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Kase Johnstun
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Let the Wild Grasses Grow Paperback – October 19, 2021

by Kase Johnstun (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
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"Beautiful and expansive…in Johnstun's Let the Wild Grasses Grow, Colorado has a successor to Kent Haruf."
—SEAN PRENTISS, author of Finding Abbey

Let the Wild Grasses Grow chronicles the lives of Della Chavez and John Cordova, childhood friends separated by a tragic accident, who find each other again during World War II after leading separate lives of struggle through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and, for John, abuse at the hands of his grandfather. This sweeping American love story celebrates the power of home landscapes, family heritage, and first love.
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  1. Print length
    250 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Torrey House Press
  4. Publication date
    October 19, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    194881451X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1948814515
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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From the Publisher

Let the Wild Grasses Grow

Praise from Kirkus Reviews

Let the Wild Grasses Grow cover

Praise from Leigh Camacho Rourks

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Johnstun knows his terrain well, creating a palpable sense of the sky and soil, grasses and wildlife of the mesa—and the winds of change that swept through the nation for two tumultuous decades. A tender evocation of grief, hope, and dignity."

—KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Johnstun weaves together a lyrical love story . . . his rich writing style pays homage to what it means to be a westerner, and to the intensity of true love."

—BOOKLIST

"In Johnstun's Let the Wild Grasses Grow, Colorado has a successor to Kent Haruf. This is a beautiful and expansive novel about two Hispanic families, their struggle to survive the Depression and racism, and their struggle to find love and their place in the world during World War II. A propulsive read."

—SEAN PRENTISS, author of Finding Abbey

"A multilayered, emotional novel that weaves history and family stories, from the Dust Bowl to World War II, seen through Hispanic eyes. Though it contains vivid depictions of the hardships and despair of the times, the power of hope, love, and community shines through these pages. Della and John are well–drawn characters that, by the end of the book, will feel like friends."

—TERESA DOVALPAGE, author of Queen of Bones

"An epic romance that spans from the Dust Bowl through World War II. It begins with a historical and agronomic view around Trinidad, Colorado, a southern farming town, and indeed that's where the wild grasses grow—but by the time the book ends, you will have traveled under the sea to the Pacific Theater of World War II and slipped into top–secret decoding rooms in Washington, DC. This novel tells the story of two Americans overcoming loss and prejudice, two Americans who persevere, who are bound together by love, by ambition, by intelligence and desire. This is a love story for people who love the earth, the dirt, the sky, and destiny written in the stars."

—DANIEL A. HOYT, author of This Book Is Not for You

"A universal survival story…Steeped in heart–wrenching historical detail, Johnstun's Colorado landscape evokes a sense of place and home so richly that you can feel that scorching sun, see those waving fields, taste that Dustbowl dirt. A timeless and diverse western Americana love story that will make you yearn for sunsets, hot chiles, tall grasses, and home."

—LEAH ANGSTMAN, author of Out Front the Following Sea

"A beautifully written narrative that speaks about universal issues we are still defining and working on today—like family, race, immigration, and love. Johnstun's prose is immediately relatable to any reader through its humor and the small, sacred, and compassionate moments that make all of us want to be a part of these characters' families. The conflicts that are overcome in this book, even though in an earlier time period, can give us hope, and let us know that we can get through the terrible problems of today."

—SEAN DAVIS, author of The Wax Bullet War

"Unflinching and beautiful, Johnstun's Let the Wild Grasses Grow is easy to fall into and hard to shake. It is at once lyrical and cinematic, an unexpected combination that perfectly sculpts the paradoxes of growing up and falling deeply in love in a country that both despises and needs you. This sweeping story spans a lifetime of tenderness, pain, adventure, and hope. The characters are sharp and witty, tough and warm, and so well drawn that I already know I will reread this book over and over, just to fall in love with them again, to watch them grow again, to mourn their losses, and to root for their triumphs. Do not miss it!"

