The Four Winds

 The Four Winds

Author: Kristin Hannah

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade Level: 8-12

Summary:

The Four Winds is a historical fiction piece set in the years leading up to and during the Great Depression. The focus of the novel is on Elsa Martinelli, first as a young woman herself and later as the mother to two children. Readers get an in depth understanding of the Great Depression and the very real horrors it caused, especially in the Southwest United States. Additionally, one woman’s life journey is told and readers get to see her begin to set herself free from the confines placed upon her by her family and society as a whole.

Exploring Issues of Social Justice: 

At the core of this novel is an exploration of class systems in the United States and the way in which capitalism fuels division. Very realistic testimonials of families living during these hard times shows students how difficult it can be to work in manual labor and provide for a family. Additionally, the book offers an honest view at how a capitalistic society is inherently unfair to many groups. Finally, the readers get to see the beginnings of unionization in a way that hopefully corrects misconceptions they may have gathered over the years.

Activity: Students can look up a more recent unionization conflict(such as Amazon) and hold a simulated “town hall” over why unionization is necessary. One group can even "play" Amazon, but it is important to make sure unionization is framed as the right thing.

Teacher Resources: Cheap copies available here!