Where Only Storms Grow

by Alyssa Colman

Set during the Dust Bowl, this story of family, friendship, and survival is for fans of the I Survived series and The War That Saved My Life.
 
It’s been four years since rain fell on the Oklahoma Panhandle, and the closeness between the twelve-year-old Stanton twins has dried up as much as the land. Howe Stanton has been practicing running away and longs for the family to quit this land of dust and broken dreams. Despite the scoliosis that causes Joanna Stanton near-constant pain, she isn’t ready to give up like her brother. But when Daddy leaves the family behind to find work in California, saving the farm from ruin falls on Howe’s unwilling and Joanna’s uneven shoulders. 
 
To pay the family's debts, Joanna takes a job at the local hospital and discovers purpose helping others. Howe finds unexpected joy in caring for his father’s horse and by escaping in a borrowed book.
 
But then a tragedy in town reveals the dust’s deadly dangers. With the worst storm of the Dust Bowl bearing down on their home, Howe and Joanna must put aside their differences and work together, or everyone and everything they love will be lost to the dust.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Disability, Juvenile, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2025

Reviews

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Only Storms Grow is told in the dual narrative perspective of twins, Joanna and Howe, offering insights into their experiences growing up during the Dust Bowl in 1935. Joanna also struggles with scoliosis, adding another layer to her personal journey of overcoming obstacles.

Reading about "Black Sunday," one of the worst dust storms in American history, was chilling, yet fascinating. I was riveted. This novel is a middle-grade novel that I couldn't get enough of! As Howe walked through their wheat fields, on rock-hard ground, filled with ankle-high rows of wheat stalks, some of which had been blackened by the static electricity of the storms, my heart broke. Not to mention having to use shovels to carry the dust out of their house, or dig their way out to open the door! I learned so much from Where Only Storms Grow!

I highly recommend this novel. It beautifully explores themes of family, resilience, courage, and overcoming immense challenges during one of the most difficult periods in American history.

Huge thanks to #FarrarStrausAndGiroux(BYR), for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Where Only Storms Grow has an expected publication date of August 19, 2025.

#AlyssaColman #DustBowl #BlackSunday #Family #Survival

[Megan Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A testament to human resilience in the face of insurmountable odds, Where Only Storms Grow is the poignant story of a family coming apart in a desperate attempt to stay together. Set in one of the most devastating periods in modern history, this story will hook readers from the first gripping sentence to the final satisfying page.

[Alysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW is a richly told, deeply immersive historical novel about the Dust Bowl era. But it's also so much more, it's a story about family and resilience, it's about the grace that comes from being a good person, and about caring about your land and community more than what's in your own pocket. Told through the dual POV of twins Howe and Joanna, Colman delivers an impeccably drawn world and a tale packed with history, heart, and a whole lot of tension and drama. Unputdownable is the best way to describe Colman's first historical novel!

I can't think of many MG titles that focus on this enormous ecological tragedy, and know this will make a perfect interdisciplinary read for history as well as science classes.

Young readers and teachers will, I predict, eat this up off a big upside down bowl!

Thank you to FSG and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an e-arc.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Julie Bene recommendation! I stayed up late to finish this one as the characters were written so well! I enjoyed that each sibling had their own voice and made choices based on their experiences and personality. The book displayed the nuances of parenting and how it is to parent different children. All these family dynamics set in the backdrop of the Dust Bowl led to an educational, entertaining, and engaging story!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent middle grade novel set in 1935 during the Depression/Dust Bowl period in the Oklahoma panhandle area. Told from the perspectives of twins Joanna and Howard/Howe, Alyssa Colman puts readers directly in the path of dust storms, in the midst of futile efforts to dust proof a home, and a family’s desperate attempt simply to survive during a time of financial chaos, poverty and illness. Hardships like these do not eliminate the usual difficulties of life for the twins such as changing relationships, school bullies, a desire to find validation from friends and family, and attempts to discover one’s purpose but having to navigate the usual amid disasters that never seem to end can, and did, cause many to give up. Colman’s characters never seem to catch a break—the twins’ father is forced to leave for California to find work, their aunt and uncle lose their home to the bank, the older brother who holds the farm together is badly injured, and dust pneumonia strikes again and again. But throughout all the tragedy, Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers” theme does its best to keep on singing during the storm and the poem is referenced many times.

