Jack Catcher's parents are dead—his mom died of sickness and his dad of a broken heart—and he has to get out of Oklahoma, where dust... read full description
reviews
Jan 04, 2012
Karen
rated it: 
You think the present economy is making your life tough? Jack's mother has died of dirty pneumonia, and his father hung himself hours after his death. Jack has to bury them both after an enormous dust storm. About this time, Jane and Tony come to his farm; their mother ran off with a Bible salesman, and their father has been killed by his tractor overturning on him. Jane has a plan to drive away from their doomed Oklahoma community by taking Old Man Turpin's car, since he died in the storm sitti
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Oct 12, 2011
Amy
rated it: 
Mom stopped breathing…Dad hung himself from a broken heart…and Jack Catcher is a young man left alone, living during the Depression in a small hovel in Okalahoma. Not only do readers meet Jack during one of the most awful times in his young life, but they also sit with him as the huge sandstorm blows outside, covering everything in a hideous layer of dirt, dust, and debris.
Jack Catcher is on his own now and has literally no idea what to do. Fate offers a helping hand as one day, he More...
Jack Catcher is on his own now and has literally no idea what to do. Fate offers a helping hand as one day, he More...
Feb 08, 2012
Brendan
rated it:
An almost perfectly awesome adventure story hobbled by too-poetic title and dull cover that makes it look like one of those "good for you" books. This book is not good for you. This book is awesome. Well, it might be good for you too, but it is first and foremost a rip-roaring adventure story full of bank robbers, hobos, alligators, carnival wrestlers (okay, just one), and three plucky orphan kids on a road trip during the dust bowl. The ending is spot-on perfect, too. Would never
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Oct 29, 2011
Jen
rated it:
"The wind could blow down a full-grown man, but it was the dust that was the worst."
This was a pleasantly surprising story of adventure and camaraderie found in the midst of heartbreaking loss during The Great Depression.
Jack Catcher has recently lost both parents, the money's gone, the dog's gone, the food's gone and soon enough the family farm will be gone too thanks in part to the Oklahoma dust storms that have killed anything and everything edible. (Sounds like More...
This was a pleasantly surprising story of adventure and camaraderie found in the midst of heartbreaking loss during The Great Depression.
Jack Catcher has recently lost both parents, the money's gone, the dog's gone, the food's gone and soon enough the family farm will be gone too thanks in part to the Oklahoma dust storms that have killed anything and everything edible. (Sounds like More...
Oct 19, 2011
Maggie
rated it:
What a horribly sad start to this book. Fortunately this is not a depressing or completely sad book. Yes, it is part of a very difficult and sad time in history, but Jack, Jane and Tony seem to find plenty of adventure and good luck along their way. I did connect more with Jane through the story, but that was mostly because Jack almost floated along with whatever Jane decided to do. Also, the secondary characters were definitely characters. All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky felt so much like
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Feb 17, 2012
Kayla
rated it:
I have to say, this book surprised me in the best way! I've always loved learning about the Great Depression . . . ever since I first read the Kit Kittredge American Girl Doll books. Anyone know what I'm talking about? She lived during that time period, was one of my favorites, and so this has really stuck with me, from then until now. Of course, Jack's story has almost nothing in common (except, you know, the years, and there's also a girl who wants to become a reporter). Instead, it's filled w
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Dec 15, 2011
Marvin
rated it:
Lansdale's YA novel about three children orphaned and adrift during the Great Depression starts out as not very YA. In the first few pages, one child's father hangs himself, another father dies under a overturn tractor to the indifference of his daughter and son, and the three children are stealing a car. Lansdale was never a writer who would sugarcoat life and he doesn't do it here. Yet All the Earth, Throw to the Sky will thrill the teen who wants their protagonists to be full of life and smar
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Sep 18, 2011
Ron
rated it:
Joe R. Lansdale has always had a knack for depicting children (see THE BOTTOMS and my favorite of his novels A FINE DARK LINE). In this, Joe's first Young Adult novel, three orphaned kids decide to get out of their dust bowl Oklahoma town to seek a better life elsewhere. This is a bleak introduction to The Great Depression and Joe pulls few punches in showing the misery our young protagonists encounter. They fall in with gangsters (both good and bad), a corrupt sheriff, dying hoboes, disenfra
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Sep 29, 2011
Andrew
rated it:
Being billed as Lansdale's first YA book, I felt like I needed to give this a read. The Boar came out a number of years ago, but that was limited press so I guess that doesn't count. Anyway, both books feature similar protagonists. All the Earth's is a little more Joadian, I suppose. I was reminded of Grapes of Wrath often,and that's a bad thing though. Little less full throttle Joe here. The story is fine and writing is still fun, but I couldn't help but feel like something was missing. I could
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Feb 08, 2012
Kellee
rated it:
Reviewed at: http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2012/02/...
Summary: Jack is an orphan- his mother died of dust pneumonia and his father hanged himself- and he cannot take it in Oklahoma any more. The dust bowl has officially taken over and is sucking the life out of everything it can. While determining his plan, Jane, a neighbor girl, and her brother, Tony, trudge into his front yard looking for help because they too have lost everything in their lives. The three decide to steal a dead More...
Summary: Jack is an orphan- his mother died of dust pneumonia and his father hanged himself- and he cannot take it in Oklahoma any more. The dust bowl has officially taken over and is sucking the life out of everything it can. While determining his plan, Jane, a neighbor girl, and her brother, Tony, trudge into his front yard looking for help because they too have lost everything in their lives. The three decide to steal a dead More...
