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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
"Any place made a mark on you, maybe imperceptibly until you were gone, on to your next move. Only then could you see what you had left, and what it had left on you." - Alison Stine, Dust
Dust is a beautifully written and captivating exploration of a dysfunctional family and the challenges a deaf person faces when their loved ones fail to accept them for who they are. The story delves into the complexities of family dynamics, focusing on the elusive father figure, whose struggles deeply affect everyone around him.
The lyrical writing style was easy to immerse in and read quickly. The plot pacing was slow. Dust was hard hitting: The father's harsh treatment of his family, the stifling nature of his rules, and his oppressive control over the women in the household. One of the members of the family suffers sickness from the severe weather.
"But we were our own shapes. We grew our own way and so did the land. It had grown before us. It would grow after us, probably better." - Alison Stine, Dust
"I felt as unfixed as our crops. I might struggle. I might grow. I would change, that was the only for sure thing." - Alison Stine, Dust
The novel also features a beautifully portrayed hard-of-hearing character, Thea, whose experiences bring depth and authenticity to the narrative. Her journey adds a poignant layer to the story, highlighting the complexities of self-acceptance and understanding in the face of adversity.
At its core, Dust is about the journey of self-acceptance, finding community, innocent romance, and navigating a harsh, unforgiving world shaped by severe weather. Dust also has a subtle theme of exploring the effects of global warming.
"But the sky had taken up the earth. It had swallowed it and now it was preparing to swallow us. The clouds came faster than we could drive. They rolled like an ocean wave, churning and turning. The surf on the bottom of them devoured, and the tops spiraled over, a rotating whirl of dust." - Alison Stine, Dust
Dust is a powerful story of resilience, personal growth, and familial reconciliation. I would highly recommend it to other readers.
I received a copy from Wednesday Books and leave my review voluntarily. My review reflects my own thoughts and experience in reading this story.
Dust is a beautifully written and captivating exploration of a dysfunctional family and the challenges a deaf person faces when their loved ones fail to accept them for who they are. The story delves into the complexities of family dynamics, focusing on the elusive father figure, whose struggles deeply affect everyone around him.
The lyrical writing style was easy to immerse in and read quickly. The plot pacing was slow. Dust was hard hitting: The father's harsh treatment of his family, the stifling nature of his rules, and his oppressive control over the women in the household. One of the members of the family suffers sickness from the severe weather.
"But we were our own shapes. We grew our own way and so did the land. It had grown before us. It would grow after us, probably better." - Alison Stine, Dust
"I felt as unfixed as our crops. I might struggle. I might grow. I would change, that was the only for sure thing." - Alison Stine, Dust
The novel also features a beautifully portrayed hard-of-hearing character, Thea, whose experiences bring depth and authenticity to the narrative. Her journey adds a poignant layer to the story, highlighting the complexities of self-acceptance and understanding in the face of adversity.
At its core, Dust is about the journey of self-acceptance, finding community, innocent romance, and navigating a harsh, unforgiving world shaped by severe weather. Dust also has a subtle theme of exploring the effects of global warming.
"But the sky had taken up the earth. It had swallowed it and now it was preparing to swallow us. The clouds came faster than we could drive. They rolled like an ocean wave, churning and turning. The surf on the bottom of them devoured, and the tops spiraled over, a rotating whirl of dust." - Alison Stine, Dust
Dust is a powerful story of resilience, personal growth, and familial reconciliation. I would highly recommend it to other readers.
I received a copy from Wednesday Books and leave my review voluntarily. My review reflects my own thoughts and experience in reading this story.
This narrative follows Thea, a 16-year-old girl who is deaf in one ear, as her family relocates to Colorado amidst a prolonged drought that has left the valley covered in dust. The small town she finds herself in is grappling with the harsh realities of the environment, with her father embodying a character reminiscent of a disconnected doomsday survivalist. He attempts to shield his family from the outside world, pushing them to farm and sustain themselves off the barren land. However, the land they purchased at a low cost is unyielding, and their efforts to cultivate it prove futile.
Restricted to a routine of work and home life due to financial constraints, Thea's world is confined until she encounters a boy and other locals, expanding her horizons and knowledge. The portrayal of Thea's journey is a poignant blend of tragedy and hope, shedding light on the consequences of climate change and the importance of learning from history. It delves into the challenges of living with a disability through Thea's struggles and eventual triumphs. While the resolution of the story may seem somewhat simplistic, it concludes on a positive note. A deeper exploration of the evolving relationship between Thea and her father could have added more depth to the narrative.
