"A moving and informative account of a decade (1927–37) of drought and depression in North Dakota. In 1929 Ann Marie Low wrote in her diary: 'There seems to be quite a furor in the country over a big stock market crash that wiped a lot of people out. We are ahead of them. The hailstorm in July of 1928 and ... Read morebank failure that fall wiped out a lot of people locally.' That diary . . . tells the story of one family's struggle to maintain a way of life, keep their farm and educate their children."—New York Times Book Review "A lovingly detailed, sometimes humorous and often painful account of a ravaged land. An adolescent Low, withstanding adult responsibilities, describes her parents, sister, brother and a beloved horse, Roany; scorching summers with dust billows big as snowdrifts; neighbors losing their livelihoods; malevolent nature; and government recovery programs."—Los Angeles Times Book Review "A lively first-hand account of hard times and hard work—and an irrepressible spirit."—Library Journal Show Less