{"product_id":"california-or-dust-mindy-nichols-wendell-9780823462520","title":"California or Dust","description":"\u003cb\u003eA powerful story of the devastation of the Dust Bowl--and the courage of those who survived it--in the tradition of \u003ci\u003eOut of the Dust\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eWe came all the way from California to make something of ourselves.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eToday's the day we start.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCalifornia, 1939. It's hard being the new kid in school. . . but it's harder for eleven-year-old Lark and her family, who've fled Oklahoma's Dust Bowl for a not-so-sunny welcome in California. Signs read \u003ci\u003eOkies, go home! \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eWe can't take care of our own!\u003c\/i\u003e Kids whisper \u003ci\u003eGo back to Oklahoma! \u003c\/i\u003eLark would give anything to go back to where she came from, but she can't: the dust storms destroyed everything. The work camp she, her parents, and her many siblings live in is her life now, and even Lark has to get a job. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCan California really be \"the land of milk and honey\" she was promised? More than that. . . can it ever be home? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMindy Nichols Wendell's sophomore historical middle-grade novel is a heartfelt, powerful, and incredibly well-written story of resilience, pride, and tenacity in the face of overwhelming obstacles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Mindy Nichols Wendell\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0823462528\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780823462520\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Holiday House\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/11\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 208\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.25lbs","brand":"Mindy Nichols Wendell","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48242028118271,"sku":"9780823462520","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e8cb361c-62db-45c3-bcf2-3a2d614362c2.jpg?v=1772657148","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/california-or-dust-mindy-nichols-wendell-9780823462520","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}