Restricted to a routine of work and home life due to financial constraints, Thea's world is confined until she encounters a boy and other locals, expanding her horizons and knowledge. The portrayal of Thea's journey is a poignant blend of tragedy and hope, shedding light on the consequences of climate change and the importance of learning from history. It delves into the challenges of living with a disability through Thea's struggles and eventual triumphs. While the resolution of the story may seem somewhat simplistic, it concludes on a positive note. A deeper exploration of the evolving relationship between Thea and her father could have added more depth to the narrative.
emotional
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
This book, WOW. From page one, I was completely captivated by Thea and her story. It’s probably one of the most atmospheric books I’ve ever read in my life. There were definitely times I’d pause my reading, go outside and be genuinely surprised I wasn’t in rural Colorado with dust covering everything. This book was a beautiful coming of age story, but it also focuses on the importance of community, education, protecting the environment and communication. The characters in this story were written so incredibly well. I absolutely adored Thea, Amelia and all the townspeople that are committed to helping the girls and their family. There is romance and it’s a beautiful one, but it doesn’t overshadow the story or Thea’s journey. This is a book I think everyone should read. I'm going to be thinking about it for a long time.
Mini spoiler: there are mentions of hunting, but nothing bad happens to any of the dogs, goats or chickens on the farm!
CW: ableism
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When their family moves from Ohio to Colorado, Thea and her little sister Amelia lose their home and friends. The author does almost too good of a job portraying the stifling,dry, dusty atmosphere of their isolated farm house. After awhile, the many descriptions of the devastated land bereft of water became a bit repetitive. The characters were interesting but there wasn't much depth to the other family members. The climate change narrative is timely. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advance review copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dust is the compelling and unputdownable latest from Alison Stine. I was completely swept away by this tale of a girl whose family has decided to go off the grid. Thea is heartbroken when her father moves their family from Ohio to Colorado. Her dad wants to keep the family safe, even when there doesn’t seem to be any danger. Thea is hard of hearing, but her father is determined to ignore it. Thea often misses words when someone is on her “deaf side” or they turn away and she can’t see their lips. As strange weather haunts their town, with swaths of dust sweeping over them, Thea tries to find connection in the town. Can her family survive when a dust storm threatens everything they have?
Dust is a well-written and important story. Alison Stine brings up real concerns about climate change and the potential for environmental disaster if changes are not made. I loved how she handled Thea’s deafness and how her difficulty with hearing was portrayed. When Thea doesn’t hear a word, a blank space is left. I thought this was so clever because it really helps readers take on Thea’s point of view. Even though we can make a guess for what word fills the gap, we won’t know exactly which word was used. Thea is stuck in between the hearing world and the Deaf world, with a foot in both and neither. Stine portrayed this so well and with deep care. I was so happy when Thea met Ray and was exposed to someone who used sign language and who could relate to her. Thea’s bond with her little sister Amelia was also very special. As their father’s ideas get stricter, the two of them rely on each other.
Dust is a book that will stay with me long after the final page. Stine writes so atmospherically about the dust and unforgiving heat. The dust finds its way into everything, from a coffee cup to lungs. The dust goes from innocent and easily brushed away to something that is life threatening. I loved how the townspeople banded together and always took care of each other. The library being a safe refuge and the librarian trying to sign everyone up for library cards was the best!
Readers who enjoy stories about strong heroines, community, and overcoming unforgiving environments will love Dust. Even readers who think this may not be their thing should give this a chance and let it sweep you away!
Thank you to Alison Stine, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dust is a well-written and important story. Alison Stine brings up real concerns about climate change and the potential for environmental disaster if changes are not made. I loved how she handled Thea’s deafness and how her difficulty with hearing was portrayed. When Thea doesn’t hear a word, a blank space is left. I thought this was so clever because it really helps readers take on Thea’s point of view. Even though we can make a guess for what word fills the gap, we won’t know exactly which word was used. Thea is stuck in between the hearing world and the Deaf world, with a foot in both and neither. Stine portrayed this so well and with deep care. I was so happy when Thea met Ray and was exposed to someone who used sign language and who could relate to her. Thea’s bond with her little sister Amelia was also very special. As their father’s ideas get stricter, the two of them rely on each other.
Dust is a book that will stay with me long after the final page. Stine writes so atmospherically about the dust and unforgiving heat. The dust finds its way into everything, from a coffee cup to lungs. The dust goes from innocent and easily brushed away to something that is life threatening. I loved how the townspeople banded together and always took care of each other. The library being a safe refuge and the librarian trying to sign everyone up for library cards was the best!
Readers who enjoy stories about strong heroines, community, and overcoming unforgiving environments will love Dust. Even readers who think this may not be their thing should give this a chance and let it sweep you away!
Thank you to Alison Stine, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
ARC review; thanks to NetGalley for the access to this ebook. Pub date: December 3, 2024.
This story follows a half-deaf girl, Thea, whose life is upended by her parents, mainly her dad, who decides to take his children out of school and isolate them in every possible way because he wants to go back to a "simple life". It's called "Dust" because this world is ravaged by climate change and the family moves to a desolate town where it never rains, they only get dust storms that get progressively worse as the story goes along.
I'm not a half-deaf person, but the author is, and I think the representation in this book is great. I understood Thea's struggles even though I've never lived through them, and felt her isolation and frustration with her parents, especially her dad, who actively deny she has a hearing problem and do nothing to help her thrive with her disability. I felt very protective of her and loved the way she found community despite the roadblocks.
