The Worst Hard Time

The Worst Hard Time

by

Timothy Egan

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Worst Hard Time makes teaching easy.
At the height of the Dust Bowl, Garza was a thirty-five-year-old rancher who had been born on the Lujan ranch on the banks of Carrumpa Creek, “in a tiny shed.” Garza “grew up loving horses and running sheep, [as well as] bucking broncs.” The Lujan family treated him like a son.
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Joe Garza Character Timeline in The Worst Hard Time

The timeline below shows where the character Joe Garza appears in The Worst Hard Time. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 8: In a Dry Land
Westward Expansion and the Settlement of the Southern Plains Theme Icon
Anglo Culture and Racism Theme Icon
...and Catholics. Together, they had nine children, though five died in childbirth or shortly thereafter. Joe Garza was also born on the ranch, and the Lujans treated him like a son. (full context)
Anglo Culture and Racism Theme Icon
Environmental Devastation and the Dust Bowl Theme Icon
...were only a few patches of brown. Worse, the dust was killing Lujan’s wife, Virginia. Joe Garza ’s father, Pablo, also suffered from bronchial fits. (full context)
Chapter 16: Black Sunday
Environmental Devastation and the Dust Bowl Theme Icon
In northern No Man’s Land, Joe Garza was taking advantage of the clear, sunny day to find stray cattle. He was thirty-five... (full context)