Summary: This book is the story of a young girl, Billie Jo. She is growing up in the panhandle of Oklahoma during the dust bowl of the Great depression. Her and her father are tying to make a life for themselves after the death of her Ma and baby brother. She must learn to forgive herself, how to grow, and how to overcome the many trials she faces.
Citation: Hesse, K. (1997). Out of the dust. New York: Scholastic Press.
Impressions: I love the way Hesse has used poetry and prose to write the story of Billie Jo during the Great Depression. It is written as if Billie Jo is speaking directly to the reader. It is a wonderful book discussing some of the issues concerning the dust bowl. I almost felt like I was choking on dust by the descriptions on the prairies in this book. This is one of the best books I have read. I would recommend it to anyone.
Reviews:
"The story is bleak, but Hesse’s writing transcends the gloom and transforms it into a powerfully compelling tale of a girl with enormous strength, courage, and love. The entire novel is written in very readable blank verse, a superb choice for bringing out the exquisite agony and delight to be found in such a difficult period lived by such a vibrant character. It also spares the reader the trouble of wading through pages of distressing text, distilling all the experiences into brief, acutely observed phrases. This is an excellent book for discussion, and many of the poems stand alone sufficiently to be used as powerful supplements to a history lesson.”- Susan Dove Lempke
Dove Lempke, S. (1997) Out of the dust. Booklist Online, 4(3). Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Out-of-the-Dust-Karen-Hesse/pid=1022730
“Set in the drought-stricken dust bowl of Oklahoma of the 30s, written in free verse, told by as memorable a heroine as you will meet in YA literature, Out of the Dust will wrench your gut. You will meet fifteen-year-old Billie Jo, not yet defeated by the Grapes of Wrath kind of poverty that grinds families to the very dust that ruins them; she is helped in her resolve by her mother. But then in a bizarre accident, one Billie Jo played an innocent but deadly part in, her mother is killed. Her father cannot cope, and Billie Jo is left with just her own personal resources. These, however, are considerable. Please read this book. You will agree with me (and with the committee which selected it for the 1997 Newbery Medal) that it is a distinguished novel, richly meriting as wide a readership as possible among teens, among adults. It is very good.”
Hipple, T. (1998). Out of the Dust. The ALAN Review, 25(3). Retrieved from Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database.
Library Setting: A good way this book could be used in the library setting would be when discussing history. The images in this book are amazing for readers who may not fully understand the severity of the Great Depression and dust bowl. A programmer could have students read books from concerning United States history. This would help students become more interested in historical fiction.
