The devastating drought and Dust Bowl drove many families to leave their homes across the Great Plains and head west. What was your response to Emily and Henry’s decision to leave Kansas? In their place, would you have left sooner, later, or not at all? What would you like to see happen to Dorothy, Emily, and Henry next?
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I would have left a long time ago. 
I think they will do well wherever they go They know how to survive in the worse circumstances.
I wish they had left sooner but I understand the pull they felt to keep their farm going, surrounded by a supportive community. I was a little surprised that they left at all but it was the right thing to, especially hearing that it was seven years before the weather leveled out. I imagine that they lived not far from Nell and her family, and I hope they continued a farming lifestyle, as clearly that is what made them happy.
I’m sure I would have left sooner. I was glad Emily and Henry made the decision to leave Kansas. I admired their strength and ability to deal with anything that came their way. I picture them taking that attitude with them, restoring close connections to Nell and her family, and enjoying a better life, whatever it brings.
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My first husband called me a “chameleon,” because I used to eagerly adopt whatever hobby or interest my current male companion was into (I think he meant it as an insult, but I feel like I learned a lot from them). As such, I think that if I fell in love with Henry I would have followed him out to Kansas, sight unseen (exactly the way I followed my current hubby to Oregon). I don’t think I’d have been happy, though. I think that when the first house was destroyed that would have been it for me.
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I would have left sooner. They had to think of Dorothy and what kind of life she was going to have.
I hope they would have found a better life in California with Nell and her family.
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Well, I would have certainly left when they left. If for no other reason, to keep Dorothy safe. I believe they made the right decision. I would hope that the family found a nice piece of land with a nice house just outside of the city. Just far enough from the city that it felt like the country, but close enough to have access to necessities. A place where they could grow their own vegetables and have a few animals. Perhaps they could have owned a fruit orchard that helped them earn their living, and Dorothy could go to school to be a teacher.
I believe I would have left sooner. The longer they stayed the worst things got. I was glad they decided to make a better life for themselves. I would love for them to go to California and live close to Nell. And have a better life.
I’d like to think I would have left sooner but in reality probably not. They put their whole life into that house and farm; it would have been devastating to leave it behind for a still uncertain life. Like some of the others, I like to think they ended up with Nell and finding peace with their new lives. I love @Charla_W 's idea of the fruit orchard. Especially apple trees after Dorothy’s adventures with them in The Wizard of Oz
They definitely should have left sooner as the dust was already likely to have caused permanent health issues for all of them. Of course, that’s easy for me to say as I know the outcome of the Dust Bowl and knew that there was not going to be any salvation for those that stayed. I am hopeful that they will be able to find another start and be even happier with the help of Nell.
I thought it was a good decision to leave Kansas. I probably would have left sooner for safety reasons.
I think they were young and Henry really wanted farming and chose the Great Plains as a place to build a home and family. Emily’s mother kept a pamphlet on Kansas and said she dreamed of going one day. I think that played a huge roll in why Emily was so willing to move to Kansas.
I definitely would have left much sooner, with or without my husband. The hardships they faced were relentless. Raising Dorothy there and no other siblings or playmates for the most part, would also be an incentive to move.
After living in conditions they did, I think they will be fine wherever. I think it will be good for Dorothy and Emily to be with Emily’s sister, Nell. Henry will be fine farming in California.
I am happy they left Kansas. I think they should have left earlier. Young children are more susceptible to illness and Dorothy had not lived in Kansas that long so she may not have the immunity for that area of the country. I am glad they went to California to be near Emily’s sister, her only family. It will be good for Dorothy to be near her extended family. And it would be good for Emily and Henry if they could start farming again.
I would like to think I would have been out of Kansas as soon as I lost the first house, however, moving takes not only time but lots of money. Emily and Henry had the time but not the money. So I feel if I was in their financial crisis, I probable would have done exactly as they did. Circumstances kept them there, didn’t it? I would hope that Emily, Henry and Dorothy found peace, and a life much easier to withstand in California. My father’s family certainly did. In his case several older family members moved West and established themselves making easier for the family to travel West.
I would have definitely left sooner. Personally, I would have not been brave enough to move so far away from my family.
Hindsight is 20/20! It’s easy for us in 2025 to think of course we would have left sooner (especially if we’ve read The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah!).
To answer the first question, I thought about our current climate change. Probably right now a lot of people really want to leave the tornado alleys, the blistering heat, the wildfires, the floods, the hurricanes, etc. However, many have too much invested (family members, medical issues, etc.) where they live and/or don’t have the money to move.
Second question: I’m an optimist so I wish Dorothy, Emily and Henry the very best of luck. It would be a great sequel!
I was amazed that they stayed as long as they did! I hope they did well, and would love a sequel to peer into their futures.
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As a Kansan, I was disappointed they left the state. It would have been expensive to move, they would have taken quite a loss on their farm, but with family in California they had a leg up over a lot of the Okies who moved west. Still, California wasn’t Oz by any means. I wish they had moved to the eastern part of the state where Henry might have been able to find a non-farming job but I’m sure they were so beaten down, they thought it would be best to be near family.
I think that they waited to leave until they knew that they had done everything they could to save their farm. They are all hard workers and dedicated to whatever they do so I think that they’ll be successful in California