In just 238 pages, Colman packs in so much information about the era and surrounds it with outstanding descriptive passages, wisely used literary elements such as idiom, simile, metaphor, foreshadowing, and even a bit of irony. Joanna and Howe begin to unravel their changing relationship and recognize each others’ strengths and support one another in their weaknesses. Joanna has always been treated like a fragile flower due to her scoliosis, sees herself as the reason the family is forced to remain in Oklahoma’s dusty plains and just wants to contribute while Howe feels drawn to a life of writing, poetry and higher education rather than the legacy of farming. Both twins battle themselves as well as others’ preconceived notions to find their own way. Are you seeing all the conflict present? At my count, WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW has both internal conflicts (Man vs Self & Destiny) and most of the external (Man vs. Nature, Technology, Society and a tiny bit of Man vs Man but it’s a stretch). With all this, ELA teachers looking for a more recently published alternative to the much studied Out of the Dust should absolutely consider this one. With the dual perspectives, presence of Science/technology elements (improved masks, erosion science, medical improvements), references to the New Deal, Hoover/Hoovervilles, & the stock market crash, plus the dust storms and several of Dickinson’s poems (snippets from several and Hope is the Thing With Feathers in its entirety), WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW may have more to offer as a cross curricular novel study than other choices set in the same time period.

Highly recommended for grades 4-8 with no profanity, zero sexual content (a few kisses and a budding romance between older brother Lou and schoolteacher Miss Landis) and violence is limited to only one black eye in addition to the destructive forces of nature.

Read alikes: No Promises in the Wind, Irene Hunt, 1986
Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse, 2012
many Dear America titles

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: Where Only Storms Grow

The Gist & My Thoughts: 📚✨ Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Colman is a beautifully written middle grade novel set during the Dust Bowl… following twins Joanna and Howe as they navigate loss…hardship and hope on their Oklahoma farm 🌾💨Another rec from my favorite podcast 🎧 Meg’s Reading Room! I adored Colman’s The Gilded Girl…so I was thrilled to see she had a new release… and historical fiction too! 🐎🐓I fell in love with this resilient family and all the animals on their homestead. What a devastating time to have lived through…but Colman brings light…love…and grit to every page.Excited to tuck this one on our shelves for a future homeschool read-aloud unit 🏡📖💛

My Question for Alyssa: Did you base any of the farm animals on real pets or animals from your own life?

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book for review.

This brand new middle grade novel is definitely one to have on your radar! My family previously loved the author’s first two books and I’m happy to say she nailed the genre switch up with this one! Where Only Storms Grow is a historical fiction that follows a set of twin siblings during the Dust Bowl. It was pitched as “I Survived” meets “The War That Saved My Life” and that felt like a very accurate comparison to me.

The setting and premise was so richly depicted that I felt like I could feel the burn of the dust storms ripping against me and the grit of dirt constantly clinging to everything. There is a tenseness hanging over everything as things could so quickly change from calm to life threatening. This would make an excellent classroom or family read because I can’t think of a better way to experience what this piece of history would have truly felt like. It captured various perspectives of the time really well to give a broad image: farmers trying to survive, kids balancing their hopes and dreams with the need to help their families, nurses traveling in to help with the resulting illnesses, and soil experts trying to share their ideas for making a change.

On top of all the significant historical and environmental aspects it was a very relatable human story of kids trying to navigate their family relationships and a girl learning how to live with her scoliosis. It depicted really well how sibling relationships can shift as interests and life circumstances change and the ways everyone’s actions in a family influence each other in various ways. The scoliosis aspect was woven throughout in a really nuanced way that felt authentic and dynamic. There were also a lot of beautiful themes of how you find the light when everything feels hopeless.

Trigger/content notes: grief

[Rachel Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade teachers, you will want to add Where Only Storms Grow to your classroom booklist. Author Alyssa Colman, takes her readers to Oklahoma during the 1930s Dust Bowl, through the eyes of twins Howe and Joanna. Joanna, deemed weak because of a scoliosis diagnosis, feels as though she is incapable of helping her family around the farm. To make matters worse, she is often made fun of at school. Her twin, Howe, loves school, reading, and writing poetry, and he had rather be doing that than helping out around the farm. When the family falls on hard times, their father must travel to California to find work, leaving the children and their mother at home to keep the farm running. This story of strength, courage, friendship, determination, family, and the ability to overcome is simply beautiful. The reader will laugh and cry and will connect with the family and the townspeople throughout the novel through the children's points of view. As a teacher, I will definitely be exposing my fourth graders to this novel. Be looking for it to hit shelves in August 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing I didn't particularly like about this book is that the part where the twins forgive each other feels slightly cheesy. However, I did enjoy the story and learning more about the dust bowl. I would recommend it.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Where Only Storms Grow" by Alyssa Colman is a middle grade historical fiction story set during the Dust Bowl in 1935. This story is told from a dual POV and follows the everyday lives of middle school-aged twins Joanna and Howe in the weeks leading up to the worst storm of the dust bowl, "Black Sunday."