I don't think this book does a good job of representing homeschool and unschooling, though. I don't know much about these things, but I do know that they're not what was portrayed here. Of course, Thea's father was using homeschooling and unschooling to isolate his children, so I believe it was a form of punishment whether he was aware of it or not. He clearly didn't care about them getting an actual education, so he never cared about providing a valid homeschooling and unschooling experience. I felt that that should've been addressed in the text the same way other things are addressed. It's not a big issue for me, just something I noted.
Overall, the story was engaging and compelling, my eyes watered a few times because Thea's situation was sometimes so rough, and it had a good flow to it. I read it very quickly because it's well-written and interesting. That said, my only issue is that I didn't like the resolution. It was too quick and it felt rushed. Thea's dad does a full 180 and it just doesn't feel earned.
I understand that near-death situations lead to mindset changes, but the way he's left off the hook doesn't sit right with me. He was evil, in my opinion, for most of this book, and there's no atonement for the abuse he put his family through. Even if he thought he was doing the right thing, that doesn't excuse the abuse, and I don't appreciate that we just move on from that.
Other than that, I think this was great. It really worked for me.
This story follows a half-deaf girl, Thea, whose life is upended by her parents, mainly her dad, who decides to take his children out of school and isolate them in every possible way because he wants to go back to a "simple life". It's called "Dust" because this world is ravaged by climate change and the family moves to a desolate town where it never rains, they only get dust storms that get progressively worse as the story goes along.
I'm not a half-deaf person, but the author is, and I think the representation in this book is great. I understood Thea's struggles even though I've never lived through them, and felt her isolation and frustration with her parents, especially her dad, who actively deny she has a hearing problem and do nothing to help her thrive with her disability. I felt very protective of her and loved the way she found community despite the roadblocks.
I don't think this book does a good job of representing homeschool and unschooling, though. I don't know much about these things, but I do know that they're not what was portrayed here.
Overall, the story was engaging and compelling, my eyes watered a few times because Thea's situation was sometimes so rough, and it had a good flow to it. I read it very quickly because it's well-written and interesting. That said, my only issue is that I didn't like the resolution. It was too quick and it felt rushed. Thea's dad does a full 180 and it just doesn't feel earned.
Other than that, I think this was great. It really worked for me.
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Dust by Alison Stine is a first person-POV YA climate fiction alternative history exploring what could have happened if we hadn’t changed our farming practices after the Dust Bowl and what could be coming as climate change continues. Thea is a hard of hearing sixteen-year-old whose parents have isolated her further and further from her peers. She and her younger sister, Amelia, are forced into unschooling and have few friends and few ways to hear opinions that differ from their parents’ views. But when Thea meets Ray, another member of the deaf community her age, she starts to push back against her parents’ wishes.
As someone who was raised Conservative, I did and did not resonate with Thea’s story. Luckily, my parents didn’t prohibit me from reading certain books or doing research or disagreeing with them. Unschooling would never have happened in my house. But where I did resonate was watching in real time as your parents slip further and further into extremism and you’re too young to understand what exactly is going on, but you know it’s not good. The other part that I resonated with was finally having enough and starting to push back because you know that you deserve better, but you also know that it could have negative consequences.
One of the things I really loved was the formatting. Thea is deaf in one ear so she sometimes misses individual or several words at a time. Alison Stine immerses the reader into this experience by cutting words out with an underbar and the conversation simply continues. As Thea is sixteen, she’s had time to get used to having to think more about what she missed and how that might impact the whole sentence. It’s very isolating for Thea as she hides her disability from pretty much everyone due to pressure from her parents, but she also is missing information. It’s a simple but effective way to convey the frustration of going through life with missing snippets daily.
As a long time fan of The Last Unicorn film, I loved the references to it throughout the book. The opening epigraph being a direct quote about the Red Bull, the allegories, and even a character’s name were all little easter eggs that also helped set a scene of just what Thea’s parents allowed and their value on older things as the Last Unicorn is from 1982 and Dust is an alternative twenty-first century complete with cell phones and internet. The references are doing multiple things and I’m probably going to be thinking about them for a while.
I would recommend this to fans of YA speculative climate fiction, readers looking for books with themes of controlling parents, and those looking for a speculative YA with a main character who is hard of hearing
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received this book as an ARC.
Wow. This is an incredible book.
As someone who was "unschooled" myself, I resonated deeply with Thea's plight. The loneliness that comes with it. It hit me right to the gut.
Wow. This is an incredible book.
As someone who was "unschooled" myself, I resonated deeply with Thea's plight. The loneliness that comes with it. It hit me right to the gut.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
Somewhere in the world, there is a girl like Thea. She thinks she doesn’t belong. She thinks that no one is looking out for her. She is isolated by the powers that be, whether it’s society or her own parents or both. She believes that there is no hope for a better life. She will pick up this book and realize just how wrong she is.