To the Discussion Leader
Survival in the Storm: The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards is a special book in the Dear America series. It is written by fifteen-year-old Katelan Janke. In 1998 when Katie was in the sixth grade, she entered the Dear America Student Writing Contest. Her five days of diary entries set in the Dust Bowl of 1935 were chosen as a Grand Prize Winner. Four years later that prize-winning entry is now the full-length novel.
Setting the novel in her hometown of Dalhart, Texas, Katelan Janke tells Grace Edwards’s story of friendship, survival, and hope in the midst of one of the greatest ecological disasters in American history. Katie says, “The idea to write about the Dust Bowl was sparked by my town’s rich past. It’s an inspiration to actually live where my story takes place—I can readily imagine much of Grace Edwards’s life. Often on windy, dusty days, I see a glimpse of what others survived day in and day out.”
This novel is an inspiration for students, teachers, and parents. When Katie was in the second grade, the teacher gave her parents a note. “The teacher told my parents that she suspected I’d be an author someday. I now have the note hanging on my bedroom wall.” With the publication of Survival in the Storm: The Dust Bowl Diary of Grace Edwards, Dalhart, Texas, 1935, Katelan Janke is on her way to being the writer her second grade teacher predicted.
Summary
“For nearly four years now, wind, dust, and drought have settled over the vast Texas Panhandle. ‘Next year’ the rains will come. ‘Next year’ the ferocious winds will cease. Next year... but I think that deep down inside we are all wondering the same thing: What if next year is the same?” These are the thoughts of twelve-year-old Grace Edwards as she writes in her diary in Dalhart, Texas in 1935. Grace, her parents, and her younger sister Ruth have been trying to hang on to their small farm. But the almost daily dust storms are wearing folks down. With no rain in sight and no money-crops in the future, many Dalhart residents are packing up their meager belongings and heading to California where they believe life will be better.
Grace tries to be optimistic. She enjoys school and being with her best friend, Helen Walker. They look forward to the annual Dramatic Competition and hope their play this year will again win first prize and beat out mean-spirited Sadie McCall and her team. Then, Helen and her family leave for California and Grace is desolate. She writes, “My mind feels blank--I don’t know what I'll do without Helen, my dearest companion for more than half my life. I just can't believe Helen's family has let go of their last thread of hope here in Dalhart.”
Harder times lay ahead. During the worst dust storm yet, “Black Sunday,” Grace and Ruth are trapped away from home. They are sick for days from inhaling so much dust. Soon after, Daddy has to sell the family's beloved cow, Rosie because he cannot afford to feed her. To make ends meet, Mama decides to make use of her nursing education and take a job in the local hospital. Grace goes with her, working as a volunteer with the patients who have dust pneumonia. One of the more critically ill patients in the hospital is young Hannah Mayfield, Ruth's best friend. When Hannah dies of dust pneumonia, Ruth is inconsolable. Grace writes, “Hannah's death has had a terrible effect on Ruth. We've each lost our best friend, though in different ways.”
Letters from Helen sustain Grace. She finds out that life in California isn't as promising as people thought. Helen and her family live in a crowded migrant camp where jobs are scarce, sanitary conditions are poor, and people are called "dumb Okies" regardless of where they're from. To Grace's surprise, she learns that Sadie McCall is living in the same camp as Helen. This experience has humbled Sadie, and she writes to Grace, apologizing for her meanness and asking to be her friend. Grace accepts, happy to have another “forever friend.”
As October approaches, Grace's father is hopeful and prepares to plant the winter wheat. Next year is sure to be better. Grace writes, “There were those words again: next year. So many folks seem to have forever given up on ‘next year.’ I'm thankful Daddy, Mama, Ruth and I still have our farm, our family, and hope...hope for next year, instead of wishes.”