I loved Jo and Howe's development over the course of the story -- as individuals, as siblings, and as members of society. I also really enjoyed watching their family and small town work through too-realistic problems and found ways to function in such difficult times. With unique perspectives, this story givers readers an insight to what life might have been like for children in rural areas during the dust bowl.

I might not be teaching middle school ELA anymore, but I will highly recommend this to my current and former students. This book is ideal for middle & high school readers who love the outdoors and are fans of books like the "I Survived" and "The Wilds" series, "Hatchet," and "My Side of the Mountain." Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC.

[Sarah Niebuhr Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both fun and powerful - a middle-grade coming-of-age story with twins! Relatable characters with youthful thoughts and a lot on their shoulders.

I stayed up all night unable to wait for the next danger this family faced, the next switch between voices, the next way that one of the young twin protagonists would handle the situation. Recommended reading for individuals and for middle-grade school reading with abundant excitement and plenty of historical details from the Dust Bowl era, pertinent ideas for the impact of human land use, and strong life skills for discussion.

[I was given access to an advanced reader copy for an honest review - and I honestly loved it]

[Corinne | Shelf of Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing a temporary e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

As an environmentalist, the Dust Bowl is an era in American history that fascinates me to no end. While loads of sources will tell you about the millions of people who left their farms during the Dust Bowl, this novel focuses on a fictional family who stayed. In recent years, historical fiction novels have begun to grow on me, so I was all the more excited to give this one a read.

"It sounds to me like we've each been carrying the same burden separately. Maybe we should try sharing the load."
-Alyssa Colman, Where Only Storms Grow

Where Only Storms Grow is told from the perspectives of 12-year-old twins Joanna and Howe Stanton. Through circumstances both necessary and unfortunate, much of the burden to save their family's farm falls onto the young twins. But their tense relationship and individual burdens make this task all the more daunting.

I found both Joanna and Howe to be compelling protagonists. While both twins face the same issue of saving the family farm, they also have their differences. Joanna and Howe have unique struggles, values, and aspirations that make each of their stories stand out. Howe's dreams of being a writer pull at readers' hearts, and his pain at being unable to pursue his passion is something to which many can relate. His yearning and passion are so vividly portrayed that you can't help but root for him along his journey.

Howe's twin sister, Joanna Stanton, is equally endearing. Smothered by her mother's concern for her scoliosis, Joanna often feels frustrated and hopeless. But when she gets a job at a local hospital, the entire world begins to open up for her. Joanna's character growth arc is nothing short of inspiring. And I don't just mean that in the "disabled people are inspiring" way, but in the "I love stories about people who learn to see potential in the world" way. Through her work, Joanna finds meaning, and I connect with this concept on a personal level, making her story all the more meaningful.

"I wasn't in any hurry to grow up -- it seemed like I already had enough responsibilities as it was -- but the thought of helping people and seeing a little bit of the world made the future feel like something it never had before: full of possibility."
-Alyssa Colman, Where Only Storms Grow

Of course, Joanna's disability is also an excellent part of Where Only Storms Grow. Author Alyssa Colman also has scoliosis, and Joanna's symptoms are largely based on her own. We all know that I'm a massive advocate for OwnVoices stories, and this is an excellent one. It's so rare to see disabilities represented in novels (or maybe I'm just not reading the right novels), but Colman does an outstanding job of weaving Joanna's scoliosis into her character and the overarching plot. I learned a lot about scoliosis specifically and also the social/emotional aspects of living with a physical disability.

Along the way, this book teaches about a lot more in addition to scoliosis. I found myself enthralled by Colman's descriptions of the Dust Bowl storms, dust pneumonia, and how people dealt with the hardships of this man-made ecological disaster. The details that Colman provides not only bring the story to life, but also evoke eerily familiar images of climate change and pandemics that bind the story even more to the reader. I literally got chills when I read the painfully familiar line "We're living in unprecedented times."

