Having suffered and survived the ravages of tuberculosis, Oklahoma natives Ed and Lillie Brown are determined to stay healthy and raise their children. But the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression have left them nearly destitute. Leaving friends, family, and everything familiar behind, they pack up their children and belongings and make the long journey to Mojave, California, in hopes of finding better health and a better life. The family begins anew in the fresh air of the desert. The children are able to play for hours in their huge backyard, Ed finds a good job working in the mines, and Lillie even learns how to drive. Even more wonderful, Lillie's health begins to improve. When World War II starts, the young children try not to let the war bother them, and five-year-old Charles and his friends have one adventure after another. Tunneling into old mine shafts and surviving a wild mustang stampede break the monotony of the restless atmosphere created by the war and leave the Brown family with cherished memories for years to come. Route 66 to Mojave: A Memoir delivers an unvarnished look at life during the Depression and World War II. The Brown family's triumphs and heartaches create a timeless story, brimming with human emotion.