"Colman's writing is accessible and flawlessly incorporates historical details into the narrative."— Booklist

"Poignant and compassionate... Readers will be swept into the dusty setting of 1935 and be encouraged to grow in their understanding and empathy for people of the past."— School Library Journal

"This book has sadness and loss, but also love and hope. Readers who are interested in historical fiction and stories about relationships will enjoy Where Only Storms Grow." - Time for Kids, Kid Reporter Review

"...[A] powerful middle-grade novel that shines a light on overlooked histories of the Dust Bowl while offering a timeless message of perseverance. Through vivid storytelling and deep empathy, Colman shows how strength can emerge quietly, guiding us through hardship toward brighter days." - The Children's Book Review

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A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection 
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For Fans of the I Survived series and The War That Saved My Life, this gripping middle grade novel is set during one of the most dangerous storms in American history.

It’s been four years since rain fell on the Oklahoma panhandle and the closeness between the Stanton twins has dried up as much as the land. Howe has been practicing running away and longs for the family to quit this land of dust where only troubles grow. Despite the scoliosis that causes Joanna near-constant pain, she isn’t ready to give up like her brother. But when Daddy leaves the family behind to find work in California, saving the farm from ruin falls on Howe’s unwilling and Joanna’s uneven shoulders.

To pay the family's debts, Joanna takes a job at the local hospital and discovers purpose in helping others. Meanwhile, Howe finds unexpected joy in caring for his father’s horse and escapes in a borrowed book.

But then a tragedy in town reveals the dust’s deadly dangers. With the worst storm of the Dust Bowl bearing down on their home, Howe and Joanna must put aside their differences and work together, or everyone and everything they love will be lost to the dust.