This felt like something of a coda to “Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah. Both had a strong focus on the Dust Bowl and both were imbued with something of a sense of despair. That isn’t my favorite focus for a book, and this hit a little too close to home (literally) as I read this in an Arizona summer where the temps will hit 116 this week. It wasn’t quite sci-fi enough for me.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance electronic copy of this title.

Most people think of the Dust Bowl as ancient history, something that happened around the Depression, something that couldn't possibly happen today. Or could it? What if farmers didn't learn from the mistakes of the past and instead repeated them?

Suspicious of anything modern, Thea's father moves his family to Colorado, hoping to start fresh by farming the old ways and living off the grid. He takes Thea and her sister away from school and friends to help the family survive on a dried up piece of land. Thea has to take a job as a waitress to earn money for the family, and unbeknown to her parents, starts going to the library on breaks, making new friends, and using the internet to contact old ones.

Locusts come and eat the dried up crops. Wells dry up. Can Thea's family really make it alone? Can she convince her father to accept help? And will they be prepared when the dust comes?

Not historical fiction, but with a history lesson embedded within. And perhaps a metaphor as well.

What a moving book! I really enjoyed Thea and seeing her world open up, it was really powerful. Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

"What made his dreams more important than mine?"

Live together or die alone. This book is a stark reminder that when we fight against environment, we are stronger together.

Thea is half hearing, half deaf. She lives in a world where she misses many of the words said around her and whole conversations. Her father doesn't believe she needs anything special and he wants to make sure she tells very few people that she is deaf on one side. After an unfortunate group of girls are mean to Thea, their parents pull both kids completely from school and decide to 'unschool' and 'homestead' them instead.

This cuts Thea and her little sister off from everyone. Soon after they leave Ohio due to flooding and buy an abandoned farm in Colorado. Thus begins Thea's fight with dust. It covers everything and makes her sister cough. But her father needs no one. He's decided this farm, their land, will bend to him.

This story was so good. I really liked Thea. I loved the author's use of spaces in the dialogue to help us try to see and hear the world through Thea's experiences. But it was also a test in patience. Thea's father is just awful and it was hard to go through each chapter as he cut them off more and more from everything. I loved the sense of community in this story, the reminder that we are stronger together, and the stark reality of us believing that we know better than the land. A good reminder of a story, layered with meaning and insight.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Dust by Alison Stine had all the makings of a powerful, speculative coming-of-age story: a harsh dystopian setting, a partially deaf protagonist grappling with isolation, and the slow discovery of identity and community. Unfortunately, the execution never quite lives up to its promise.

The writing feels flat and uneven, with a sluggish pace that made it difficult to stay engaged. Thea’s internal monologue often repeats itself, and while the intent may have been to emphasize her stifling home life, it results in a story that feels monotonous and emotionally disconnected. The dystopian elements—dust storms, crop failures, societal collapse—are described vaguely, with little world-building to ground the reader or raise the stakes.

More disappointingly, the novel brushes past the most compelling aspects of Thea’s journey. Her connection with Ray and the exploration of Deaf culture had the potential to be moving and rich, but their relationship develops with little depth or nuance. Critical moments are glossed over, and character development feels shallow across the board.

I wanted to love this book for its concept and representation, but the lack of momentum, detail, and emotional resonance made it a frustrating read. For a novel centered on voice and connection, Dust sadly left me feeling unheard.

This YA novel totally surprised me—in the best way. The dust isn’t just part of the story; it is the story, representing everything from finding your voice to making peace with your past. It dives into big themes like mistakes, growth, and the strength we find in community, but in a way that feels natural and real. The characters are so well done, you feel like you're right there with them. It’s one of those books that sticks with you, long after you’ve finished, quietly reminding you of the power of second chances and connection.

I wasn't sure wat to expect with this book, but the premise sounded interesting since it's something that could happen today. But I definitely was not expecting to like this as much as I did. Even though it's a coming of age teen book I feel like people of all ages could appreciate this book. I felt for Thea and her wish for more. More people in her life. More answers. More acceptance. 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Book for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Disclaimer: This book gets major brownie points for NOT KILLING OFF THE ANIMALS. I was laughing when I realized they'd all been taken to the bunker at the end of the book. Thank you, Alison Stine.

