The Four Winds

 

“The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah

Published by St. Martin’s Press

Finished 6/1/21 – 5/5 stars

“A warrior believes in an end she can’t see and fights for it.  A warrior never gives up.  A warrior fights for those weaker than herself.  It sounds like motherhood to me.” 

Elsa is that warrior.  She fought for as long as she could to keep her family together and survive the Dust Bowl in Texas but eventually she had no choice but to pack up her children and leave her in-laws and the family farm behind to try to find a better life in California.  After all, that is what all the flyers had told them was possible.  But this was the Great Depression - there weren’t enough jobs for all the migrants and the farms job that could be found, didn’t pay nearly enough to live off of.  Plus, the Californians didn’t welcome the poor with open arms so there were obstacles to try to conquer around every corner.  But Elsa would do everything she could to keep her children safe, fed, healthy, and educated.  She was the warrior her children needed, whether they realized and appreciated it or not. 

 I greatly enjoyed this historical fiction and highly recommend it. Who knows….it might be the encouragement you need to be your own warrior.