Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0-590-36080-9
PLOT SUMMARY
Written in free verse and set in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years, fourteen year old Billie Jo shares the trials of living on a wheat farm. In addition to combating the dust storms, Billie Jo must deal with the accidental death of her pregnant mother, the abyss that exists between her and her father, and the burning of her hands -which were the key to her escape from the dust: playing the piano.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The title resonates a genesis of sorts. In school I was taught not to judge a book by its cover, yet that is exactly what I done. The dreadful blue cover and black and white picture of a rather ordinary girl does not say,"Pick me up! I'm a great read!" Nevertheless, I am captivated early on by the authenticity of voice and the beautiful imagery in the descriptions. Of her pregnant mother she states:
She was bare as a pear... My dazzling ma, round and ripe and striped like a
melon.
Of her father she states:
My father's voice starts and stops like a car short of gas, like an engine
chocked with dust...
As a fourteen year old, Billie Jo demonstrates a maturity beyond her years as she comes to conclude certain things about her life.
The way I see it, hard times aren't only
about money
or drought,
or dust.
Hard times are about losing spirit,
and hope,
and what happens when dreams dry up.
Readers are left with the comfort that Billie Jo and her father are on the road to better communication. While girls will be drawn to the journal-like entries of the book, the lack of riveting action packed scenes leads me to think that boys may see this a "chick book." While most of today's youngsters may not relate to a farm girl, they will relate to her plights: deferred dreams, fathers that are present, yet distant, and seeking forgiveness as well as seeking to forgive others.
This novel makes an enormous contribution heralding American heritage. The novel is for young adults and naturally lends itself to form part of American history curriculum. This novel would also make an excellent daily read aloud since the entries are short yet poignant.
REVIEWS
In a starred review of the 1998 Newbery Medal winner, set during the Depression, PW said, "This intimate novel, written in stanza form, poetically conveys the heat, dust and wind of Oklahoma. With each meticulously arranged entry Hesse paints a vivid picture of her heroine's emotions." From Publishers Weekly
"...Told in free-verse poetry of dated entries that span the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935, this is an unremittingly bleak portrait of one corner of Depression-era life. In Billie Jo, the only character who comes to life, Hesse (The Music of Dolphins, 1996, etc.) presents a hale and determined heroine who confronts unrelenting misery and begins to transcend it. The poem/novel ends with only a trace of hope; there are no pat endings, but a glimpse of beauty wrought from brutal reality. -From Kirkus Reviews
CONNECTIONS
So much can be done! This may be a great way to introduce journal writing across the contents.
There is a wealth of history and geography and art that can be connected to this book.
PBS presented Surviving the Dust bowl. It provides a documentary as well as excellent photography of dust storms.
The book makes mention of the Dionne Quintuplets. Students could read on the history of the girls and
Other books by Karen Hesse for younger readers: Lavender, Sable, Poppy's Chair and Lester's Dog.
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