Dec 02, 2011
Jennifer
rated it: 
I remember looking at this ARC and ADORING the title. Seriously, good titles get me every time. And this is a simply marvelous title. The cover was simple but striking. After some mental debate, I picked it up and read the first page (I was trying to decide between this and another book at the time) and I never put it down.
Now, let me back up for a second and explain one vital thing. I am history nerd. 20th century to be precise. From 1900 to 1999, I am utterly intrigued by everything that More...
Now, let me back up for a second and explain one vital thing. I am history nerd. 20th century to be precise. From 1900 to 1999, I am utterly intrigued by everything that More...
Dec 01, 2011
D_Davis
rated it:
3.5 Stars
This is a very solid book. But I was hoping for more.
All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky (wins my award for best book title of the year), is The Grapes of Wrath done up Lansdale Style. Being a YA novel (not his first, despite what it says on the jacket), it contains most of what makes Lansdale Lansdale, but dialed back a few notches. I don't read much YA fiction at all, but I'd bet it would be safe to say that it is better written than most - it is from Lansdale aft More...
This is a very solid book. But I was hoping for more.
All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky (wins my award for best book title of the year), is The Grapes of Wrath done up Lansdale Style. Being a YA novel (not his first, despite what it says on the jacket), it contains most of what makes Lansdale Lansdale, but dialed back a few notches. I don't read much YA fiction at all, but I'd bet it would be safe to say that it is better written than most - it is from Lansdale aft More...
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Oct 23, 2011
Erica
rated it:
A lot of adventure, a little bit of romance, and a wealth of history wrapped into one package. My only fear is that this book won't get into the right readers hands. The cover screams YA, but it's more likely a tween read. Historical fiction at its best, with bits I'd compare to Richard Peck and bits of Laurie Halse Anderson thrown in. Check out his very interesting website - obviously this is a man obsessed with words in a good way!
Jan 14, 2012
MB
rated it:
While some of Lansdale's books can be brutal, this was a poignant little story about three kids orphaned by Oklahoma's dust bowl. Just a slice of their stories. The way they came together and made their remarkable quest--all the little details are there, painting their lives in a way you can see and hear and taste. This book will leave red dust on your tongue, but hope in your heart.
Jan 31, 2012
King Dinösaur
rated it:
Nice edition to the Lansdale cannon. This YA novel makes a great companion to other Lansdale classics such as "The Bottoms" and "The Boar". Pure Joe R. adventure without the F-bombs, zombies or other assorted trademarks. Three kids escape the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression only to get involved with bank robbers, crooked sheriffs and carnivals. Recommended.
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Feb 03, 2012
Michael
rated it:
Joe R. Lansdale hisownself takes his clever dialogue, fun characters, and just darn good writing into the young adult lit realm. The book is an adventure drama set during the Great Depression, with three orphaned kids (from two families) leaving the dust bowl to try and find a better life. An extra positive--there are both strong male and female characters for younger readers to identify with.
Dec 14, 2011
Paola
rated it: 
Non mi ha convinto, poco elaborato, decisamente surreale ma allora ridatemi La notte del Drive In, niente a che vedere con il suo La sottile linea scura dove invece c'é maggiore scavo dei personaggi, meno situazioni e dialoghi inverosimili fra i bambini protagonisti che sembrano invece scafati saggi zen.
bah.
bah.
Nov 06, 2011
Kelly
rated it:
I really liked this historical novel set in the great depression about a group of kids who had to survive and thrive on their own. The loss is palpable. Jack was a strong main character and well developed, but it was Jane who really captured my attention. A whip-strong girl, especially in this era.
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/11/all-...
Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2011/11/all-...
Jan 09, 2012
David
rated it:
This was just a great book full of period detail, engaging story and characters. Lansdale has such a specific voice and sense of humor that makes all his books a pleasure to read.
Oct 11, 2011
I'm having issues with the cover. the boy on the cover is wearing 2010, Levi jeans. this book takes place in the 1930s. SArah's havin' issues.
Sep 14, 2011
Fan of author - interested to see him in the YA format - not at TCPL yet
Nov 10, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Picked up the ARC from a friend because I love the Dust Bowl era - stories of hard times, families banding together, and of course the great music that came out of it. This is an easy-to-read adventure story about a boy whose parents die during the Dust Storms of Oklahoma. He and two neighbors, also orphans, steal a car from a dead man and set out for greener pastures. Along the way, they meet gangsters, hoboes, conmen and carneys. A sweet, thoughtful, and entertaining read!
Dec 19, 2011
Michael
rated it:
I am a huge fan of Joe R Lansdale - so I'll get that out of the way up front. And I'm loving this. If you're a fan of Hap and Leonard, I think you will really enjoy this.
OK, completed it.
I have some very minor issues with the end (but perhaps there will be a sequel - I hope so.) I loved it. Joe Lansdale is such a phenomenal writer and the hero's voice is this is fabulous.
OK, completed it.
I have some very minor issues with the end (but perhaps there will be a sequel - I hope so.) I loved it. Joe Lansdale is such a phenomenal writer and the hero's voice is this is fabulous.
Dec 15, 2011
Phil
rated it:
I didn't realize that this was Joe's attempt to write a young adult story. I'm not sure that Lansdale is at his best when toning down for the age of the audience. It is probably a very difficult thing to write a book that will appeal to 13 year olds as well as adults. I give Joe credit for making the attempt, but I would have probably been better off skipping this one.
Dec 18, 2011
Ted
rated it:
Lansdale is one of the best writers working today and this book is a great example of his talent. A great young adult novel.
Jan 25, 2012
Annabelle Marie Veronica
rated it:
Not my thing, but not awful. Review will be coming soon.
Feb 23, 2012
Feb 22, 2012
