During the1930's Oklahoma experienced a severe drought and horrific dust storms. The Brady family-Papa, Mother, Uncle Oscar, Pearl, Jack, and Mae struggle to survive and stay together. Pearl's maternal grandparents urge the family to come with them to Colorado to escape the dust, but Papa refuses to leave the farm. Mother acquiesces until baby Mae's cough becomes dust pneumonia. Uncle Oscar agrees to take the family to Colorado to save Mae's life and Papa stays to save the farm. The family then lives in Fort Collins with the grandparents, who have jobs with the agricultural college. Pearl misses her father and wants the family to be together at the farm. She embarks on a dangerous and potentially futile journey to reunite them.
