The first part of the book speaks of the troubles in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Dust overwhelms the crops, the land, and the people. A truck is parked outside a diner; the driver leaves and runs into Tom Joad, who tricks the driver into giving him a ride. During the ride they speak of his past and his homicide conviction that he was paroled for. Tom picks up a turtle as a gift for his nephews, and meets Jim Casy, his former preacher. They go to Tom's home where they find the farms deserted. A passer-by, Muley Graves, tells them about the replacement of the tenants with tractors. The Joads moved in with Tom's Uncle John, picking cotton to earn money for a car to go to California.
             Tom meets his family when they arrive at John's house as they are packing up for California. There is a reminiscing of the family and Tom, where we are informed of all the family's status. The book talks about the arduous journey to California for all tenants. People are selling everything they have in order to get enough money to pursue life in California; the buyers pay very little for all the things the farmers are attempting to sell, taking advantage of the already suffering farmers. The family comes to a discussion of the trip to California. They drug Grampa to get him on the truck and set off. Steinbeck continues his discussion of the idea of the new men (on tractors) working the land but having no connection to it. Near the end of this section, the author refers to the line of cars along the road, again following the general population rather than the characters using this technique to add depth of understanding of the times and hardships. Salesmen take advantage of the flocking tenants once again through cars and parts as the cars continually break down.
             The Joads continue their trek to California talking and considering the future. They stop at a gas station and while they wait a car kills their dog. ...