The Four Winds

by Kristin Hannah

I can’t recall a recent novel that required such extensive research on the author’s part. This book educated me far beyond my knowledge of the Dust Bowl (even beyond what Ken Burns taught me). The characters were sympathetic and, having grown up on a farm, I found them entirely believable. One lingering wish — I would have liked more resolution with the birth family and the husband, but not every story wraps up neatly like a Frank Capra film. Still, it’s an impressive work, and the accolades are well deserved.