Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Call number
F FIN
Publication
Kregel Publications
Description
Where you come from isn't who you are Ten-year-old Pearl Spence is a daydreamer, playing make-believe to escape life in Oklahoma's Dust Bowl in 1935. The Spences have their share of misfortune, but as the sheriff's family, they've got more than most in this dry, desolate place. They're who the town turns to when there's a crisis or a need?and during these desperate times, there are plenty of both, even if half the town stands empty as people have packed up and moved on. Pearl is proud of her loving, strong family, though she often wearies of tracking down her mentally impaired older sister or wrestling with her grandmother's unshakable belief in a God who Pearl just isn't sure she likes. Then a mysterious man bent on revenge tramps into her town of Red River. Eddie is dangerous and he seems fixated on Pearl. When he reveals why he's really there and shares a shocking secret involving the whole town, dust won't be the only thing darkening Pearl's world. While the tone is suspenseful and often poignant, the subtle humor of Pearl's voice keeps A Cup of Dust from becoming heavy-handed. Finkbeiner deftly paints a story of a family unit coming together despite fractures of distress threatening to pull them apart.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member justablondemoment
Awwwh Pearl she makes you want to climb into the book and just hug her all up. Well researched and written account of the historical time of the dust bowl. I've read a few books covering this time period but this is the 1st that is from a child eyes. Really enjoyed it.
FTC Advisory: I recieved this
FTC Advisory: I recieved this
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copy of "A Cup of Dust " from "LibraryThing " thru " Early Review Program". No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. Show Less
LibraryThing member dara85
I had not read much about the dustbowl, so this was interesting. I did know about the hobos who were looking for food, my mother, who grew up in the 1930's talked of them coming to her home asking for handouts.
I enjoyed the suspense of how Pearl was going to find out about her parents.
I am glad I
I enjoyed the suspense of how Pearl was going to find out about her parents.
I am glad I
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read this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member vintagebeckie
Susie Finkbeiner has been a long time student of the Depression-era history of the Dust Bowl, an ecological and economic disaster that decimated the Great Plains. Her passion for the subject is manifested in her poignant novel, A Cup of Dust. This literary gem is a highly recommended read!
The year
Finkbeiner wrote A Cup of Dust after years of study and research. What began as an interest in her teens, has resulted in a beautifully told story. This well-researched novel made me feel like I was in the midst of the story — I could almost feel the grit on my skin and see the tan destruction of the dust that covers the town of Red River. All senses are engaged while reading this book. The history depicted in the book is compelling and caused me to head to the computer over and over again. Well-drawn characters touch the heart and, for a time, become part of the reader’s life. I was completely pulled into Pearl’s story, feeling the anxiety of a world so different from her daydreams and fairy tale stories. Pearl is a little girl with the little girl desires of a store-bought dress and a candy treat. Yet she is forced into a confusing adult world in spite of her parent’s efforts to shield her from hurt and danger. Other characters are equally compelling, and I am hoping that Finkbeiner will revisit Red River soon. Pearl’s understanding of faith comes from her Meemaw’s love and reliance on God’s grace, the preacher’s continuous message of God’s wrath and judgment and her father’s quiet faithfulness — Daddy’s was a simple faith. He lived it with easy words and the sweat of his brow. I believed God loved that well enough.
If you are looking for a compelling story with a message of hope in the midst of a dark time and characters that will live on in your imagination, then you need to get A Cup of Dust.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: older teens and adults.