Thinking About the Book
1. What role did farmers play in helping to create the Dust Bowl storms?
2. Why is April 14, 1935 known as “Black Sunday?”
3. When the Mayfield's roof collapses under the weight of the blown sand, Grace's family hurries to help them repair and clean up. What other examples can you find of neighbors helping each other out? When have you seen neighbors helping each other in modern times?
4. Is Survival in the Storm mostly a story about hope or about family or about forgiveness? Explain your choice.
5. If you had only three words to describe Grace’s father, what words would you choose? Why?
6. Explain what the “Last Man Club” was.
7. What does Grace learn from Helen's letters about life in California?
8. If you could make a movie of Grace’s story, would you film it in black and white or in color? Why?
9. What is the one scene you remember most after reading Survival in the Storm? What makes this particular scene so special?
10. Choose one of the following phrases from Grace’s diary and explain what it means.
“borrowing trouble”
“burr under my saddle”
“a crying shame”
“a bee in my bonnet”
11. Grace’s mother had several favorite sayings. One was “What is important is how we behave ourselves when no one’s watching, and what we do with what we’ve been given. That’s what really matters.” Re-read Grace’s June 23, 1935 diary entry. What does the above saying mean? Do you believe it?
Student Activities
1. In her diary entry for April 28, 1935, Grace writes about the Last Man Club announcement in the Dalhart Texan. Using the words in the announcement, create and illustrate a poster that might be placed in store windows advertising this club.
2. Using words from Grace’s diary and the letters she received from Helen, create a comic strip that shows what people found when they escaped the Dust Bowl for the good life in California.
3. Have each member of your discussion group choose one of the following to research and be able to explain what it means to other members of the group.
dust pneumonia Soil Conservation Service Okie
Farm Security Administration The Great Depression
4. Dust and sand get into everything in Grace's house, even the food. She writes of biting into cornbread and “feeling the inevitable crunch of sand between my teeth.” One food the sand doesn't get into is deviled eggs. Try making this special dish by using the recipe at http://www.kidsacookin.ksu.edu/recipes/recipe.asp?recipe_id=3648. You might even want to make some “sand free” cornbread to go with your eggs.
5. Look at the grocery ad on page 183. Choose five of the products in the advertisement and find out what they'd cost now. Make a chart comparing prices in 1935 with those of today.
6. At the end of Survival in the Storm, Grace generously gives up her favorite book, Anne of Green Gables, and sends it to Sadie McCall in California. Have each member of your Discussion Group decide what special book each would send to someone their own age as a gift of friendship.
7. Karen Hesse won the Newbery Award for her book about the Dust Bowl--Out of the Dust. Read this award-winning book available from Scholastic and compare Grace’s experiences to Billie Jo’s.
8. When the rains finally come back to Dalhart, Grace presses some wildflowers to send to Helen, David, and Sadie. Go to the following website for directions on how to press flowers. Press some and share with a friend.
http://geoparent.com/home/crafts/pressedflowers.htm
An Interview with Katelan Janke
Richard F. Abrahamson, Ph.D. & Eleanore S. Tyson, Ed.D.: What were the best parts of winning the Dear America Student Writing Contest?
Katelan Janke: Winning the Dear America Student Writing Contest when I was in sixth grade is one of my happiest memories! Dear America author Barry Denenberg judged the contest, and he personally called to tell me the news while I was in school. I was jumping up and down and hugging everyone in sight. When I called my parents to tell them the surprising news, my dad couldn’t even figure out who was calling, I was so excited!
One of the best parts of winning the contest was that Dear America author Kathryn Lasky visited my junior high and gave a great presentation. I was incredibly thrilled to meet a “real author!” My original contest entry, “Survival in the Storm”, is one of my favorite short stories I have written, so it was ten times as wonderful to win with a story I love.
RFA & EST: What was the most interesting or surprising thing you discovered during your research for Survival in the Storm?
