Review for "The Storm in the Barn" by Matt Phelan

Bibliography: Phelan, Matt. 2009. The Storm in the Barn. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-0763636180


Critical Analysis

In the author's note at the end of the book, Matt Phelan states that he "wanted this book to be a story set in the Dust Bowl but not a story directly about the Dust Bowl." He imagined what living through the Dust Bowl would have seemed like to a child. He came up with a story that featured, "Jack," a boy trying to find his place in a world that had no place for him. In between getting beat up by the local boys, ignored by his depressed father, caring for his sick sister who has "Dust Pneumonia," and listening to tales of a boy named Jack from the local grocer, Jack notices a light emanating from an empty neighbors barn. When his family notices his strange obsession with the barn, they are told by the local doctor to keep an eye on him because he may have "Dust Dementia."

This graphic novel walks the boundaries between fantasy and historical fiction. Jack ends up wrestling with and beating the rain, a tall dark, ominous figure. At the close of the story Jack is the recognized hero who has brought the rain. Although this ending may be fulfilling for a child, I found that it cheapened the work, ending the story with a fantastical deus ex machina, and robbing Jack of the important developmental work and growth that could have happened if he dealt with the local bullies, his depressed father, and his feelings regarding his sick sister. Although the author describes his intentions at the end of the book in the "Author's Note" section, I still find the ending unfulfilling.

"The Storm in the Barn" contains artwork that utilizes the dusty earth tones that must have been overwhelming during the Dust Bowl. The characters faces often have a hard, pinched look, which makes my stomach growl just looking at them. The light pencil strokes found in the artwork are reminiscent of a certain unsettled, dusty wind. While mostly wordless, this graphic novel does an amazing job conveying the barren, windy world that the Dust Bowlers were surviving in.

Review Excerpts

Publishers Weekly: "The big novelty here is the Dust Bowl setting, and Phelan's art emphasizes the swirling, billowing clouds of fine grit that obscure even nearby objects. Older readers might have appreciated more text to make up for the lack of visual clarity, but kids will identify with Jack and appreciate his success."

School Library Journal: "Written with simple, direct language, it's an almost wordless book: the illustrations' shadowy grays and blurry lines eloquently depict the haze of the dust. A complex but accessible and fascinating book."

Awards and Recognition

ALA Notable Book 2009
Booklist Starred Review 2009
Horn Book Honor List
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
Texas Bluebonnet Book Award Nominee

Connections

A perfect follow-up activity for this graphic novel would be a guest speaker. Before the guest speaker showed up children could be encouraged to further their research of the historical era, in order to have good questions prepared. I can imagine that looking forward to a guest speaker who lived through the Dust Bowl era would spur research.