(Thanks to Kregel for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
The year
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is 1934 and the setting is Red River, Oklahoma, a panhandle town that is slowly fading off the map. Ten year old Pearl Spence tells the story of her family and town as they struggle to survive amidst despair and the ever present dust. But Pearl soon realizes there is much more going on in the town and her family than she knows, and the truth that hides beneath the surface will change her life forever.Finkbeiner wrote A Cup of Dust after years of study and research. What began as an interest in her teens, has resulted in a beautifully told story. This well-researched novel made me feel like I was in the midst of the story — I could almost feel the grit on my skin and see the tan destruction of the dust that covers the town of Red River. All senses are engaged while reading this book. The history depicted in the book is compelling and caused me to head to the computer over and over again. Well-drawn characters touch the heart and, for a time, become part of the reader’s life. I was completely pulled into Pearl’s story, feeling the anxiety of a world so different from her daydreams and fairy tale stories. Pearl is a little girl with the little girl desires of a store-bought dress and a candy treat. Yet she is forced into a confusing adult world in spite of her parent’s efforts to shield her from hurt and danger. Other characters are equally compelling, and I am hoping that Finkbeiner will revisit Red River soon. Pearl’s understanding of faith comes from her Meemaw’s love and reliance on God’s grace, the preacher’s continuous message of God’s wrath and judgment and her father’s quiet faithfulness — Daddy’s was a simple faith. He lived it with easy words and the sweat of his brow. I believed God loved that well enough.
If you are looking for a compelling story with a message of hope in the midst of a dark time and characters that will live on in your imagination, then you need to get A Cup of Dust.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: older teens and adults.
(Thanks to Kregel for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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LibraryThing member lamb521
Title: A Cup of Dust (A Novel of the Dust Bowl)
Author: Susie Finkbeiner
Pages: 320
Year: 2015
Publisher: Kregel
My rating is 4 stars.
Like the author I really don’t remember being taught much about the Dust Bowl. As I have gotten older and through various mediums I keep learning more and finding works
Here we meet a family of four that has been surviving the dust storms and sharing what they have with anyone who has need. Besides most businesses in town being shut down and families moving on, there seems to be a constant and changing influx of hobos. The one that terrorizes the Spence family is a man named Eddie, and he specifically focus’s all his attention and intentions on Pearl the youngest daughter in the family.
Mary is the mother who takes care of the home and two daughters, the oldest is named Violet Jean. Mary cares for her mother in-law who lives with them and has a wonderful relationship with the Lord, spending her days helping in the house. Thomas is the father of the family, the local sheriff and cares for any remaining people in the town of Red River. There is a mystery as to why Eddie focuses on Pearl and seems bent on terrorizing her and a woman of the night called Winnie.
The pastor of this town seems to constantly be preaching that the reason for the lack of rain is due to the congregation’s sins. He preaches about hell and damnation, but not about God’s love, forgiveness and grace. The pastor’s wife is said to be mad though no one knows why; however, there is little tidbit about her past and that she used to practice witchcraft. Out of all the characters in the novel, he is one I liked the least. He seemed the least caring of the town folk too. Of course, his past occupation was working as a ringmaster in a circus, so maybe that carries on into his new occupation as a pastor.
Some of the novel will really show sacrificial love, protection of loved ones from evil or harm, restoration and redemption. I love how Violet Jean, though considered a simpleton, seems to at times grasp what is happening around her and then acts in a very loving way. I hope you make time to read about this fictional family and are reminded of the historical event of the Dust Bowl looking into what else occurred to towns and people. I would love to get the photography books the author mentions, which I think would really make an impact on who ever looks through them. Perhaps we all might be more thankful and less self-centered. I know I want to be more concerned about others not when it is easy, but when it is harder…more like Jesus.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Author: Susie Finkbeiner
Pages: 320
Year: 2015
Publisher: Kregel
My rating is 4 stars.
Like the author I really don’t remember being taught much about the Dust Bowl. As I have gotten older and through various mediums I keep learning more and finding works
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of fiction that share more of what happened. I cannot imagine having a dust storm that literally turns the day to night and dirt getting into everything no matter how hard one tries to keep it out of the house.Here we meet a family of four that has been surviving the dust storms and sharing what they have with anyone who has need. Besides most businesses in town being shut down and families moving on, there seems to be a constant and changing influx of hobos. The one that terrorizes the Spence family is a man named Eddie, and he specifically focus’s all his attention and intentions on Pearl the youngest daughter in the family.
