Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

This Newbery Award-winning book, Out of the Dust, tells the trying story of Billy Jo as she encounters numerous obstacles during the Dust Bowl years. Set in 1934 and 1935, not only was the Dust Bowl occurring in places like Oklahoma but also the Great Depression continued, leaving families destitute and forlorn. Told in poetic verse from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Billy Jo, Billy Jo writes a heartwrenching, honest story that captures the painstaking, grim realities of this time and her situation. In a freak accident, Billy Jo's mother dies, which causes both Billy Jo and her father to place blame on themselves. Over the course of the novel, Billy Jo must learn to forgive both her father and herself while also finding her roots.

The free-verse poetic writing of this novel is what sets this novel apart for me. Billy Jo writes so honestly and openly that I lose myself in her words. Billy Jo uses vivid imagery to describe her multiple ordeals and hardships through her expression of her emotions and descriptions of the land. The reader visualizes and tastes the biting, swirling, intoxicating dust settling everywhere and making its presence known. In one of Billy's Jo's entries entitled 'The Dream' the verse spreads itself as though Billy Jo is in a dream-like state as she writes this. Just when Billy Jo gets a glimmer of hope that rain might be coming, a new dust storm often arises, and hope dissipates for the time being.

Despite all that goes on, I found myself admiring Billy Jo and her strong character. After her mother's death, Billy Jo attempts to go on with everyday life while her dad gradually decays into shambles. Billy Jo manages to maintain dignity and faith amidst grief, sadness, and grim realities. Her love for piano-playing reminds me of the importance of finding one's special talent when all other things in life are not going in the right direction. Although Billy Jo's situation is rather miserable, she perseveres and becomes the heroine of the novel. Intended for upper elementary students, this novel would nicely correspond with social studies lessons about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

Out of the Dust also reminds readers that we long to know our roots. Billy Jo in particular hopes to get "out of the dust," and she rides a boxcar all the way to Flagstaff, Arizona where she realizes that all she wants to do is go back home. Reconnecting with her father, Billy Jo finds solace in Oklahoma and leaves the reader with a glimmer of hope for Billy Jo and her father's future. This themes of self-discovery and emerging identity capture the feelings of many early adolescent girls. Out of the Dust is a memorable account of the raw emotions associated with the 1930s during the Great Depression.