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly kept my attention. I'm sometimes skeptical of reading more modern books. I'm a fan of old books - classics. But, this was definitely enjoyable. I read it while on a road trip across the states and I found myself quite unhappy when I finished it. It as an enjoyable, coming-of-age story!

[Cws]

JAR4-Hal

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites when I was a teenager. It really stuck with me...probably because it's about a small-town girl.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old Children's Book. Liked it as a kid, but haven't read it in years.