Mary is the mother who takes care of the home and two daughters, the oldest is named Violet Jean. Mary cares for her mother in-law who lives with them and has a wonderful relationship with the Lord, spending her days helping in the house. Thomas is the father of the family, the local sheriff and cares for any remaining people in the town of Red River. There is a mystery as to why Eddie focuses on Pearl and seems bent on terrorizing her and a woman of the night called Winnie.
The pastor of this town seems to constantly be preaching that the reason for the lack of rain is due to the congregation’s sins. He preaches about hell and damnation, but not about God’s love, forgiveness and grace. The pastor’s wife is said to be mad though no one knows why; however, there is little tidbit about her past and that she used to practice witchcraft. Out of all the characters in the novel, he is one I liked the least. He seemed the least caring of the town folk too. Of course, his past occupation was working as a ringmaster in a circus, so maybe that carries on into his new occupation as a pastor.
Some of the novel will really show sacrificial love, protection of loved ones from evil or harm, restoration and redemption. I love how Violet Jean, though considered a simpleton, seems to at times grasp what is happening around her and then acts in a very loving way. I hope you make time to read about this fictional family and are reminded of the historical event of the Dust Bowl looking into what else occurred to towns and people. I would love to get the photography books the author mentions, which I think would really make an impact on who ever looks through them. Perhaps we all might be more thankful and less self-centered. I know I want to be more concerned about others not when it is easy, but when it is harder…more like Jesus.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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LibraryThing member alekee
A cup of dust signifies the state of Oklahoma during the great depression, and on top of that the dust bowl. Hugh blowing winds on drought stricken land and no one is free from the ravages and unrelenting sand, every crack and board, and unfortunately lungs are vulnerable to the grit everywhere.
The
There are some dark clouds hanging over this loving family, and a surprise for Pearl, that to many know a secret about her. This is not a good secret and although her family loves her dearly, this could change her life forever.
A great reminder of how lucky we are, even with all of the trials that are happening in our world, no one would want to live the way these poor people were forced to do. There is also danger lurking in the area, and sometimes you expect there might be when it seems everyone is hurting, but evil is always around.
When the story ends a lot of things have been cleared up, and although nightmares still exist, the family is still unsure what is going to happen. One hundred and fifty miles to go and go and get groceries, so I do hope that there is a sequel to this story and we learn how things end up. When the dust stops, and how the new Roosevelt era helps this desolate area of Oklahoma.
I received this book through Kregel Publishing Blogger Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.
The
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story revolves around the Spence family and in particular Pearl, a precocious ten-year old, and self proclaimed watcher of her older handicapped sister. This is a girl whom has been raised to love the Lord, her elders and to help others. She is doing rather well when the book opens, her father is the sheriff and therefore has a steady job. They have food, which is lacking for so many others, but seem always ready to share.There are some dark clouds hanging over this loving family, and a surprise for Pearl, that to many know a secret about her. This is not a good secret and although her family loves her dearly, this could change her life forever.
A great reminder of how lucky we are, even with all of the trials that are happening in our world, no one would want to live the way these poor people were forced to do. There is also danger lurking in the area, and sometimes you expect there might be when it seems everyone is hurting, but evil is always around.
When the story ends a lot of things have been cleared up, and although nightmares still exist, the family is still unsure what is going to happen. One hundred and fifty miles to go and go and get groceries, so I do hope that there is a sequel to this story and we learn how things end up. When the dust stops, and how the new Roosevelt era helps this desolate area of Oklahoma.
I received this book through Kregel Publishing Blogger Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.
