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Blue Dust Days
Laura McGrail, author
Dessie and her brother Lem live a hard-scrabble life in an Eastern Kentucky coal mining town during the Great Depression. When their house burns down, Lem must become a miner -- a fate far different from his dream of working with horses. Determined to help Lem escape the mine, Dessie leads him to Lexington and jobs as stable hands at Rutledge Farms. There, Dessie and Lem become entangled in mysterious events centered on Star of Destiny, an emotionally-damaged thoroughbred in training for the Kentucky Derby. When Star's future is threatened, Dessie must find the cunning to protect the people she loves and the courage to face the secrets of her family's past.
Reviews
Trust, unconditional sibling love, and connections between humans and animals are key themes in McGrail’s solid historical novel, set during the Great Depression. Destiny Rose Soames, who is 13 and goes by Dessie, is furious about her alcoholic father’s negligence when a fire breaks out and forces her family of six to lose their home and be indebted to Pap’s boss for help. It’s winter of 1933, and Dessie’s family is trying to survive in the dusty coal-mining town of Whitburn, Ky. Pap selfishly arranges for Lemuel, Dessie’s 15-year-old brother, to quit school and become a coal miner in order to help pay off the family’s debts. Lem’s dream of working with horses appears dashed until Dessie devises a plan for the two of them to run away “on an adventure.” Dessie’s determination and selflessness will draw readers in, as will the resilience and mutual devotion that she and Lemuel display. Endearing if somewhat predictable, the novel is best suited for readers who love animal stories or enjoy rooting for the good guys to prevail against the odds. Ages 8–12. (BookLife)