In all seriousness, this book discussed a lot of relevant topics - disability, global warming, community, brainwashing - and I think each one was handled extremely well. The entire book has gaps in the dialogue to signify when Thea misses a word in conversation, which I thought was a brilliant way to show how being deaf in one ear effects her relationship with those around her. Half the time, there was enough context where it was easy to fill in those gaps, but that wasn't always the case, and it was frustrating that Thea's parents had made her constantly work at appearing "normal". I'm so thankful that Stine, who's also deaf in one ear, didn't have Thea ashamed of her disability, even after being bullied for it and living her entire life without accommodations. Her deafness is part of who she is, simultaneously not defining her but also being an important facet of her life.

I have plenty of thoughts on how Thea's father conducted himself and his grand plans for "going back to the land", but I'll try to keep it brief and professional. Given the state of things as of writing this review, this subplot was infuriating, but it was supposed to be. Stine recognizes that there are more people than we may realize who live their lives this way: every man for himself, men at the head of the household, women and children subservient and to do as their told. It's such a lonely, harmful outlook on life, and it didn't even improve things for Thea's family the way her father deluded himself into thinking it did. Limiting media intake, the "homeschooling" system, only relying on each other and not trusting outsiders - none of that was for simplicity's sake, it was for control. Thea's father felt so powerless with how the world was evolving that instead of expressing this in a healthy way or going to therapy, he almost kills himself and his entire family by isolating them all on a failing farm, just to prove that his way of thinking is superior. It's so relevant that it's painful to think about, if I'm being honest. But I'm glad that Stine showed that the things Thea's father was afraid of weren't the bogeymen he believed them to be. Relying on community isn't a weakness, it's a strength. Knowledge is dangerous, but it's empowering as well. His daughter's disability exists, and it shouldn't be sidelined, it should be openly acknowledged.

Alison Stine has given us a multi-faceted look into how we can avoid a bleak, lonely future. I think that's one of the most important aspects, at least for me. She offers solutions and shows that change can improve the state of things, whether on a small scale or a large one. And with change comes hope, which I believe is sorely needed right now.

Great read. Had a dystopian feel as well as some historical fiction elements. Highly recommend for high school readers.

Going into Dust, I had no idea what to expect. The premise intrigued me, but I was unsure how grounded the book would be. It's tagged as a dystopian, but I wasn't sue if I should expect an exaggerated setting, or a brutally honest depiction of our current climate. As I started reading and understanding the setting, I quickly became immersed.

I normally lean towards plot-driven books. However, Dust has a slower plot. It focusses more on themes and setting, and to my surprise, this really worked for me. This is perhaps the most immersed I have ever been while reading a book. Alison Stine does such a stellar job at integrating the reader into Thea's life. The barren desert she lives in, her complicated home life, and her struggles with deafness are captured in such extraordinary detail. I felt like I was stuck in the town alongside her. On that note, I also found that this immersive setting helped to further Thea's character growth. Throughout Dust, Thea, a sheltered, homeschooled, deaf girl, slowly escapes the constraints of her father and the town he's moved their family to. By describing Thea's day-to-day life so vividly at the start of the book, Alison Stine allows the readers to feel the same relief Thea does when she breaks free and escapes to the library, a sanctuary to the teen.

As I previously mentioned, I also loved the way the author incorporated the themes of this book. Patriarchy, capitalism, climate change, loneliness, complex familial relationships and the effects of poverty on them are all discussed with such nuance. I was really blown away by the maturity of the writing. Overall I highly recommend this book if you are looking something relevant to the times we're living through right now.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

While I DNFed this one, I still have to give it three stars. While the writing is excellent and well-detailed, I’m a total mood reader, and Thea’s struggles were a bit too relatable when I was needing something that was more of a pick me up.

The Deaf representation is very well-received, so be sure to pick this one up if you’re trying to widen your reading horizons and are looking for a slower paced, challenging and emotional read!

Ive tried so hard, but I just simply can't get into this book. Thank you for the ARC. I'm so appreciative

Dust was beautifully written. The characters felt so real and I found myself holding my breath with them. I felt like Thea was a friend and there were so many moments where I just wanted to give her a hug. The blanks in the text were so harrowing and I thought it was a great way to get across the things Thea couldn’t hear. This premise made me almost nauseous with anxiousness especially given todays political climate. What an incredible read.