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LibraryThing member Harley0326
I had heard a lot about this book. It was very well publicized in bookstores and social networks. When I received notice that I would be reading this book, I was beyond excitement. This story captured the long ago memories of my granddad who had a farm in the Oklahoma Panhandle. I would spend two
Pearl is a curious ten year old who seems wiser than her years. Her dad is the local sheriff and is a hero to many. Everyone knows her family and respects them. Pearl has a best friend named Ray. They go everywhere together as they explore the town and share their thoughts. I remember there being lots of jackrabbits on my grand dad's farm and of course seeing one all fried up and ready to eat at the dinner table. I was never able to eat one. The author wrote a very vivid account of what people use to do to rid the farms of the pesky critters. Pearl had tears streaming down her face as she witnessed this event and gave her such an innocence that I could actually visualize her openly grieving for the animals. The author does an amazing job of describing this time period with honesty and realism. Some may not care for the vivid details, but without them the true understanding of this era would be lost.
There is a strange man that has come to Pearl's town. He sure does seem to know her. Who is this man? Will he be a danger to Peal? The story is so mesmerizing , that I picture myself at Pearl's house surrounded by her loving family. They live a simple life with a strong family bond. The dust storms were fierce and seemed to cover the town like a dome. It was hard for people to breathe in the dust storm and the preacher of the town said, "It's the wrath of God Almighty pouring down on us. " We best get on our knees and beg God to take us back. Beg Him to forgive our sins and to take us back." The preacher is a great character written with strong convictions and a bit of a dramatic flair. Can you imagine sitting there listening to the preacher shouting at the top of his lungs that we all need to repent?
There are so many interesting characters in the book and such outstanding writing that I could not put this book down. I must say I was very intrigued with who this man named Eddie was. Why did he appear out of nowhere and seem to follow Pearl? There is a deep secret that will soon turn many lives upside down. There is a storm brewing in the town . Is it another dust storm or something hidden for many years that will cause Pearl much hurt and a sense of being lost and unloved?
I am completely overwhelmed by the intricate writing of this story. Be ready to be swept back to a time period that was hard to live in with struggles to keep food on the table, dust storms that literally take your breath away and characters so real, you feel as if you are watching a show from "Little House on the Prairie." I am now a huge fan of this author. I will anxiously be waiting for another book from her.
I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.
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weeks every summer there as I explored his two-hundred acres. This story helped remind me of a great childhood memory. Pearl is a curious ten year old who seems wiser than her years. Her dad is the local sheriff and is a hero to many. Everyone knows her family and respects them. Pearl has a best friend named Ray. They go everywhere together as they explore the town and share their thoughts. I remember there being lots of jackrabbits on my grand dad's farm and of course seeing one all fried up and ready to eat at the dinner table. I was never able to eat one. The author wrote a very vivid account of what people use to do to rid the farms of the pesky critters. Pearl had tears streaming down her face as she witnessed this event and gave her such an innocence that I could actually visualize her openly grieving for the animals. The author does an amazing job of describing this time period with honesty and realism. Some may not care for the vivid details, but without them the true understanding of this era would be lost.
There is a strange man that has come to Pearl's town. He sure does seem to know her. Who is this man? Will he be a danger to Peal? The story is so mesmerizing , that I picture myself at Pearl's house surrounded by her loving family. They live a simple life with a strong family bond. The dust storms were fierce and seemed to cover the town like a dome. It was hard for people to breathe in the dust storm and the preacher of the town said, "It's the wrath of God Almighty pouring down on us. " We best get on our knees and beg God to take us back. Beg Him to forgive our sins and to take us back." The preacher is a great character written with strong convictions and a bit of a dramatic flair. Can you imagine sitting there listening to the preacher shouting at the top of his lungs that we all need to repent?
There are so many interesting characters in the book and such outstanding writing that I could not put this book down. I must say I was very intrigued with who this man named Eddie was. Why did he appear out of nowhere and seem to follow Pearl? There is a deep secret that will soon turn many lives upside down. There is a storm brewing in the town . Is it another dust storm or something hidden for many years that will cause Pearl much hurt and a sense of being lost and unloved?
