Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Intricate historical novel contrasts Dust Bowl, fairy world.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In Dust Bowl-era Kansas, Callie LeRoux, already feeling abandoned by her long-disappeared father, is devastated after her mother goes missing in a sand storm. A mysterious stranger drops clues about Callie's destiny and tells her that she must search for her parents in \"the golden hills of the west\" (California). Accompanied by a hobo boy named Jack, Callie sets off to learn to harness powers bequeathed to her by her fairy blood. She's half-mortal and half-fairy, and her mortal side is half-African-American.
Is It Any Good?
DUST GIRL is more than a cut above the usual historical fantasy fiction. In her first novel for teens, award-winning science-fiction and fantasy author Sarah Zettel has constructed a Depression-era tale of music, magic, history, and folklore that's exciting, thoughtful, and well researched.
The contrast between Dust Bowl Kansas and the wondrous fairy lands generates the tension that propels the narrative. Readers will eagerly await the next volume in "The American Fairy Trilogy."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Great Depression and how it affected everyday life in the United States.
Why do fairy tales and folk stories often feature characters who are outwitted because of their own greed?
How was everyday life different for African-Americans during the Great Depression? What things were white people allowed to do that were forbidden to African-Americans or immigrants?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic , Fairy Tales ) , Adventures , Arts , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : June 26, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 349
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate