Reviews

Whose Names Are Unknown by Sanora Babb

kpbake427's review

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3.0

It took me a while to get into it but once I did I couldn't put it down.

hmunkster's review

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

tinyviolet's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

debs4jc's review

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4.0

This book closely examines how the events of the dust bowl affects the Dunne family. It starts by showing how they are eking out a living as farmers in the Oklahoma panhandle. They have neighbors who are doing better than them, but then they are doing better than some. Their one room dugout is cramped but they still rejoice in the hope a new baby brings when Mrs. Dunne discovers she is pregnant. But then the drought and storms start to come, Mrs. Dunne loses the baby, and they are forced to think about abandoning their farm just so they can survive. Just like refugees all throughout history, they pack up their car and head west. As they go from camp to camp following the crops that need to be picked, they are mistreated, called names, and cheated over and over again.
This book is a serious look at the hardships of the dust bowl, and as such it is not an easy read. Yet is is a powerful portrayal of those times and the issues faced, and our book group found a lot to talk about after we read it, even though most of us struggled to get through it.

locopro's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

ladylizardxvii's review

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5.0

I think the thing that has stuck with me about Whose Names Are Unknown is the fact that it didn't get published in the time it was written because Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath got published first. H O R R I F I C. I would have much rather read this in my high school sophomore English class. I love Babb's writing style (I listened to the book, and it was a VERY easy listen!) and I liked all the characters. They seemed so very human to me, with human reactions and emotions. Whose Names Are Unknown made the Great Depression era feel very real, and very close by.

callieisreading's review

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dark inspiring reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

scylla87's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

magdabirkmann's review

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.75

phoebe912's review

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75