KJ: The hours I spent researching the Depression and Dust Bowl were both fun and extremely intriguing—I love research. What came as the biggest surprise to me was the normalcy of people’s lives during tremendous financial hardship and the exhausting dust storms. Contrary to what I thought, most people didn’t let these challenges completely change their lives. Churches still held picnics, schools performed plays, and children went to school as often as possible. A farmwife might scoop the dirt out of the house and then go to her Ladies’ Auxiliary meeting. I really admire that.
Another fact I found very interesting was the belief that rain could be brought about by setting off explosives. A man named Tex Thorton diligently worked to “bomb the skies of Dalhart” in an effort to shake up the clouds, so to speak. Several Dalhart citizens paid a good deal of money so that Tex Thorton could try his idea. Local residents even attended the bombings as if they were a spectator’s event. The explosions were attempted several times in Dalhart with varied results, and Mr. Thorton probably received way more credit for any moisture than he probably deserved!
RFA & EST: In your acknowledgements, you thank Mrs. Marguerite Green and Miss Portia Deeds. How did you meet these two women? Tell us how they helped with your research.
KJ: In fourth grade, I began working one hour each week as one of Miss Dees’ “readers.” She is a retired schoolteacher, who is now legally blind. Each afternoon, she has one or two students read the newspaper to her. We’ve been friends ever since! Mrs. Green was also a retired schoolteacher and the grandmother of my close friend Mary. Sadly, Mrs. Green passed away shortly after Survival in the Storm was released. Affectionately known as “Granny” by almost all who knew her, Mrs. Green was one of the sweetest souls I have ever known.
I extensively interviewed both ladies, and they helped me discover the true thoughts and feelings of those who lived through not only furious winds and dust, but an economic disaster, as well. Mrs. Green and Miss Dees were able to remember the littlest details, such as the price of eggs and butter. They helped me to better understand the things I had difficulty imagining, such as how exactly does a windmill provide water, or how milk was kept cold during the summer when there were no iceboxes or refrigerators. Most of all, their attitude of gratefulness is inspiring, and really made me think. They appreciated what they had; they didn’t complain about “needing” frivolous things. Making do with what was available was an accepted part of daily life.
RFA & EST: What was the best source you discovered as you researched the Dust Bowl era?
KJ: My interviews with Mrs. Green and Miss Dees were invaluable—both ladies were like history books that could answer my questions. Several of the events in Survival in the Storm are based on their stories. I feel privileged to have their experiences woven throughout the book. Still another important resource for the story was Dalhart’s local museum. The XIT Museum graciously allowed me to page through big books of fragile newspapers from the 1930s. Reading about the daily aspects of people’s lives helped transport me back to Depression-era Dalhart.
RFA & EST: Would you share with us your writing process in working on Grace's diary? How long did it take you to write her story?
KJ: The very first step (and my very favorite part) was to research like crazy. I spent hours gathering information and gleaning fascinating knowledge. I made a point to surround myself with my research to make it “real.” I even filled a photo album with copies of dust bowl photos from Panhandle towns and farms that my mum found on the Internet!
Once I had seemingly filled every available surface in our house with notes and pictures, I began the real writing process. I actually started creating the middle of the book first and wrote in segments, rather than composing the entire story in one sitting. After completing several diary entries, I’d email them to my editor at Scholastic, Amy Griffin. Amy would then mail them back to me with her comments and suggestions. The book slowly began to come together, until bit by bit it became the completed diary of Grace Edwards. Originally, the story was entirely too long--one of my biggest challenges any time I write, it seems. Thankfully, Amy’s knowledge and expertise helped me get the manuscript reduced to the right length. Finally, after two years, the manuscript was complete.
Since school is a full-time job, it was often tricky to schedule time to write. My parents faithfully kept me motivated and encouraged when homework, studying, and extra-curricular activities seemed a bit overwhelming. Mum has always been my “pre-editor,” and she also helped me find out any needed bits of information or facts if I was pressed for time. Once, Daddy took me to a beautiful place in the country about 50 miles away in New Mexico just so I could have a peaceful, quiet time to work on character developments!
