Out of the Dust
by Karen Hesse

Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. New York: Scholastic. ISBN 0329087657

Billie Jo, the main character, writes of her life in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl from the winter of 1934 to the winter of 1935 through free verse. As we read about Billie Jo’s life, we realize through the free verse that Billie Jo does not have a lot to say, but what she does say is done with elegance and a sense of pride. We are taken on the journey of the death of Billie Jo’s mom and baby brother, her dad’s skin cancer, and the curiosity of where Billie Jo thinks she belongs. The novel takes on a narrative style with realistic and intense situations, which are characteristics of verse novels. Out of the Dust is a quick read, intended for fourth grade and up.