Where Only Storms Grow's connections to the modern world help to nail in all its themes. This novel explores family dynamics, the power of hope, and community, among many other equally powerful topics. Every page includes something for readers to connect with and learn from. But it's also not all doom and gloom! There's plenty of comedic relief (I adore Ruby the indoor chicken!) and joyous moments to breathe a perfect amount of levity into a story that otherwise has the potential to be incredibly heavy.

Although I cherished this novel, I also have to mention the reason I can't give it 5 stars: the ending. For a story with such emotional power and complex characters, the ending is rather abrupt and (dare I say) unsatisfying. Maybe this is just me wanting more of such an incredible story, but I wish there had been an extra chapter or two at the end to flesh out the impact of how everything wraps up. But other than that, I have few complaints.

Overall, Where Only Storms Grow is an easily lovable and refreshingly thoughtful story. It is great for historical fiction lovers and super accessible for younger readers. This novel is easy to connect with and highly educational in so many ways. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for stories about disabled characters or life during the Dust Bowl era.

"Asking for help isn't giving up. It's refusing to give up."
-Alyssa Colman, Where Only Storms Grow

Full review on my blog.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Only Storms Grow is a middle grade novel set after the stock market crash in the Dust Bowl era. During this tragic period, many families living in the panhandle of Oklahoma loaded their possessions, abandoned their farms and moved to California seeking relief. This novel focuses on a fictional family who stayed, enduring hardship upon hardship.

The story is told from the perspectives of 12-year-old twins Joanna and Howe Stanton. While there is a mother and father and a grown brother named Lou, circumstances both necessary and unfortunate, cause much of the burden to save their family's farm on the shoulders of these young twins. Joanna and Howe have very different personalities with their own unique struggles, values, and aspirations. Howe's dream of being a writer is frowned upon because words on paper won’t make crops grow and put food on the table. His passion for the written word, especially poetry, is vividly portrayed so readers are pulling for him as he reads a scarce book of poems and puts his own words in a journal he hides in the hayloft.

Howe's twin sister, Joanna, is just as endearing but in a different way. At a young age she was diagnosed with scoliosis. Her mother's concern for her condition causes her to smother Joanna who often feels frustrated and hopeless. She feels it’s her fault they can’t escape the dust because Doc, who most likely has never seen a child with scoliosis before, says she must lead a quiet, restful life and says she couldn’t survive the drive. But when she gets a job at the newly set up Red Cross hospital in the failed bank building, her world begins to open up for her. I enjoyed and was inspired watching Joanna's character blossom as she never shied away from any task in the hospital even if it were mundane or undesirable. Her condition seemed to only make her more determined. She was in no way a weak individual.

I encourage reading the afterward where Author Alyssa Colman describes her own personal dealings with scoliosis, and Joanna's symptoms are largely based on her own.

Even though the Dust Bowl era is not news to me, I was still shocked and fascinated by the devastating storms, dust pneumonia, and how people dealt with the hardships of this man-made ecological disaster. It was chilling to read the quote… "We're living in unprecedented times." That is a term still being used even today, but resilient folks then and today persevere to overcome and that is comforting.

There is so much good in this novel… family dynamics, the power of hope, and community, among many other powerful topics.
Yet, the story is not all doom and gloom. There is the adorable Ruby the indoor chicken and other joyous moments easing the heaviness of a particular era of US history.

Like the I Survived series and The War That Saved My Life, I predict this gripping middle grade novel to be a well sought after read and will end up on many reading lists.

My ONLY complaint is to me everything tied up at the end a little too quickly, I selfishly needed an extra chapter or two at the end to learn the impact of all the traumatic events of the family and community.

[Mindy Wendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyssa Colman’s WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW gives readers (of all ages but especially middle graders) a vivid glimpse of life in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Told through alternating viewpoints of twins Joanna and Howe Stanton, the books is rich in details of the dust storms that turned day into night and left drifts of dust that buried fence posts and caved in roofs of buildings. It shows the amazing resilience of the people who stayed on their farms and found ways survive conditions that are nearly unimaginable. But the book is about more than survival. It’s about growing up and finding your way—not just through a dust storm but through life.

