Book Review: Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Colman

Official Synopsis: It’s been four years since rain fell on the Oklahoma panhandle and the closeness between the 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 where only troubles grow. 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 mortgage, Joanna takes a job at the local hospital and discovers purpose in helping others. Howe finds unexpected joy in caring for his father’s horse and escapes 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.

When reading a middle grade book I always hope that I will find some type of message of deep meaning within the story. When we first meet Joanna she is treated like she is fragile or broken, after being told just that by her local doctors. Joanna has scoliosis and it's a complicated diagnosis when there is little science about it at the time, especially in rural Oklahoma. As Joanna tries to work to prove she can be helpful around the farm, even if its in smaller ways then everyone else, she is turned down by her parents. When her dad leaves to go to California, to hopefully find work, they are told the rest of the family can't leave because of Joanna. As they stop hearing from their dad and are semi-on their own with their mom and farm land, Joanna and her siblings have to step up.

When her oldest brother Lou gets hurt in an accident, Joanna finds herself taken in by the Red Cross nurses, who could use the extra hands and support from someone in the town. As Joanna works with them, she meets a nurse with scoliosis, who teaches her exercises and ways she can help with her pain. As Joanna learns that she is not breakable, she finds more confidence in herself and how she can help her family.

During this, her twin brother Howe, has to step up on the farm meaning he can't attend school and learn more about the poetry he loves. As Howe starts to take over as the 'main male' of the house in the wake of his brother getting hurt, he starts to wonder what choices might be good or bad for the family. When he meets someone willing to buy the land, he is unsure if its a good offer or maybe worth not having to suffer in the dust anymore.

I really liked this story and the overarching theme of learning to trust yourself and your instincts, as well as the importance of family in times of turmoil. I really liked how the author's note also discusses how the Dust Bowl was so bad because of humans, and how there are chances it could happen again and how to work to prevent that.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and even as a middle grade book I find that it could be a good read for anyone. There is a lot to learn and Joanna's story is really inspiring.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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