About the author

Catherine Matthias

In her review of <strong>When the Sky Turned to Dust</strong>, writer Heather Vogel Frederick, author of more than 20 books, including The Mother-Daughter Book Club series, states, "In the brief first chapter, you've grabbed me by the lapels and dragged me into the story, and I'm ready to follow you anywhere. As a reader, I sense the solid research that underpins the story."<br>&nbsp;<br>Writer Karen Fisher, author of A Sudden Country, a Pen/Faulkner Finalist, states, "Your depiction of the Dust Bowl is a real triumph. It's richly imagined and thoroughly researched. You portray these real people as imperfect, but generous and kind… capable of loving through whatever life throws at them, and demonstrating the value above all else of sharing and sticking together in hard times."<br><br>Reedsy reviewer Jennifer Senick, educator with 20 years' experience &amp; an MA in educational psychology states,&nbsp;“From the first page, Catherine Matthias masterfully weaves a powerful tale of life during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, drawing readers into the historical settingHer writing is thoughtful, clear, and deeply reflective, like the way Caroline's observations vividly paint this scene: "Corn silk yellow washed the sky. Yellow meant the dust blew in from Texas, although sometimes Texas gave us orange and, a couple of times, a pale, sick green. Red came from Oklahoma to the south. It carried an oily stink that could make a skunk jealous. Black was our home state of Kansas, blowing to who knows where." You can practically feel the dust on your skin while reading that.<br><br>"Concepts such as the economic struggles that led to bank failures and farmers losing their land are explained in an easy-to-understand way, like when Papa tells them, "When you borrow from the bank, the bank owns whatever you bought until you pay back all you owe.” Subtle historical details, like Roosevelt’s fireside chats, add meaningful context and enrich the story.<br><br>“I highly recommend <strong>When the Sky Turned to Dust</strong> for its honest, heartfelt description of living through the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era. It belongs in school curricula, offering lessons on resilience, financial responsibility, and the strength of family and community. It’s a beautifully told tale of courage, hope, and finding light even in the darkness.”&nbsp;<br><br>Catherine Matthias is the author of six early reader picture books published in English and Spanish by Children's Press, an imprint of Scholastic Books, and the adult nonfiction book, <strong>The Word Gobblers - a handbook for parents working with children struggling to read</strong>.<br><br>She lives in rural Joseph, Oregon, near the base of the beautiful Wallowa Mountains with her husband, Stewart Jones, a snuggly gray tabby cat named Mica, and a shy black cat named Jade.<br>&nbsp;<br><br>