I am completely overwhelmed by the intricate writing of this story. Be ready to be swept back to a time period that was hard to live in with struggles to keep food on the table, dust storms that literally take your breath away and characters so real, you feel as if you are watching a show from "Little House on the Prairie." I am now a huge fan of this author. I will anxiously be waiting for another book from her.
I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
It’s Oklahoma in the mid-1930s and life is a day-to-day struggle for people caught in the dust bowl. Pearl is just 10 years old but she has seen desperation and despair in too many eyes, and it seems like life just keeps getting worse. She has it better than some: her father is the sheriff, and
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he has an income and they have enough food. But her neighbors and friends are not so lucky, and misery and desolation push them to the limits of their endurance. Some leave, some are left alone, some are starving, and to some, even worse tragedies occur. A hobo appears in the town, and Pearl’s life will never be the same. Long- kept secrets finally work their way to the surface. People hope for an end to the dust that never ends. Danger lurks in the shadows. Though the author weaves a compelling story peopled with realistic characters in an impossible yet true situation, the most engrossing character in this novel is the dust. It takes on a life of its own, sifting in the tiniest cracks, covering steps and homes and more, encroaching on everything till all you feel is grit. The images in this story are so descriptive that it seems as though you were there, experiencing the deplorable dust that no amount of cleaning could ever got rid of. This coming-of-age tale is harrowing and suspenseful, and the familial relationships of Pearl’s family illustrate the life they lived with poignancy and tenderness contrasting with the harsh surroundings which they endured. Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Ms. Finkbeiner manages to do two things really well in this novel: she captures the historical feel of Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl years, and she tells an story that manages quite a bit of suspense. There is a thread of faith woven throughout the story, but it is subtle and feels more like an
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authentic part of the history of that time period rather than a sermon. The end of the book left me wanting to know what happened to the Spence family in the future. Show Less
LibraryThing member Mizroady
After watching a documentary on the Dust Bowl, I have become very interested in it. While nothing like what these individuals experienced, I remember growing up in East Texas as a child and the small dust storms there. I can recall the grit in our home and between my teeth. I haven’t forgotten
Instead of this part of history being told through the eyes of an adult, the author does it through the eyes of 10 year old Pearl Spence. A child’s view is very simple, but it is also glaringly honest. Although Pearl does not understand everything she sees and experiences, her account is authentically candid.
So vivid are the descriptions of life in this Oklahoma town that I could feel the discouragement and desperation of the characters. Her mother’s constant battle to keep her home clean and maintain a normal family life was heartrending. It is clear the large role adult’s attitudes and actions play in how a child handles a crisis. Pearl’s grandmother, mother, and father were an anchor for her in this unsettled time.
I better understood the despair and fear of never knowing when another dust storm would strike or when the nightmare would end. The author was brilliant with the way she took amazing historical details, brought to life powerful characters, and then created a story filled with danger, mystery, and excitement. A fantastic read!
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the sting of the sand as it hit my legs. As an adult I experienced a dust storm here in Oklahoma, where the sky was darkened, and the air so thick I felt I would suffocate. These small events in my life have me in awe of what the people of this era dealt with, and not for a few days but for years. This book made me realize how incredibly courageous and resilient dust bowl families were.Instead of this part of history being told through the eyes of an adult, the author does it through the eyes of 10 year old Pearl Spence. A child’s view is very simple, but it is also glaringly honest. Although Pearl does not understand everything she sees and experiences, her account is authentically candid.
So vivid are the descriptions of life in this Oklahoma town that I could feel the discouragement and desperation of the characters. Her mother’s constant battle to keep her home clean and maintain a normal family life was heartrending. It is clear the large role adult’s attitudes and actions play in how a child handles a crisis. Pearl’s grandmother, mother, and father were an anchor for her in this unsettled time.
I better understood the despair and fear of never knowing when another dust storm would strike or when the nightmare would end. The author was brilliant with the way she took amazing historical details, brought to life powerful characters, and then created a story filled with danger, mystery, and excitement. A fantastic read!
