If It Rains

By: Jennifer L. Wright

Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman

A story of resilience and redemption set against one of America’s defining moments - the Dust Bowl.

It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Then Kathryn’s father decides to relocate to Indianapolis, and only the promise of a surgery to finally make her “normal” convinces Kathryn to leave Oklahoma behind. But disaster strikes along the way, and Kathryn must rely on her grit and the ragged companions she meets on the road if she is to complete her journey.

Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband - and her new social class - expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed. Melissa covers her bruises with expensive new makeup and struggles to reconcile her affluent life with that of her starving neighbors. Haunted by the injustice and broken by Henry’s refusal to help, Melissa secretly defies her husband, risking her life to follow God’s leading.

Two sisters, struggling against unspeakable hardship, discover that even in their darkest times, they are still united in spirit and God is still with them, drawing them home.

©2021 Jennifer L. Wright (P)2021 One Audiobooks

Love Wright’s characters!

Being from Oklahoma, I enjoyed this story and how it depicted the Dust Bowl times. But I truly enjoyed the author’s style and message. I desperately hope she gives us more stories!!

Rich with Real Life

I loved this book. Real people, rich with history. This is what real life was like during the dust bowl. Well come!!

Great story!

I really enjoyed learning about the Oklahoma dustbowl and this period of our American history.

Great book!

I highly recommend this book, great historical references and very touching and heart felt!
It’s a must!

Dust Bowl in Oklahoma

Very good story about how people tried to survive in the Dust Bowl and the narrator was very good- slight accent

Loved This Book

This is one of the best books I’ve listened to. My first by this author, but certainly not my last. It’s a wonderful story of life during the dust bowl. The strength and faith required to sustain during that era is beyond admirable. The narration was exemplary. Highly recommend If It Rains!

perseverance when natural forces were set againt these 'Okies'

This is a great slice of life, of those who survived what would become known as The Dustbowl. the focus family has always been poor. Their mother was gone, but they still had a dedicated father...and a step mother who blamed the younger child, Catherine, for every nastiness her years in Oklahoma mustered. It takes a special kind of person to hang on to hope when things really were hopeless. will Catherine, her sister Melissa, and their family find strength in each other, enough to stick it out?

One of the most depressing story’s I ever listened to

Well I have to say this was a very depressing story
I did not like any of the characters .Katheryn was so angry and bitter and prideful
She didn’t redeem herself at the conclusion in my opinion.
Melissa was very not very smart and I had little sympathy for her plight.
I did like the narrator if it wasn’t for her excellent narration I would not have finished the book .

Loved the story. Narrator muh..

A story that needs to be told as we continue to cut down trees we’re headed for another dust storm, possibly we don’t learn from the past. I loved how they brought the whole story to a nice close. At the end, the narration was poor. The story kept me listening although yes, it is a depressing story. It’s our history, and it shows the true strength of the Oklahoma people