This was an intriguing start and the art was appealing. That said, it was too short for the content it was trying to cover and since I was following up Kristin Hannah's The Four Winds, I had unrealistic expectations.

Days of Sand is a superbly illustrated and written book. I loved how the journey of the photographer is portrayed and the depiction of the dust bowl is pretty good.

I really enjoyed the first volume of this story. It is quite a simple story but powerful, as it tells the story of the Dust Bowl in the US during the Great Depression.

John Clark is a 22 year old photographer who is employed by the US Farm Security Administration to document the plight of farmers living in Dust Bowl in the central and southern states. He is sent there to take photos that will help raise awareness of the farmers. He finds it very difficult to settle down and complete his tasks especially when he experiences stubborn resistance from the farmers there, but as he learns to really embrace and experience life in the Dust Bowl, the people begin to open to him. It is a good start to the story and the artwork is excellent. I don’t know anything about this part of US history and this story is a really good introduction.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

In 1937 during the Great Depression, photographer John Clark was hired to document the Dust Bowl’s calamitous conditions. Given a “shooting script” of things to photograph, John finds himself questioning his role in relation to the truth.

Through breath-taking drawings and a land full of burden, Jongh takes us through the real, depressing, and damaged state of the Dust Bowl. We learn of growing struggles that affected families face -- and though John is sent to help bring attention and help to the situation, his assignment for posed pictures is morally questionable and thought-provoking. The inclusion of actual photographs also heightens the severity and heartbreak of this devastating period. Overall, this was an eye-opening read!

Thanks NetGalley and Europe Comics for my arc!

Ack, well I guess I liked it since I’m super disappointed I didn’t realize it was just part 1! I feel like the story was just getting started but so far I’m invested and I definitely want to read the next part when it comes out!

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Days of Sand by Aimée de Jongh is the story of a young photographer who is assigned to travel to the Dust Bowl and take pictures of people's living conditions during the Great Depression in the United States. Aimée de Jongh's illustrations are simply stunning and provide a great flow for the story. Even in parts that there is no dialogue, the imagery provokes the needed emotional response from the reader.

After reading The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah earlier this year, I was intrigued to read this graphic novel that was also set in the late 1930s and explored the repercussions of the Great Depression to the land and the people. It was definitely worth it and can't wait for Part II.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC!

I’ve always been fascinated by the dust bowl period in American history as well as the new deal initiative. The story revolves around a photographer send to document the poverty and the horrendous living conditions that the massive dust storms have resulted in. The purpose of this documentation is to sway public opinion more towards helping.

This book was amazing and the different characters all impact the reader’s understanding of what’s going on. The fact that an European wrote and drew this help make it less sentimental and more direct. More honest. More truthful.

The Dust Bowl is an often overlooked period in United States history, lasting from 1934-1936, and 1939–1940. When times were already rough from The Great Depression, an almost eight year series of droughts and agricultural failures caused many families to have to abandon their homesteads and seek work out elsewhere, some never financially recovering. That is the setting for Days of Sand – Part 1, a new graphic novel by Aimée de Jongh through Europe Comics. The comic tells the story of John Clark, a young newspaper photographer hoping to get this “big break” doing work for a government agricultural agency to document living conditions in the dust-ravaged farmlands of rural America.

“United States, 1937. In the middle of the Great Depression, 22-year-old photographer John Clark is brought on by the nascent Farm Security Administration to document the calamitous conditions of the Dust Bowl in the central and southern states, in order to bring the farmers’ plight to the public eye. When he starts working through his shooting script, however, he finds his subjects to be unreceptive. What good are a couple of photos against relentless and deadly dust storms? The more he shoots, the more John discovers the awful extent of their struggles, coming to question his own role and responsibilities in this tragedy sweeping through the center of the country. A moving and unforgettable tale, inspired by real-life stories of courage and perseverance against all odds.”


I quite enjoyed seeing the various chapters bookended by actual Dust Bowl era photographs, it really sets the tone seeing some of the real images a photographer may have taken during this time. John Clark is a fictional character (as far as I know), so it’s not like these are by him, but they are indicative of what a man in his position would have seen. The artwork in Days of Sand is very good, Aimée de Jongh does an amazing job of setting the desperate tone, and showing the hardship of the wastelands without being gratuitous or treating it like some kind of post-apocalyptic book. The script is also very well done, and I can’t wait to see what happens in volume two, even though they have given enough foreshadowing for me to know that it will likely not be a happy ending.

That is sadly to be expected with the time frame, considering The Dust Bowl took the lives of approximately 7000 people, almost all within the first year of the drought. In total the devastation caused upwards of 200 Billion dollars in damages, something that was only rectified after the war when people were finally able to get back on their feet.