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LibraryThing member kaylynvh
I received this copy of A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl by Susie Finkbeiner from the October 2015 LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway.
LibraryThing member polarmath
As someone who teaches history, I am always interested in historical books. This one gave me some insight into the depression that made it more real that you could get from a history book.
LibraryThing member Becky_L
Wonderful, Compelling Story of Dust Bowl from Faith Viewpoint...
"What I did see outside was Red River streets, lined by boarded-up buildings and dead dreams. Ruined fields and falling apart lives." This observation by Suzie Finkbeiner's 10 year old protagonist, Pearl Spence, leads her to the
Finkbeiner populates her story with a variety of characters who would each answer the question differently. The preacher loudly screams at the congregation to repent, because God has brought this disaster upon them, as a result of the farmers being proud of their wheat crops of years gone by. The sheriff, according to Pearl, has a quiet faith, but steady and firm. (I would personally question the faith of someone who never felt the need to be in the presence of God's people, but then and again, I wouldn't want the faith of the preacher, who seemed very two-faced.) Mama seemed to have faith, and showed it by her generosity in caring for others. Yet it was Meemaw's quiet faith that drew Pearl, that was loving, reassuring, and lent an air of confidence that indeed God knew and cared what happened to His people.
Another big theme of the book is family. What is family, how does it influence one? Is environment more important than heredity? Environment makes a HUGE difference many times in a person's life. However, I found I wanted to disagree on some level with Finkbeiner's statement:"The world was full of awful people who did terrible and ugly things. Most of them were only awful because of the scars on their hearts." The Bible says in Jeremiah that "the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked." We don't necessarily need any bad examples to be bad, unfortunately.
The cover is perfect for this book. Unlike the Grapes of Wrath, which seemed to be totally hopeless, this novel had many hopeless parts, but through it all, the hope was presented that God could deliver. On the front cover of A Cup of Dust, the colors are mostly brown. A small rainbow of light pierces the dust to allow a narrow arc of color, just as the Spence family fought to hold onto a narrow hope that God would in fact, deliver them.
Due to adult situations and subject matter, I would rate this book a PG-13. Best for upper high school and above.
I had the pleasure of reading this book provided to me though bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.
"What I did see outside was Red River streets, lined by boarded-up buildings and dead dreams. Ruined fields and falling apart lives." This observation by Suzie Finkbeiner's 10 year old protagonist, Pearl Spence, leads her to the
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ultimate question, where is God in the bad times? She asks her Meemaw,"Is God in Oklahoma?...Or did He leave?"Finkbeiner populates her story with a variety of characters who would each answer the question differently. The preacher loudly screams at the congregation to repent, because God has brought this disaster upon them, as a result of the farmers being proud of their wheat crops of years gone by. The sheriff, according to Pearl, has a quiet faith, but steady and firm. (I would personally question the faith of someone who never felt the need to be in the presence of God's people, but then and again, I wouldn't want the faith of the preacher, who seemed very two-faced.) Mama seemed to have faith, and showed it by her generosity in caring for others. Yet it was Meemaw's quiet faith that drew Pearl, that was loving, reassuring, and lent an air of confidence that indeed God knew and cared what happened to His people.
Another big theme of the book is family. What is family, how does it influence one? Is environment more important than heredity? Environment makes a HUGE difference many times in a person's life. However, I found I wanted to disagree on some level with Finkbeiner's statement:"The world was full of awful people who did terrible and ugly things. Most of them were only awful because of the scars on their hearts." The Bible says in Jeremiah that "the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked." We don't necessarily need any bad examples to be bad, unfortunately.
The cover is perfect for this book. Unlike the Grapes of Wrath, which seemed to be totally hopeless, this novel had many hopeless parts, but through it all, the hope was presented that God could deliver. On the front cover of A Cup of Dust, the colors are mostly brown. A small rainbow of light pierces the dust to allow a narrow arc of color, just as the Spence family fought to hold onto a narrow hope that God would in fact, deliver them.
