Description
Description
In Alison Stine's haunting young adult debut, a hard of hearing teen must find community and hope amidst the extreme and changing climate in the Colorado Bloodless Valley.
After her father has a premonition, Thea, her parents, and her little sister move to the Bloodless Valley of southern Colorado, hoping to make a fresh start. On their remote farm, they will "unschool" take nature hikes, help with the animals, and learn outside. But the reason her parents could afford to buy land--sight unseen--is because nothing will grow without a fight, and soon they don't have time to teach the girls despite forbidding them from learning elsewhere. To make ends meet, Thea's parents let her work at the café in town, and there she meets Ray, who is deaf and spends summers in the valley. Though she was born hard of hearing, the rest of Thea's family is not, and she has always been pushed to pass and pretend. But Ray--the first other deaf teen Thea has ever met--knows how to sign. When he agrees to teach Thea in secret, she begins to learn what she has been missing, not only another language but community. The more time she spends with Ray, the further Thea ventures into the valley--and it is there that she connects the Dust Bowl from history and warnings from scientists with the weather she's living through. The days are hotter than ever and Thea fears that history may be repeating itself. The river is drying up, crops are dying, and the black blizzards of Colorado have returned. But her father isn't the only one who has dreams...
About the Author
About the Author
ALISON STINE is the author of the adult novels Trashlands, longlisted for the 2022 Reading the West Book Award, a finalist for the Ohioana Book Award, and longlisted for the 2022 Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award, and Road Out of Winter, winner of the 2021 Philip K. Dick Award. Alison lives in Colorado. Dust is her young adult debut novel
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Through skillful prose, Stine weaves together the threads of Thea's coming-of-age story.. The narrative builds a creeping sense of dread like a gathering storm. Gripping and emotional." - Kirkus
"An atmospheric, speculative exploration of climate change through the lens of one deaf teen's experiences." - Publishers Weekly "When the grandfather of all dust storms arrives, things change dramatically...an appealing book ... an excellent job with setting and characterization." - Booklist "An immediate classic that holds its own alongside the greats of American Literature, Dust brings the haunting echoes of our past to a weather-beaten future. Every word of Dust is as familiar as a childhood friend. You understand--instantly--that you will carry it with you for the rest of your life." - K. Ancrum, author of The Wicker King"Dust by Alison Stine is an arresting imagining of rural life in an alternate history in Colorado. The main character, Thea sits between worlds: of the hearing and deaf, belonging to both. Dust shows us that one brave person like Thea can impact an entire community and therefore the planet. The startling novel sits between the past and future and is both a poetic warning and inspiring story about the precarious choices we make as a species and our connection to the planet. Its message is clear: that if we just listen to the planet, really understand what Earth is saying, that we might just make the right decisions after all. Dust is a stunning novel of equal parts poetic beauty and timely warning. This is a must read! - Olivia Chadha, author of Colorado Book Award winner Rise of the Red Hand "Despite its isolating and deadly setting, Dust is ultimately a story about all-consuming hope. Stine deftly navigates the realities of a deaf teenager finding community and belonging. A gripping, moving read." -Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Wednesday Books
Pub date:
2024-12-03
Length:
304 pages

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