Out of the Dust

by Karen Hesse

1997

Ages: 11-13

Genre(s): Historical fiction

Newbury Award

Scott O'Dell Award

Summary:  Written in free verse, Out of the Dust tells the story of a young girl growing up during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the Great Depression.  She and her family have many trials to overcome but Billie Jo is happy enough and loves getting to play the piano.  She is even starting to get to perform some.  Tragedy strikes one day as her mom and little brother are killed in a horrible accident.  Billie Jo blames herself and her dad.  She and her father grow farther apart as he sinks into a depression and she wants to get away from it all.  Billie Jo runs away and discovers things for how they truly are, changing her life.

My reaction:  This story is a poignant story about the lives of those who suffered in the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.  This story would be a great way to give perspective to a history curriculum when students are studying these time periods. 

Out of the Dust book study source. Scholastic.com