"A young girl named Ginny and her family must leave their farm in Oklahoma and travel west to California. In order to survive, the family must sell their horse, and Ginny's best friend, Thimble. But Ginny will do anything in order to find a way for them to stay together"--

In 1957, problems at the mine threaten to ruin Christmas for fifth-grader Don, his family, and the rest of their Oklahoma coal town, but Don's bloodhound, Frank, is determined to do whatever it takes to make the holiday special for Don and his six-year-old sister, Susan. Alternate chapters are told from the human and canine points of view.

In 1935, dust storms are sweeping across the southern plains of the United States, including Oklahoma. Twelve-year-old Millie is worried about her family's survival. The Dust Bowl is getting worse, and they're running out of food and money. Despite the hardships, Pa doesn't want to abandon the farm, which has been in the family for generations. But when the worst "black blizzard" yet hists, they have no choice. The family decides to make the journey...