"The Middle of Nowhere" by Paula Duncan McDonald takes the reader on a journey to West Texas in the 1920's, during the epoch of the Depression. The plot depicts a world which was beautiful, isolated and often inhospitable. The story focuses on the growth of Skitchy from a starry-eyed young girl to a mature woman who has learned the bitter and sweet realities of life. The writer skillfully depicts the subtleties of small-town life during such a hard time in history, and does an excellent job of transporting the reader into the past.

The story provides evidence of the writer's ability to combine fiction with her real life experiences as a child in Texas. The plot thrives in its credibility and smooth flow. The writing lacks nothing as it combines the glamour of romance with the stark realities of mundane life. It is about the struggle for survival in a changing world and about the value of optimism. The characters are very well done, and it is easy to sit back and join them in their struggles in 1920's Texas. "The Middle of Nowhere" is a great book for history lovers, and those who enjoy a good coming of age story.

Ephraim and Kate Chapman settled in Reeves County, Texas, and had seven children. It is 1921 and the place is like in the middle of nowhere. Only four of their children survived and they all had to live in these extraordinary and unpredictable times. Skitchy, the youngest, married Pink Campbell and they had two daughters, Connie and Margaret. She was particularly close to her sister Belle and her husband Jackson. Apart from the economic upheaval of the Depression in 1929, they also had to contend with severe drought, dust storm and the cruel ups and downs of human life. Throughout all these, Skitchy maintained her courage to fight against all odds. In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt was elected President and garnered 88% of Texas’ votes. There was some optimism in Texas when the government started programs to help the country deal with its economic woes but conditions did not improve immediately. Skitchy tried to survive in this setting and realized that her relationship with Pink was also deteriorating.

As life went on, Skitchy met more challenges and she would deal with them with an unflinching courage that should be an example for all of us. Paula Duncan McDonald weaves a number of different characters and their stories in her novel, "The Middle of Nowhere". The book is actually a collection of wrenching stories involving different characters at a time of many upheavals. All of these characters have to struggle and deal with man-made events and natural catastrophes that are beyond their control. The story revolves around Skitchy and the lives of the people around her. In this way, the novel becomes a shared experience that shows the indomitable human spirit. "The Middle of Nowhere" is also a tale of love and redemption set in the 1930's. It is a historical novel that brings its readers back to the time of the Great Depression in Texas, USA. Well-researched and vivid, the book succeeds in showing us this particular landscape by using authentic and historical details that inevitably affect the lives of the characters.

An impeccably researched novel . . . . McDonald depicts the lonely, arid West Texas landscape with an evocative, spare touch . . . . realistic, nuanced characters . . . . Striking, if uneven, historical fiction that chronicles a difficult period in American history.