If you are a history buff, I can’t say I’ve seen any other comics on this particular time period out there. I mean, you could read The Grapes or Wrath or something, but this is more manageable for most people. For the author being Dutch, she has obviously done TONS of research on this book, and it doesn’t come across like it contains any sort of anachronism you sometimes get when foreign writers make something about American history. Stay tuned, this is definitely one I plan to track down the second volume of, once I see it get released!

Synopsis: Set during the 1930s. Days of Sand follows East coast photographer John Clark who is sent on a journalistic assignment to the mid-west to record the aftermath of the Dust Bowl on the rural populace.

My Thoughts: Story/Pacing (5/5) – Historical fiction is a genre I very much fun and interesting to read as it takes liberties with a real-world setting to tell a tale from the POV of a fictitious subject that could have existed during a certain period. This work continues in the tradition, retaining historical accuracy exploring a unique avenue with its setting. The book took its time to allow the reader to absorb the setting over numerous panels and pages never going overboard with the dialogue or rushing the exposition

Characters (5/5) – Being the primary focus, John is the one who receives the most fleshed-out characterization as the lone journalist trying to capture the contemporaneous climate of the places he visits. There are heavy hints at an internal struggle between whether to depict raw candid photos or stage them to elicit the most shocking effect, a suggestion his boss’s secretary makes.

Most of the other personalities John interacts with represent the average working rural America and, in that respect, encapsulate that archetype effectively. The live-action photographic transitions interspersed in between chapters serve to emphasize this well. Furthermore, John’s interactions with various local citizens share a natural chemistry expected from a genuinely dedicated reporter. This quality especially shines during his short exchanges with equally ambitious child Cliff who winds up forming a little bond with John as a voluntary assistant.

Art (5/5) – Both the urban and country landscapes were evocative of their respective settings containing thick lines which appropriately fit the rough atmosphere the plot was attempting to convey. The expository scenes show the art at its best.

Final Thoughts: Like most of Europe Comics’ lineup, the first part of Days of Sand does not disappoint and will interest those who enjoy stories set around the Great Depression times. I’m looking forward to the second installment.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with my first advance ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

...
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me this advanced copy of this book, and my legitimate thanks to the author for giving me the opportunity to read his book.

United States, 1937. In the middle of the Great Depression, 22-year-old photographer John Clark is brought on by the nascent Farm Security Administration to document the calamitous conditions of the Dust Bowl in the central and southern states, in order to bring the farmers’ plight to the public eye. When he starts working through his shooting script, however, he finds his subjects to be unreceptive. What good are a couple of photos against relentless and deadly dust storms? The more he shoots, the more John discovers the awful extent of their struggles, coming to question his own role and responsibilities in this tragedy sweeping through the center of the country. A moving and unforgettable tale, inspired by real-life stories of courage and perseverance against all odds.

Okay, as I read this book, it was relatively short. It wasn't tho. The story is very interesting, where it tells us the consequences of the greatest economic tragedy in the US (The Great Depression). I loved the first character.

4.5

This is a spoiler free review

Days of Sand: Part 1 is an amazing historical fiction graphic novel set in 1937 during the Dust Bowl. A 22-year-old photographer, John Clark drives to Oklahoma to document conditions during the Dust Bowl. The devastation and awful conditions he witnesses are heart breaking. This is the type of book that should be marketed to schools. The story and artwork combined with actual photographs of the Dust Bowl truly makes this graphic novel a real gem that should be used in schools to show students the true conditions that existed during this calamitous period.

The story is written really well. We get to experience the Dust Bowl with John Clark as he tries to navigate how to travel in all the dust and sand. Very similar to today, people living through this event are very hesitant to talk to the young photographer. They are skeptical of his intentions. There is a point in the story where John tries to explain to a young family why he wants to stage certain aspects of the photos he wants to take of them. Once the family sees John wants the family to be his actors to portray the narrative he wants to show, they no longer want to be photographed by him. They see John is willing to bend the truth a bit.

The artwork in this graphic novel is awesome. The art is so vivid and really captures the full destructive force of the Dust Bowl. You get to see the sand and dust and all the havoc it wreaked on people’s lives. There are a few times during the story where we see cars entering roads completely covered in sand. Cars, roads, homes, people, everything in this book is covered with sandy and dust. John Clark learns quickly he needs a shovel to dig his car out like a snow storm in winter.

Another aspect I loved about Days of Sand: Part 1 is the inclusion of actual photographs that were taken during the Dust Bowl. In between every chapter there is a photograph where we get to see what life was truly like living in the Dust Bowl. The photos make every chapter even more meaningful that this story really did happen to people.

Days of Sand: Part 1 is a perfect graphic novel for any school curriculum that covers the United States in the 1930’s. The artwork and photos I think could really draw in a lot of students wanting to learn about the Dust Bowl. I’m a big advocate of using graphic novels and comic books in a classroom to show kids that learning can be fun and you can learn by reading a comic book. Days of Sand: Part 1 is a great sampler to read to get kids to understand the full gravity of this event.

