People
Who is Millie’s best friend?
Betty Adams
What historical disaster is Millie's family dealing with?
The Dust Bowl
What is the “black blizzard”?
A severe dust storm
What are the people migrating from the Dust Bowl called?
Okies
How much do Betty and her father get paid after working for 12 hours?
$1.25
What is Betty’s age?
13 years old. Betty is 1 year older than Millie, who is 12.
What historical period is the book set in?
The Great Depression
What do Millie and her family struggle with besides the dust?
Running out of food and money
Why do people choose to move to California?
They were told there were jobs available, with promises like, “Work in California! Good wages! Come at once!”
What is the full name of the store where Millie and her parents go for groceries?
Owens’ General Goods Store
What is Millie’s mother’s name?
Mary Horn
Where does Millie's family live at the beginning of the story?
On the family farm in Oklahoma
What crop did Millie’s father plant in 1935?
Potatoes
How many days did Millie and her parents drive from Oklahoma to California?
8 days, Wednesday, April 17 - Wednesday, April 24 1935
Why can’t Millie sleep at night after Ralph’s house burns down?
She worries about another fire and fears they might be trapped in their situation forever.
What is Millie’s father’s name?
John Horn
What color is the dirt if the storm comes from Kansas?
Brown
What food can the family buy after working for the farmer by picking cotton?
Bread, potatoes, and turnips
Why do city people not welcome the people from the Dust Bowl?
They think the Okies are dirty, diseased, and will steal their jobs.
What does Millie do that helps her father start focusing on the future?
Millie helps Betty from being bullied.
Who was the U.S. president during the onset of the Depression?
President Herbert Hoover
What color is the dirt if the storm comes from Colorado or New Mexico?
Gray
What is the “Soil Conservation Service”?
A government initiative that helps with soil conservation, including planting trees, to reclaim the soil and allow farming to continue on the Plains.
What is the meaning of “Hooverville”?
Shantytowns built by homeless people during the Great Depression, named after President Hoover, whom many blamed for the economic crisis.
What lesson has Millie’s father learned?
That all migrants are struggling together, and they are stronger as a group. They can no longer stand by and let others be mistreated.