Day’s YA: DUST

DUST by Alison Stine
9781250878731
12/3/24
Wednesday Books
Ages 13-18

E-galley available on Edelweiss and NetGalley

After experiencing devastating floods in Ohio, Thea’s father has a premonition and moves his family to a dilapidated farm in the dry, dusty Bloodless Valley of Colorado. Rather than attend school, Thea and her sister practice “unschooling”—they help around the house, take care of the animals, and do what they can to help with the crops that never seem to grow. They’re not allowed to go to the library, have friends, or use the internet. Thea is also not allowed to talk about her partial deafness; instead she’s told to pretend to be like everyone else. But when Thea meets Ray—the only other deaf teen she’s ever met—he starts secretly teaching her how to sign and introduces her to other people in their town. Together they travel around the valley, helping people who don’t have anyone else to lean on, and Thea learns what it truly means to be a part of a community. But when her father discovers what she’s been doing and a dangerous storm threatens the valley, the community she has built is put to the ultimate test.

“I was learning two new languages, one with my hands and one with my heart.”

This near-future YA debut from an award-winning author is a hauntingly beautiful story about finding—and taking care of—your people, the effects of climate change, and the sweetness of first love. Stine’s writing is gripping and emotional, and her characters are dynamic, especially those who make up Thea and Ray’s little found family of outcasts. The romance, while not being the main focus, adds a touch of lightness to an otherwise very serious plot. As Thea navigates her deafness, she finds where she belongs and learns how to advocate for herself in a way that I think many teens will resonate with. This is a thought-provoking read that I’m still thinking about weeks later. Fans of DRY by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman and WE DESERVE MONUMENTS by Jas Hammonds will love this moving and ultimately hopeful story.

Happy reading!
<3 Emily

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