Unspoken is a story about a family that lived in the Texas Panhandle during The Dirty 30s or The Dust bowl years. Times were hard during that era because of the extreme drought and wind storms that stirred up the dust and buried everything in its path. Often people died because they breathed in too much dust that would cause them to get Dust pneumonia . Farmers crops failed for lack of water.
The story starts in 1935. The main characters are Ruby Lee Becker and her mother Willa Mae. When Ruby almost dies from dust in her lungs her father sends her to live with her Aunt in Waco Texas. When her mother Willa Mae has a nervous breakdown her husband sends her to a mental asylum in Wichita Falls Texas. The years go by and Ruby Lee wants nothing more than to go back home with her family in the Texas Panhandle. Willa Mae only wants to keep her memories alive after being forced to undergo many painful shock treatments. Both wonder why their family never came for them when things got better in the Texas Panhandle. It was as though their family had forgotten they existed.
For the most part I enjoyed this book. When things started to drag in the middle of the book I was quickly drawn back into the story when a surprise happens that got my interest peaked again. I have always enoyed reading historical fiction and WWII fiction. I thought the book was well researched, entertaining, realistic and interesting.
I recommend Unspoken to readers of WWII and Historical Fiction. It is the first book of the Authors Dust series. It is scheduled for release on 7/3/25.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are solely my own.
#Unspoken #NetGalley

Unspoken is a historical fiction novel about the Dust Bowl Days, as told through the incredible tale of Ruby Lee Becker—Texas farmer’s daughter, orphan, and later, female farmer and aviator. This is a well-researched, fast-paced historical novel worth your time. As I understand it, Unspoken is book one in a planned trilogy, a series I look forward to reading. This first installment covers Ruby’s coming of age years, and it’s as much of a firecracker as is Ruby Lee Becker. Filled with vivid imagery brought to life by a colorful cast of characters, everyday people trying to make a living in extraordinarily difficult times, not the least of whom is Ruby herself, Unspoken is a page-turner.

When the story opens, Ruby is ten. After the death of her mother-in-law and her baby Nell, Ruby’s mother suffers a mental breakdown. Ruby’s father sends his wife to an insane asylum and ships Ruby off to live with an aunt in Waco. What follows is a string of happenings largely scripted by actual historical events—drought, the polio epidemic, extreme poverty, and parents putting their kids in orphanages when too poor or too emotionally broken to take care of them. Or dead.

What I enjoyed most about the book was Ruby’s voice. As the story’s primary POV character, her narration is folksy and very much like what I would imagine for a Texas farm kid in the 1930s. She’s bold and unafraid, but still acts like a ten-year-old, which makes her a wholly believable character. In recounting her tale, she displays the innocence of her years, yet sees her situation in a very adult way, as is often the case when a child is robbed of the chance to just be a kid. The second thing I enjoyed were the historical references. If it happened in Texas anywhere near where Ruby was living at the time, Ruby experienced it. In this way, Ruby is a vessel for relaying an important historical period through the acute lens of someone who lived it in real time. Equally fascinating, and at times more so, is the secondary POV character, Ruby’s mother, Willa. Her story is as heart wrenching as Ruby’s.

Yet Unspoken is Ruby’s story within the larger context of life during the Dust Bowl days as she is forced to figure out how to survive in a hostile world. She has her ups and downs. Just as the reader thinks things might work out for Ruby, life chews her up and spits her out again. Ruby, however, always lands on her feet.

By the time the novel ends, Ruby’s in her early twenties and about to marry, but not before having taken readers on her wild journey through life as an orphan desperate to go home. Traveling with her the entire time is her suitcase, a symbol of the hurts she carries and the hopes she refuses to give up. Don't miss this story, especially if you enjoy Americana.

“Unspoken” by Jann Alexander is the poignant story of Ruby Lee, set in the Texas Panhandle and spanning the depression years of the dustbowl and up until after World War II. When the story opens, eleven-year-old Ruby has just witnessed the death of her grandmother and baby sister to dust pneumonia, the results of inhaling the dust. Ruby, who also is affected by the pneumonia, had never witnessed rain before. Life is hard, so hard, on their farm, and their funeral even became interrupted because of yet another dust storm, called a “black blizzard,” blowing through the town. After Ruby is hospitalized for lung treatment, her brother takes her to stay with an aunt in Waco. Ruby doesn’t know how good she has it (because all she really wants is to return to her family, to see her mama again) until the aunt dies and she is sent to an institution for unwanted children. There, no one is to be trusted. She learns that the hard way.

“Unspoken” is not only a story highlighting the importance of family but also that of resilience. I found myself rooting for Ruby Lee all the way. And also, for her mother, Willa, whose struggles are told in a parallel story. Will Ruby and Willa find happiness? Or at the very least, satisfaction with the life they have been compelled to live? Will their tragic pasts determine their futures?

The setting comes alive through Jane Alexander’s masterful telling, and I learned a lot about an era in US history where people suffered a lot, yet against all odds, somehow managed to survive. I learned how vulnerable women and children were (and most likely still are) to a system that can be unkind and unforgiving. I learned there is no outwitting mother nature, if she determines to undermine the work of humans. This story had me googling for things I had no knowledge of before such as the Black Blizzard of 1935 and asthma cigarettes (oh my!).

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel. My opinions are my own.

Loved loved this one!
I loved the storytelling from Ruby Lee's point of view. My favorite thing of course.
My heart went out to these characters that suffered from the Dust Bowl years.
This is a can't put down book that took me away for the evening. I didn't want to come back.
I absolutely love the cover. It makes me wonder what Ruby Lee is thinking when she sees all that dust. I just simply can't imagine it.
My grandparents lived the dust bowl years but I never heard them talk about it or tell stories. It must've been tough for them.
That's one of the reasons I chose this story.
I don't get to read much about these particular times.
My heart went out to Willa Mae especially.
She's the one who suffered most. I wanted to cry for her.
I will never forget this beautiful story of hope, resilience and yes I think I will say forgiveness too.
We humans almost always pull through the hard times. I said almost. It depends on the individual.
5 stars for an amazing adventure that I was completely absorbed in. I highly recommend this book.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review.
Oh yes, I didn't like Viola at all!! Wow! I never thought she would be that way.
All opinions expressed are mine.