Joanna, whose painful scoliosis has kept her on the sidelines of her own life, discovers she has a knack for nursing when her older brother suffers a serious injury and ends up in a makeshift Red Cross hospital. Befriended by the nurses who work there, Joanna finds strength she didn’t know she had. Joanna’s twin brother, Howe, is a secret poet who loves words, and school, and learning more than farmwork. and Joanna, who were once so close they shared the same thoughts, have drifted apart in recent months. But as troubles pile on troubles for their family, they realize they are stronger together than apart.

The book opens in the midst of a huge dust storm on April 14, 1935, a day that has come to be known as Black Sunday, Then Colman takes us back in time to three months earlier, filling in the details of the story, the characters, and the time period. Near the end of the book, we catch up to the beginning, as the author takes us through the biggest black blizzard of them all and its aftermath. Colman does a wonderful job of showing the reader the challenges of everyday life during the Dust Bowl I enjoyed the storyline about Joanna’s scoliosis and how it was viewed and treated (or not) in the 1930s. I loved the inclusion of Howe’s poetry (and Emily Dickinson’s). I also appreciated the information in the author’s note at the end and the warning that we should pay attention to the mistakes of the past to prevent us from making the same (or similar) mistakes again. The recent dust storm in Chicago underlines this warning.

WHERE ONLY STORMS GROW is a great new read for fans of historical fiction, the 1930s, and the perilous time known as the Dust Bowl.

[Terry Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could feel the grit between my teeth as the dust storms blew. In this middle grade novel in two voices, twins Joanna and Howe find themselves with the full responsibility for their family's farm. Unlike other families during the dustbowl, the twins' family rides it out. The father leaves for California to find work leaving the farm in the capable hands of his wife and older son. But life and dust storms conspire against them, and it's twelve year-olds Joanna and Howe who must weather the storms. Through their eyes, we see the decisions that other families make and their consequences. And we see the effect that the responsibility has on the two children. Joanna has the opportunity to find herself. Smothered by her mother who follows the misguided directions of the country doctor, Joanna's scoliosis has made her into a near invalid and her disability is two fold. She deals with very real pain, but she also has to deal with the debilitating influence of overprotection. When her older brother falls and spends time in the hospital, Joanna uses her skills to help the nursing staff, soon becoming indispensable and a paid member of the staff. She also meets a nurse who, herself, has learned to manage her scoliosis and gives Joanna the confidence she needs to blossom. Howe is the most put-upon member of the family. He must stay home from school and do the work that his father and his brother, both, were doing when instead he wishes that he could be talking about poetry with his teacher and writing poems. But the storms are brutal, and the two youngsters, who have grown apart, must work together to save their legacy. Colman's mastery of the subjects she layers in her story is complete. Readers are transported into the challenging world of the depression and the dustbowl--a world we rarely hear about--but they are also gifted a wonderful story of growth and renewal. Thank you to FSG for providing an arc for review.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in Oklahoma during the dangerous storms of the dust bowl era is not an easy time for young twins Hal and Joanna Stanton. They're crops are failing; their neighbors are giving up and moving away, and even their beloved father has headed off to California in search of work. The twins and their remaining family and friends must face the trials of the dust alone and must find the courage and resourcefulness to save themselves and their town from one of the most dangerous storms ever.

This is a fantastic middle grade historical novel rich in both story and facts. It will keep readers entertained but will also give them a glimpse into what life was like for the inhabitants of the dust bowl during this time period. They will find themselves engrossed in the Stanton family, wanting them to succeed not just in keeping their farm, but in each of their personal efforts as well. And they will ultimate find hopely in one family's resilience and a community's steadfast determination to survive.

Other than the historical context which was well-drawn and fascinating, my favorite part of this book was the relationships between the members of the Stanton family. The way that they grow and change over the course of the book is wonderful to watch, and it adds a human layer to the historical narrative. I found myself in awe of the family as they navigated through life in such tough circumstances and think that there is a lesson here for all of us to learn.

I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction fans and to young readers who want a good story that really shows off the qualities of determination and grit. Great book!

[Carisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic middle grade book about those who stayed behind during the drought in the 30's that created what becomes known as The Dust Bowl. I was immersed in this story from page 1. I love a book that starts with an event happening and then being transported back to a time leading up to that. Told from the dual POV of brother/sister twins, you get to see how this time period shaped and grew an entire generation. This book would be a great read for kids studying about the great depression and the dust bowl specifically. The characters captured my heart in the trials and tribulations they endured but also how they overcome through the power of hope and the growth they experienced.

