When the Sky Turned to Dust

A sister and brother fight for their family, their land, and their lives. On April 14, 1935, a day that would become known as Black Sunday, the largest storm ever recorded sweeps through Kansas. When twelve-year-old Caroline is separated from her nine-year-old brother, Daniel, she braves the treacherous conditions to save both their lives.During America's Great Depression, devastating drought and violent winds brought destruction and added hardship to the Midwest. When the Sky Turned to Dust follows the journey of the courageous Dolan family as they face the ultimate test of strength and resilience, and struggle to survive on the unforgiving prairie. As the storms rage on, their crops fail, and tragedy strikes. The Dolan family must come together like never before to overcome their greatest challenge and deepest grief.If you enjoyed the heart-wrenching tale of survival in Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse and Cimarron Girl by Mike Blanc, you won't want to miss When the Sky Turned to Dust. Includes classroom resources and dictionary of unusual terms. 208 pages.2026 Will Rogers Medallion, First Place Award, Young Adult Fiction.2026 Eric Hoffer Book Award, First Place, Middle Reader.National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist, Juvenile Fiction.Chanticleer International Book Awards Finalist: LARAMIE Division recognizing outstanding works in the Western, First Nations, and Americana genre.