Years of Dust

Years of Dust
By Albert Marrin
Dutton Children's Books, 2009. 128 pgs. Young Adult Nonfiction

For nearly a decade, enormous dust storms rolled across the Great Plains, earning the 1930s the nickname "The Dirty Thirties." The largest drought in U.S. history combined with misuse of the land by man caused a disaster that deeply affected the U.S. Farmers couldn't get crops to grow, and many families were plunged into extreme poverty. Some migrated to other parts of the country, hoping to make a fresh start; others stayed put, hoping desperately for rain.

While Marrin does provide information about the effects of the dust storms, what is most interesting about this book is the information about what caused it. Marrin contests that the dust storms were not a natural disaster; rather, they were a man-made disaster--a disaster that could have been prevented and a disaster that can occur again if people continue to misuse the land. In fact, he points out areas of the world that are in danger of experiencing similar disasters. Easy-to-understand text combined with incredible photographs makes this a top-notch book.

AE