Pat Jones

This book, while good, is woefully similar to Grapes of Wrath. Beyond historical backdrop of the Dust Bowl and the mass migration to California, this book includes events of communist meetings, the company store scene (generosity of shop owner who gives kids the penny candy), the shacks in the socialist camp, and the boxcar camp. Additionally, there are three typos, and "off of" used six times. The proper use is "off the table," not "off of the table." Parallels are Mr. Nalen to Jim Casy and Elsa, the feminist parallel to Tom Joan. There are cliches used in the 21st century but ascribed to those living in the 1930s: women did not call each other "girlfriend," people didn't say, "we be bad," and kids did not say, "That's rich." I can accept the parallels, but I cannot accept language a copy editor should have flagged.