Due to adult situations and subject matter, I would rate this book a PG-13. Best for upper high school and above.
I had the pleasure of reading this book provided to me though bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member susan0316
What little I know about the dust bowl, I learned from the book The Grapes of Wrath and this novel humanized and informed so much more. The author did a fantastic of researching and teaching the reader about the reasons for the dust and the problems of the time while at the same time making it a
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real coming of age story about Pearl and her family. This was a fantastic book that not only informed but also entertained - something that its difficult to find in most books. It really is a must read! Show Less
LibraryThing member grammy57
I love historical novels and this one did not disappoint. The story is set in the 1930s in Oklahoma during the dust bowl. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, 10 year old Pearl. This character is well developed and has depth to her character. The other more minor charcters are
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less developed and less depth to them. They are still important to the story, but you don't feel as attached to them as to Pearl. What I liked about the book: The editing was wonderful. The language was true to the time and area. It was well researched and it shows. The characters were mostly believable. The grandma was the one person you knew was truly a Christian. That brings me to what I did not like. I did not care for the violence. I did not like the way the pastor was portrayed. Show Less
LibraryThing member hope3957
I really enjoyed Pearl’s story and her family’s interaction with each other.
The story reminded me of life in the 30’s and 40’s in the midwest family where I grew up.
History was very well done in the life of times. The details were very detailed in the hardships of the time. It was not a
I really enjoyed the story line. It kept me going to the very end. This was a story that needs to be told of life in the hard times. I enjoyed the story was written from a child’s perspective.
I highly recommend this book.
The story reminded me of life in the 30’s and 40’s in the midwest family where I grew up.
History was very well done in the life of times. The details were very detailed in the hardships of the time. It was not a
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pretty story, but very well done. People were well detailed in their desperate straits and the height of kindness and the cruelty in some people.I really enjoyed the story line. It kept me going to the very end. This was a story that needs to be told of life in the hard times. I enjoyed the story was written from a child’s perspective.
I highly recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member chrirob
Pearl, her sister Beanie, her parents, and the town of Red River are suffering through the Great Depression while living (if one can call it living) within the Dust Bowl of the United States. All day long, the dust permeates their clothes, their homes, and their lives until many can no longer stand
A really good book that included a nice balance of history and fiction. I would definately recommend this book if you are interested in the Dust Bowl and/or the Great Depression.
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living in Red River. Pearl and her family are doing what they can to help those in need during this trying time, but a new danger has come to Red River. Will Pearl, her family, and the town of Red River survive this new threat that will change Pearl's life forever? A really good book that included a nice balance of history and fiction. I would definately recommend this book if you are interested in the Dust Bowl and/or the Great Depression.
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LibraryThing member JaymeWill
I like the Great Depression Era and was looking forward to reading A Cup of Dust. Author Susie Finkbeiner does not disappoint. I was fully absorbed in the plot and the characters. She made the characters seem very real. I felt very deeply for the things Pearl experienced and wanted to give her a
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big hug, if that were possible. The mystery portions were slightly predictable, but held my interest to the end. I stayed up too late to finish the ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member hes7
A Cup of Dust tells the heartfelt coming-of-age story of ten-year-old Pearl Spence, living in the midst of Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl. Author Susie Finkbeiner writes this stunning, dramatic historical novel with realistic characters and vivid descriptions and authentically conveys the experience of the
Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of A Cup of Dust and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
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time and place. From the start, I was captivated by Finkbeiner’s novel and couldn’t put it down. It’s a fascinating read and any fan of historical fiction should not hesitate to pick up A Cup of Dust - it’s well worth the read and I would definitely recommend it.Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of A Cup of Dust and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.
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ISBN
9780825443886
Series
Pearl Spence (1)