Out of the Dust

Hesse, Karen, Out of the Dust, Scholastic, 1999, 227 pgs.

Summary: The depression is a very historical time period in the United States, but not an easy time to write about regardless of what the age group. Hesse crafts a novel from the eyes of a young girl living during the Depression in the heart of the plains. The whole novel is written in verse and highlights each event of two seasons. The joy of playing the piano and earning a dime plays in stark contrast to the tragic event the ultimately ends her mother’s life. The struggles of growing up as a girl without a mother with a father broken by the dust are powerful as Billie Jo decides to run away. The events throughout the novel are secondary to the real story of the power of sticking together and having a family.

Evaluation: This could be any story living in the plains during the depression and the story is unique enough to be believable, but could still be seen as a universal experience. As a huge fan of verse, I found this novel to be a unique way of using verse set in a time period. It is a simple and quick read. I would recommend this to all teachers to add to their curriculum to highlight the time period as well as the writing style. I would also put this in the hands of any young reader who believes that period books are boring.

Annotation: My hands looked deformed and all I had to eat was dust.

Significance of Book: This book is very unique as a time period piece written in verse. Stories of the Depression for young readers are not always well written and this one takes a unique writing style and speaks well to the time period.

Genre/subject: historical fiction, verse, The Depression, farming, family

Awards:

National:

• ALA Notable Children's Books: 1998
• Newbery Medal: 1998
• Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award: 1998

State:

• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age: 1999
• Virginia: Readers' Choice Award Nominees: 2001

Why I selected the book: I love verse books and was interested to find out what a time period piece would look like in verse.

Price: $6.99