Out of the Dust
Written by Karen Hesse
Grades: 3-7
Awards:
Out of the Dust is told by it's main character Billy Jo. Billy Jo is a 14 year old girl growing up in Oklahoma during the dust bowl. Her father wanted a boy but, got her instead. That is why she has a boy name. Billy Jo also plays the piano very well. Her mom has become pregnant again after years of trying. The farm's wheat crop has not done well because of the dust. Her father places the bucket of kerosene by the stove which her mother mistakes for water. Trying to help her mother Billy Jo goes to throw the fiery bucket out the door and hits her mother. Billy Jo then burns hers hands trying to help put the fire out on her mother. Billy Jo's mother is severely burned and goes into labor. Her mother dies soon after having a baby boy. The baby dies not long after. Billy Jo's father goes into a deep depression. Billy Jo is also upset and blames herself. Her hands are ruined and she feels she will never play the piano again. Life for Billy Jo and her father gets harder as the gap between them grows. The dust just rises higher and blows harder. When they think the dust is going to stop a bigger storm comes. Billy Jo finally decides to leave and hops on a box car to go to California. Everyone is heading to California for a better life. In Arizona she meets a man who has left his family too. He makes Billy Jo realize how much she misses her father and how they should stay together because of the things they have been through. Billy Jo heads home. She and her father start to mend their relationship. Her father has even found a girlfriend. Life starts to get better. Billy Jo even starts to play the piano again.
This book can be used to teach about perseverance during hard times. It can teach about the dust bowl and how hard it was for families. It can show how to much of a good thing can be bad sometimes.