I don't normally highlight books but there were several quotes that were just so beautifully written, I wanted to share:

"Asking for help isn't giving up. It's refusing to give up."

"...I felt a funny sort of feeling in my chest. It took me a few moments to realize I felt happy, hopeful even. ..., there were little eggs of joy scattered about, almost ready to hatch."

"It was the biggest little thing in the world. (hearing the words) Thank you."

"I felt like we were sowing the seeds of something new between us. I hoped they would have time to grow."

"...the idea of being so necessary made me feel like I'd swallowed a sunbeam. I knew there'd be darkness ahead, but if I could keep that sunbeam with me, I'd be all right."

This would be a wonderful read aloud for homeschool families studying this time period. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end of the book for more context of why she chose to write the story the way she did and what inspired her to write it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC.

[Rebecka · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Where Only Storms Grow is a beautifully written and deeply immersive novel that made me feel the weight of the Dust Bowl era. Alyssa Colman’s descriptions of the relentless dust storms and the desperation of families struggling to survive were so vivid that I could almost feel the grit in my teeth. The atmosphere was heavy with hardship, but the story never lost its undercurrent of hope.

What stood out to me the most was Joanna’s journey. I have never read a book where the main character had scoliosis, and seeing her strength and determination was incredibly moving. Her bond with the nurse who also had scoliosis was one of my favorite aspects of the story. It was refreshing to see a character with a physical disability not just overcoming challenges but finding purpose and confidence in her own way.

This book was an emotional and thought-provoking read, not just because of the historical elements but because of how relevant it feels today. The struggles of these characters serve as a reminder of how fragile our environment is and what perseverance truly looks like. Where Only Storms Grow left a lasting impression on me, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction with strong, memorable characters.


An advance copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel set during the time of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. It is told in dual perspectives by twins Joanna and Howe. At the start you can feel the tension between the siblings. Joanna has been diagnosed with scoliosis and as a result is overly protected by their mother which results in many frustrations and outbursts by Joanna. Howe just wants to be seen and appreciated for all of his help on the family farm, but instead finds himself picking up the slack when Joanna is unable to finish her chores.

Pretty quickly the family's desperate situation because of the financial hardships and the constant dust storms becomes clear. Their aunt and uncle lose part of the family farm and are forced to move to California to look for work taking Joanna and Howe's father with them. Now the twins, their older brother, and their mother are left to try to keep the farm running while their father searches for work out West. Circumstances continue to worsen both at the farm and in their town.

This book is a great view into the difficult times on the Great Plains during the 1930s. It also highlights the fighting spirit of the people who were left to fight for their lives and livelihoods. Both Joanna and Howe along with other characters show resilience, strength, and love for their families and fellow man. Both are characters to admire and ones that I will be happy to share with my students.

[Margaret Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable book!

At first I wasn't sure I liked the characters, but as the book went on they really grew on me. Especially Joanna. At the beginning, I thought she was kind of boring, but then when she started her job (I'll try not to spoil too much!) she got a lot more interesting and I really fell in love with her as a character. I enjoyed the time setting as well. I don't think I've read historical fiction about the great depression since the American Girl books about Kit that I read when I was like 10 years old. And I don't even think that included anything about the dust bowl.

The author really made the setting come alive with her descriptions about the dust storms and the hospital patients, and I really thought she did an excellent job making the story feel both realistic and heartbreaking while keeping it suitable for children. I also loved the relationship between Joanna and Howe's brother Lou and his girlfriend. They were super cute.

Except that I felt like things started out a little slower than I anticipated, I really feel like I have no complaints to make about this book. (And that part might just be me, honestly.)

I would definitely put this in the hands of any child.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. I had such a good time with this one!

[Victoria Sutherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Allyssa Colman and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Where Only Storms Grow.

While I have read a lot of historical fiction, this was my first book about the Dust Bowl. I was pulled into the story instantly. I loved this story. While Joanne's family faced numerous hardships and tragic experiences, they were resilient. They didn't let their circumstances keep them down, Joanne and Howe told alternating perspectives of their story. Besides the challenges of dust storms, Joanne and Howe faced their own personal challenges. Joanne was labeled fragile because of a Scholiosis diagnosis. There was very little information about her condition in her time. She had social issues such bullying and teasing because of her diagnosis. Howe felt misunderstood and struggled to find his place in the family. They both rose to push their obstacles out of the way as life got more difficult. They faced adult responsibilities and challenges without complaining or compromising. I love that Howe continued his education even when he was needed to run the farm. I learned so much from this book about the tragic Duat Bowl, Scholiosis, and this time period. It has a great message about stepping up for family and those around you.