RFA & EST: You refer to Amy Griffin as “the most patient editor imaginable.” Would you tell us what it was like to be fifteen and working with such a respected editor? What was the author/editor relationship like?
KJ: The author/editor relationship is like a teacher and friend rolled into one. Amy is an extremely talented editor who guided me the entire way. Not only is Amy insightful and knowledgeable, she always gave me fantastic advice every time I needed it. It was both an honor and quite humbling to work with an accomplished editor like Amy; she’s really the best! Both Amy and I share a love of traveling, and we always seem to enjoy catching up on each other’s adventures via e-mail.
RFA & EST: Other than your main character, Grace, who is your favorite character in the diary? Why?
KJ: I have to admit, I love Ruth! Although it was initially unintentional, Ruth resembles me a great deal when I was seven, while Grace greatly mirrors my older sister Annalee, who is a year and a half older than I am. So, I guess in this respect, the sister relationship is a bit autobiographical. One aspect I grew to like about Ruth is the way she exemplifies the ongoing spirit of happiness and normalcy sustained by so many people, in spite of the devastating drought and dust. I think Ruth often personifies the idea that “life goes on.”
RFA & EST: A second grade teacher once wrote a note to your parents telling them she thought you would be a writer someday. What role did teachers and parents play in your development as a writer?
KJ: Mrs. Bledsoe was my second grade teacher who first seemed to see a little spark. Until that time, my parents hadn’t really considered my writing ability to be any more significant than my spelling or math skills, especially since my older sister is a talented writer.
It would have been next to impossible for my writing abilities to be developed without the enthusiastic support and encouragement of many incredible teachers and my wonderful family. In fact, it was my sixth grade reading teacher, Mrs. Harshey, who suggested I enter the Dear America story contest. I have been blessed throughout my school years with many teachers who have stressed both reading and writing—not to mention quite a lot of grammar and spelling, as well! Several teachers have truly motivated and inspired me to take my writing skills as far as possible.
I also have an amazing family. Both of my parents have always been very involved in my education. Not only did they read daily to my sister and me when we were young, they also managed to keep the television turned off, allowing us to develop our creativity. My mum has always been my pre-editor, and challenges me to expand my vocabulary (and we’ve even had a debate or two over comma placement). Daddy considers himself to be my biggest fan and loves to read whatever I write. Both of my parents are always willing to give creative advice or honest critiques. As I was writing Survival in the Storm, they helped me understand the emotions and feelings that the adult characters in the book would have felt—especially Grace’s mama and daddy. Since my own daddy is a dairy farmer, he helped me a great deal with the agricultural info. And, of course, my sister Annalee is just awesome. Many, many times, she had to patiently wait to use the computer if I was madly rushing to meet a deadline. Annalee will be off to college next year, majoring in journalism. I’m going to miss her. She is truly my “forever friend!”
RFA & EST: Most writers have a favorite scene or event in their stories—something they are pleased to have written. What part of Grace’s diary are you most pleased with?
KJ: This is a thought-provoking question. I guess I’d have to say that I am especially pleased with Helen’s letters while traveling to California and from the migrant camp. They offer a little window to what was occurring outside of the Dust Bowl region. I think the letters also provide a snapshot of what happened to many of the families who left their farms and lives behind, often only finding that they faced even worse hardships and circumstances.
RFA & EST: If you could ask your readers one question about your novel, what would that question be?
KJ: The question I would most like to ask my readers is a question I also ask myself: If you had to face difficult challenges as Grace and her family did, what are some of the truly important things in your life that would remain unchanged?
Discussion Guide written by Richard F. Abrahamson, Ph.D., Professor of Literature for Children and Young Adults, University of Houston and Eleanore S. Tyson, Ed.D., Clinical Associate Professor, University of Houston, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Houston, Texas.
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