Dust

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 caf 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...