I highly recommend this book. I cried and cheered. Despite their hardships, I enjoyed this book.

[The Turquoise Reading Room · Rating 3 out of 5]

My latest #NetGalley eARC is a middle grade novel set during the Dust Bowl. I adore reading middle grade novels. They make my heart happy, even when they are about difficult times 😊

It's 1935 in rural Oklahoma. Teenage twins, Joanna and Howe, live and work on their family's drought stricken farm. Joanna, recently diagnosed with scoliosis and Howe, a secretly aspiring poet, are stunned when their father takes a job in California to continue to provide for the family. This leaves them to help out more on the farm in his absence. Joanna is eager to prove she can help despite her health troubles. Howe is reluctant to leave school and his studies to help on the farm. Each faces the challenges of their new responsibilities, but can they hold on long enough for rain to come?

I learned so much about the Dust Bowl reading this novel. I admit I didn't really know what it really referred to other than occurring during The Great Depression. I didn't know things were actually covered in mounds of dust in the Midwest states for years 😳 It was interesting to have this little perspective on such a difficult time period in American history. I'm now going to do a deep dive on the web & learn more 👍

This is a great middle grade novel to read in general but also as part of American history. It'd be a great book to read in a classroom setting 👩‍🏫

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Augusta Dionysus · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Disclosure: Special thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing this title for early consideration/review]. At its heart, this novel is a tale of family, courage, and overcoming immense challenges, set in the Dust Bowl-era Oklahoma Panhandle. Joanna, Lou, and Howe, three siblings, band together with their mother to keep their farm running after their father leaves for California to seek a better life out west. With the constant threat of dust storms looming, the novel possesses ample suspense, and Joanna's struggle with scoliosis cements her as a courageous character who must overcome immense obstacles to help her family and others. Perhaps what I enjoy most in this novel is the historical detail it presents; it is clear through the story that Colman did her research beforehand, and the author's note at the end humbly cites the sources utilized during the book's creation. Ultimately, the book highlights one of the lesser-talked-about eras in history, presenting the era from younger eyes and immortalizing in vivid detail one of the most harrowing manmade disasters in U.S. history. Colman has created a touching novel which will appeal to young and mature audiences alike.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My latest #NetGalley eARC is a middle grade novel set during the Dust Bowl. I adore reading middle grade novels. They make my heart happy, even when they are about difficult times 😊

It's 1935 in rural Oklahoma. Teenage twins, Joanna and Howe, live and work on their family's drought stricken farm. Joanna, recently diagnosed with scoliosis and Howe, a secretly aspiring poet, are stunned when their father takes a job in California to continue to provide for the family. This leaves them to help out more on the farm in his absence. Joanna is eager to prove she can help despite her health troubles. Howe is reluctant to leave school and his studies to help on the farm. Each faces the challenges of their new responsibilities, but can they hold on long enough for rain to come?

I learned so much about the Dust Bowl reading this novel. I admit I didn't really know what it really referred to other than occurring during The Great Depression. I didn't know things were actually covered in mounds of dust in the Midwest states for years 😳 It was interesting to have this little perspective on such a difficult time period in American history. I'm now going to do a deep dive on the web & learn more 👍

This is a great middle grade novel to read in general but also as part of American history. It'd be a great book to read in a classroom setting 👩‍🏫

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Oklahoma Panhandle, drought has withered both the land and the bond between twelve-year-old twins Howe and Joanna Stanton. Howe dreams of escape, while Joanna, despite her scoliosis, refuses to give up. When their father leaves for work in California, Joanna finds purpose at a hospital, and Howe finds solace in a horse and a book. But as a deadly storm approaches, they must unite—or risk losing everything to the dust.

This was a book I could not put down. The Stanton Twins go THROUGH it: Dad leaving, brother takes a tumble, dust storms every day, friends and family dying from Dust Pneumonia (I never knew there was such a thing!), plus trying to reconnect with each other. I read this one late into the night and learned so much about dust storms, conservation and fighting for what you believe in, no matter what the obstacles are. I really loved how Howe was the poet and Joanna supports him 100%. While there were a lot of sad and tense moments, there was some humor thrown into the mix (love the budding relationship between their older brother Lou and their teacher!!)