Thank you for the copy of Dust by Alison Stine, as I really enjoyed reading this title. I cannot wait to recommend this story to my middle school students! I think students will enjoy the main character and her perspective on what it is like being uprooted from her life. Starting all over anywhere is a challenge and Thea has to adjust to so many changes. I think a lot of students will be able to relate in some ways to Thea throughout this novel.

dust is about thea, a hard of hearing teen struggling with her family’s decision to move to Colorado after they experience floods in Ohio. it’s been a while since i’ve read a ya coming of age story, and i really appreciated the different themes of climate change and thea’s struggles with hearing. the pacing of this book was really slow however, and it took a long time for the story to unfold. i liked how the author wrote about thea’s experiences, particularly how words were cut out of a sentence because thea didn’t hear it. as a reader, it helped me understand her frustration.

overall, a thoughtful read that builds up slowly.

dust was an excellent read. I loved the writing and it was propulsive. Great character study. I would read more from this author.

Dust is great for anyone who is interested inthe Dust Bowl era of the United States, but wants a more modern story. This book has a lot going on: parental mental illness, climate change, teen relationships, disability. It is a heavy story, but one that is important to read.

This was a difficult book to read. Am I glad I read it? Yes. Do I want to read it again? Probably not.

This book centers around Thea, a teenage girl who is hard of hearing. She was born partially deaf, but her parents don’t recognize her disability. She misses a lot of what people are saying around her as she needs to try extra hard to listen. Her parents remove her and her little sister from school after a bullying incident. After a flood in their hometown in Ohio, Thea’s father decides to move them to Colorado to be homesteaders. Thea’s parents are awful and the source of several uncomfortable scenes throughout the book. Her father is a delusional narcissist who isolates and neglects his children to the point of abuse. Her mother goes along with the father’s plan because she doesn’t have a spine. The neglect is so obvious that other adults in the area almost instantly attempt to help Thea.

The area of Colorado they move to is just dust. Thea’s family moved to this area to live off the land, but the land is dry and in a severe drought. To help support the family, Thea and her mother work in town. Here Thea meets other area residents and starts to learn about her new home. However, these meetings and new information have to be kept a secret (see previously mentioned imposed isolation and neglect). As Thea learns more about the area she comes to realize this isn’t the dream location her father believes it to be.

Parts I liked:
• Deaf/hard of hearing rep by a hard of hearing author and how this was shown throughout the book
• Commentary/information on climate change and its impacts
• How the history and impacts of the Dust Bowl were woven into the narrative
• Showcasing the need for community and how we don’t have to do everything on our own

Parts I didn’t like:
• The beginning of this book is very slow and repetitive, but it picks up and starts moving forward around the 30-40% point.
• Thea’s parents and how long it takes them to recognize her disability

I really enjoyed this modern-day Dust Bowl story! It’s terrifying to think that this could happen again. I love the way the dust was almost personified in the story.

A haunting and harrowing novel about a young woman trying to find her place after her family moves to desolate Colorado.

Thea and her family relocate from Ohio to Colorado after a flood ravages their hometown. Thea's father sees a future for his family without technology or the trappings of modern life. They'll own their own land and grow their own food, school the kids at home, and eschew electricity and running water. But arriving in Colorado, the family finds a half-built house and fields too dusty and parched to grow much of anything. And then the dust storms start.

Wow, this is an amazing story. Thea is deaf in one ear, but told by her parents to hide her inability to hear. She feels disconnected from her family and the world, and Stine writes the text to illustrate the "blanks" in conversation that Thea cannot catch. With her father's reluctance to embrace technology or outside education, the book clearly illustrates Thea's suffocation of being trapped on the hot, dusty farm, unable to hear and struggling with the feeling of being different and "in between." The writing just oozes claustrophobia.

We see how easily a person's world can be narrowed without education or access to the internet or books--Thea works so hard to secretly get to the town's library, for instance, where she meets some kind town members, and Ray, another deaf kid her age, which opens up an entire world for her. Otherwise, she's so isolated, seeing only her little sister, and not even knowing that being deaf is okay. Ray teaches Thea about ASL and she accompanies him and his uncle on journeys around the county to visit other town members, learning about other types of people.

Watching Thea's world broaden is amazing, especially as she tries to learn more about her environment. DUST leans heavily into environmentalism, illustrating the effects of climate change on Colorado, and how the 1930s-era Dust Bowl horrors could so easily happen again. The storms and the climate feel like another character, creating a tense atmosphere that truly comes to life.

This book just has that uncanny ability to make you feel--the tenseness of the storms; the powerlessness Thea feels against her father; the kindness of Thea's boss at the local cafe where she works; and the bit of hope and spark that comes between Thea and Ray. It's so beautifully written, and Thea is a wonderful character. My only issue is the story's ending, which I felt wrapped up too easily. A book this dark and poignant almost deserved a more severe conclusion, as much as I cared for all the characters.

Still, this is an amazing book and so worth the read.