I highly recommend Days of Sand: Part 1. In particular, I recommend this book if you want to learn more about American history and especially if you are a teacher trying to capture your students attention. If your students are visual learners this novel could be an awesome tool for you.

Stay awesome and keep reading!

I loved the photos and the history behind the great depression. The way he made connections with people.and kept them with him through all.

Awesome! My first historical fiction graphic novel I've ever read. It's so beautifully illustrated and written. I could totally feel all the emotions in this story. Can't wait for the next one!

Wow, this was a fantastic read. Days of Sand is a great historical fiction graphic novel set in 1937. A 22-year-old photographer John Clark goes to the Dust Bowl in central and southern America to document the conditions. Illustrations are amazing. I think someone already wrote something similar, and that is exactly what I felt reading this: you can feel the sand in the air, in your mouth, and even in your eyes. I can’t wait for the second part.

Thanks to the Europe Comics for the ARC and the opportunity to read this! All opinions are my own.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley, the author and Europe Comics. Thanks for the early read opportunity, in exchange for my review.

I've read very few graphic novels in my life, mainly because they weren't a thing when I was growing up and they haven't really come up on my radar when browsing shelves at the library or bookstore. But when I spotted this one on NetGalley, I requested an ARC, mostly because I recently finished The Four Winds and Sold on a Monday, both of which take place in the dust bowl of the Great Depression and I wanted to see how my imagination of that time and place compared and contrasted with the images created by author/illustrator Aimée de Jongh.

First off, I strongly recommend reading this in print edition or on a screen that renders colour. My first time reading was on a black and white Kobo e-reader. I re-read this short work on my computer using Adobe Digital Editions and it was a much richer experience thanks to de Jongh's full-colour artwork. The mostly sand/dust and purple/black coloured drawings attempt to depict the relentlessness of a dust storm, but the text description of sand vs dust is what enriches that impression.

Second, I'm looking forward to Part 2 (and any subsequent parts), because I want to know the rest of the story behind the grim situation depicted in the first couple of pages, where the reader sees the ending of the story before going back in time to the beginning.

The storyline raises interesting questions. As a photographer myself, I particularly appreciated lead character John's dilemma - where's the line between a journalistic photograph and a staged photograph?

Although the story is mainly about photographer John's experiences in a alien-to-him landscape, his interactions with locals and his shot list provide rich hints of what it was like to live in the 1930s dustbowl.

I received this copy from NetGalley for a honest review.

Colorful art and photography blended with a engaging story.
Informative in explaining the need for documenting and ways to do so, of the dust bowl.
I look forward to the next one.

Amazing! The art was everything. You could feel the dryness and the heat and the sun theough colors alone. I loved it. I can't wait for the next pary, honestly.

A wonderful story about oklohama state during the great depression. It's artwork is exlemprary and wonderful. I liked the slow pace of the story. It moves at a pace of slow sand storm. It engulfs reader like one sand storm. It is full of sadness. It is part one and I will love to read second part too. A wonderful graphic novel and is highly recommended.

Days of sand is a story about perseverance and fighting against the odds.

It's about a 22 years old John Clark, a photographer from NYC who gets a job to at 'dust bowl' which is a region that's filled with droughts and dust storms as the name suggests. It takes place during the Great Depression, and we go in the journey of John as he explores this region.

This book has got some visually pleasing art, which is accompanied by real pictures at times. The script of this book is quite lyrical and within few words the emotion is transported to you.
It's a real quick read and would recommend it to anyone.

Thanks, Netgalley and Europe comics.

A very commendable graphic novel, this one – it has a lightness of touch in the script needed to do for the reader what one of its own characters is likewise tasked with. Our hero John, named after the famed photographer father he didn't find much favour with, is now in the game too – and has a new job of going to the Oklahoma panhandle, in the days when it's a No Man's Land – lost to the horrendous dust storms of the Great Depression. His imagery is hoped to kick the government into giving a damn, which is why I say being immersed in these pages is doing a similar job. You may have previously needed Steinbeck to get the hardship of it all across, but here we clearly get a sterling historical lesson.

It's the light script – the voice-over is a natural sounding one, the pages allowed to breathe visually and not be weighed down by too many words. Ironically, of course, breathing was at a premium, as pre-school children in gas masks from the dust, and all the lifeless, be-sanded terrain, convey. The artwork here is really strong – all the atmospheric effects look brilliant, the visuals manage to replicate his photographs in fine fashion, and it's all been done really competently. A large shift in the story's emphasis as this first part draws to a close may not be to everyone's taste, but it certainly left intrigue about what the next book would hold. And boy, I'd love the chance to see what the prospects for all these characters are – apart from the obvious one, that is. Probably four and a half stars, but I'll round it up to five as homage to the book reviewing gods, in hope I do get to see the rest.