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this middle grade novel since I finished it. On the surface, Where Only Storms Grow is a novel about a family surviving during the Dust Bowl era post 1929 stock market crash, but the story is woven throughout with themes of family, friendship, resilience, hope, and the struggles and joys in finding your own path. The dual perspective story is told from the views of twins Joanna and Howe, and Colman deftly gives them distinct voices while imbuing their relationship with tension, then reconnection. They both have dreams they keep close to themselves while grappling with obstacles both internal and external. It takes a major disaster to bring them together again, and the collision of the fictional story with the real-life Black Sunday is stunning. Check it out.

Also, if you're not sold yet, let me just add three words: Sassy House Chicken. (Love you, Ruby!)

Don't miss the Author's Note at the end in which Colman details the background behind this story and shares her experiences with scoliosis (which Joanna has in the novel). I look forward to many re-reads of this beautiful novel!

[Lynn M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I looked in her eyes and found determination. Her speech was halting, imperfect, and exactly what I needed to hear. We were full of dust and dreams, but something stronger too. Something that couldn’t easily be blown over.” - Howe, Where Only Storm Grow

This historical fiction novel about a pair of twins living in Oklahoma in the spring of 1935 is engaging and fast-paced. This story uses duel narrators, twins Joanna and Howe Stanton, to give a glimpse into what it was like to grow up during the Dust Bowl. Themes of family, community and survival are all present.

I especially enjoyed the relationships among the characters in this story. Regardless of how they were connected, there is kinship and a ‘we are all in this together’ aspect that lent hope regardless of the trials and tribulations each of the characters were facing.

As a former middle school ELA teacher, I think this novel is well-researched and would be a good complement to a non-fiction piece about the Dust Bowl and/or Black Sunday.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for the advanced copy to read. All opinions here are my own.

[Sue.the.very.busy.reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received Where Only Storms Grow back in August from @mackidsbooks and @alyssabcolman, and I finally picked it up — I’m so glad I did. It took me a couple chapters to settle in, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down.
This is a beautifully written, slow-paced, character-driven story set in 1930s Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. Twins Howe and Joanna are doing their best to help their family survive constant dust storms that destroy everything in their path. Howe loves his sister fiercely, but he’s also frustrated — Joanna has spina bifida, which means Howe’s left to carry extra weight on the farm. Their story is tender, real, and full of heart.
Read this if you enjoy:
❤️Poetry
❤️ Alternating POVs
❤️ Family drama
❤️ Quiet acts of kindness
❤️ Stories of resilience & hard work
❤️ A touch of sweet romance
A thoughtful middle grade historical fiction that offers a window into everyday life during the Dust Bowl.
Thank you @mackidsbooks for the copy — all opinions are my own. I also read this book as part of Patti’s @mamadaughtersbookclub #NewberyContenderChallenge.

[Brian Alan S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is way beyond five stars. It has its beautiful complexity that reminds me of Moon Over Manifest (2011 Newbery Medal Winner). It also reminds me of The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 (1996 Newbery Medal Honor) because it was punctured with a very heavy event in US history during the Dust Bowl decade. So . . . you know where I’m getting at. Anyway, here is the thing. Usually I would put sticky notes for novel-in-verse books for biting verses. This book, thought not a novel-in-verse called for those sticky notes for it indeed had biting words! And when I finished the book - exhausted by the storms - I asked myself: was this a good book? It certainly felt like it. But to make sure, I reread the sticky notes. When I came across the words: Needing Daddy didn’t make me weak. It made me what I was: a kid - then and only then did I conclude: yes this is a very good book! And I am grateful I have read it!

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👦🏻 review: I remember reading about Dust Bowl few years ago and the devastation that the toll it took on the communities that were impacted by the storm. After reading this book, I was thinking about other things that have been happening in today’s climate change. We might not have this problem now because we are greatly proactive with plenty of sophisticated technology to help us prevent it, but with the news that we’ve been reading about the extreme dryness in Arizona and the potential sandstorms, do you think we could see how the Stanton twins lived through during those days. This amazing story about Joanna and Howe’s survival and the adjustments they made to improvise and endure are some interesting things that this historical fiction offered us in this book. Mind blowing and fascinating.