all the earth, thrown to the sky

A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is facing a major life transition, dealing with the loss of a loved one, or struggling with feelings of powerlessness during hard times. It provides a gritty, honest look at survival and the necessity of moving forward when the world feels like it is crumbling around you. Set during the 1930s Dust Bowl, the story follows Jack, who has lost both parents to the harsh realities of the era. Together with two friends, he sets off on an odyssey across a landscape defined by poverty and environmental disaster. While the setting is historical, the emotional core is deeply contemporary, touching on resilience, the bonds of found family, and the search for hope in a bleak landscape. This is a mature choice for teens ready to engage with heavy themes through a lens of survival and grit.