The Journal of C. J. Jackson, a Dust Bowl Migrant, Oklahoma to California, 1935 (My Name Is America)

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Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction; Historical - General; Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Historical; Oklahoma Panhandle; Children: Grades 4-6; Oklahoma; Juvenile Fiction; Juvenile Fiction / Historical / General; 1929; Depressions; Dust Bowl Era, 1931-1939; Dust storms;

Average Review: 4 stars

Review: This Book is a work of Fiction : I was profoundly disappointed by this book. The title says "Journal", and the book's cover shows a photograph that might lead the reader to assume that it is an image of the author. But it is not until the very last page of the book (except for the map) that the author, whose name is absent on the front cover, back cover, or printed edge, admits that this work is fiction. Look also at the editorial review, where it claims "C. J. is an authentic and likable protagonist." Then look at MAB's review. He/she may be under the impression that a 13 year-old wrote this book. The next two reviewers also claim it to be a "Nice historical..", and a "A vivid picture of the time". Not so, as it was written in 2002, a fact not appearing until the last page. I have never encountered a book in which the copyright and printing information are placed on the last page. I wonder why. With respect to the historical part of this historical fiction, there are numerous errors. June 1 in Wildorado TX, June 2 Romero NM. Romero (or Romeroville) is in east NM, yet Durbin has C.J. traveling that day "through some pretty mesa country south of Chaco Canyon". Not possible, since Chaco Canyon is west of Albuquerque, which is not reached in the book until June 4. The map is a disaster: Shamrock is in TX, not OK; Flagstaff is mis-identified as Hollbrook (sic). Even Durbin's "Historical Note" is suspect. His CA photograph on page 164 is clearly a fabrication. The author (Durbin, not Jackson) should have done a better job in identifying the work as fiction, and certainly could have created a more convincing story by carefully researching the facts.