The Grapes of Wrath
(John Steinbeck)

Tom Joad has just been released from prison and is heading back to the farm his family lives on in Oklahoma. On the way, he meets a preacher named Jim Casy and the two men head to Tom’s family home where they find it deserted.

They learn that all the farming families have headed to California for work. Tom and Jim find the Joad family at the home of Tom’s Uncle John where they are packing up and getting ready to head out to California. It is a long and difficult journey on a road that is packed with other cars as it seems obvious everyone else is heading to California, as well.

Grampa Joad, who did not want to leave to begin with, dies soon after the trip begins. After arriving in California Granma Joad dies and Tom and Jim take turns getting into trouble while trying to find better conditions for the family. Jim is shot by a police officer, and, in return, Tom kills the police officer.

Tom’s sister, Rose of Sharon, gives birth to a baby who is stillborn and the family is forced to keep moving because they have to go where the work is and where they can be safe.

They happen across a barn during a storm one night and find a father and son. The father is dying because he has given all of his food to his son and Mrs. Joad realizes that Rose of Sharon is producing milk as she has just given birth and asks her to breastfeed the man in the hopes of keeping him alive.