If It Rains

DEBUT Kathryn Baile is a cantankerous teenager—but she might have reason to be, after having grown up with a clubfoot in Oklahoma, in the center of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Her sister Melissa practically raised her but then marries up into the rich Mayfield family; meanwhile, Kathryn’s stepmother Helen insists that they move back to Indiana where there’s still green grass and plenty of food. The sisterly bond is tested as Kathryn journeys through dust storms in a decrepit vehicle; she’s separated from her family and reliant on the dubious assistance of fellow migrants. Melissa’s newlywed life isn’t any easier; her husband treats her more like property than a blessing. Wright’s debut novel deals blow after blow to her characters, who display an indomitable working-class spirit and fierce ties to the land they work.