—LEIGH CAMACHO ROURKS, author of Moon Trees and Other Orphans

About the Author

KASE JOHNSTUN lives and writes in Ogden, Utah. Author of Beyond the Grip of Craniosynostosis and coeditor of Utah Reflections: Stories from the Wasatch Front, he teaches at the Creative Nonfiction Foundation, the Graduate School in Creative Writing for Southern New Hampshire University, Barton Community College, and Weber State University. His essay collection Tortillas for Honkies was a finalist for the Autumn House Press Nonfiction Award, and his work has been published in Label Me Latino/a, Creative Nonfiction, The Watershed Review, and elsewhere. He holds an MA in Creative Writing and Literature from Kansas State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Pacific University. You can find him running on the trails of the Rocky Mountains along the face of the Wasatch Front.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Torrey House Press (October 19, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 250 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 194881451X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1948814515
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the author

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Kase Johnstun

Kase Johnstun

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Kase Johnstun is an award-winning essayist, memoirist. He is the Manager for The Utah Center for the Book (Library of Congress). He is the author of the award-winning memoir BEYOND THE GRIP OF CRANIOSYNOSTOSIS (McFarland 2015), the award-winning novel LET THE WILD GRASSES GROW (Torrey House Press, 2021), and the forthcoming novel CAST AWAY (Torrey House Press, 2024).

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
25 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Britta
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting Tale of a Vivid Past
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book was a real page-turner, sucking you into a vivid vision of the Colorado past with characters who leap off the page. I especially loved all the rich cultural details and the narrative of generations, heart-break, trials, courage and devotion that lasts a life time. I was especially drawn in to ranch life in Trinidad, the father who loves his chilies more than anything else in the world, and life during WWII both on a submarine and in the secret world of code-breakers. Told in the first person narrative from the two protagonists, "Let the Wild Grasses Grow," feels authentic and rich in a beautiful family history and love story I won't soon forget.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Epic story in a quick read
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
I wasn't sure if I would like this book based on the description. I'm more of a pop culture reader but wow was I ever surprised. I bought the book to read during my recent flights and I couldn't put it down. Kase has an easy flow and pacing that hooked me early. This years long journey of life, love, death and sacrifice was completely engaging. From simple times in the fields of Colorado to epic WWII battles in the Pacific Ocean, I did not expect the historic story that unfolded. The chapters breezed by and the scenes were vivid. I also believe that this story could easily translate to the big screen but read the book first!
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Mary V
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
There is so much to love about this book. The characters drew me in, the historical detail felt rich and authentic, and the story itself had me staying up late to finish it. I couldn't put it down!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent quality and service
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2022
Verified Purchase
My book was in excellent condition (exactly as described). It arrived sooner than expected.
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Beth Henshaw
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book a lot and especially enjoyed reading the two POVs. Great writing, highly recommend!
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Lexy Bombela
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Page-Turner
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2023
Read within a week, great book!
I love the chapter fonts!
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Rachel
5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2021
I stumbled upon this book a few weeks ago when we were staying in the tiny town of Mancos, Colorado while on a road trip with my dad. The local cidery was hosting an author reading and as I stepped out the door of our AirBnB, I could hear Kase reading over a speaker. We went across the river to check it out and got to meet the author, enjoy delicious cider, and bring home a great book.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but soon into the story, I found myself fully engaged and struggling to put it down. The narrative is told through the eyes of the two main characters and follows them from their childhoods in southern Colorado thru their adult life in various places around the country. Each of the characters was so well-developed you could almost see their faces and hear their voices as you read.

I’ve been reading a lot about racism, land abuse, and regenerative agriculture and it was fascinating to see how these issues were so influential in our state’s history almost a hundred years ago, as well.

Great read!
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Lutgart S.
5.0 out of 5 stars A story about the earth, about love, heritage and coming of age. This novel holds so much!
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2021
Let the Wild Grasses grow is a wonderful saga of two Hispanic families, set during the dustbowl era and the Great Depression in the United States, and the subsequent tragedies that befall them. It is a story of love, loss and hope and the coming of age of the two main characters John Cordova and Della Chavez as they struggle to find their place in the world and each other after years of separation during WWII.
Beautiful and lyrical with moments of true joy and humor as well as deep grief,
the novel draws you in from the very beginning and will keep you going back for more. More of this please. XXX
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