OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse
Book Review: Poetry
OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse
Bibliography
Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. Scholastic Publishing. New York. ISBN 0590360809
Plot Summary
Fourteen-year-old Billie Jo narrates this story through her personal journal written in free-verse. Billie Jo writes of the depressing realities of living during the early 1900’s when constant dust storms blow hopes, like a fine dusting of red soil, completely over the plains. Billie Jo finds that all things she holds dear can suddenly be taken away with the wind. Billie Jo’s turmoil and grief include the loss of a parent, sibling, and the gift of music, in addition to the grit that continually buries her soul. Billie Jo finds hope when there appears to be none. She forges forward with a new connection with her father and together they find ways to forgive and move forward into a life that brought hardships and senseless losses.
Critical Analysis
The authors use of free-verse poems in this John Newbery award winning novel, allows the reader to share in the heroine’s thoughts and feelings. Reading the journal entries, a bond is created between the reader and the fictional narrator. Billie Jo’s losses feel real and painful. The triumphs over hardships become joyful celebrations to the reader. Hesse’s choice of book title, OUT OF THE DUST not only depicts the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the Depression, but can be understood as honoring of hope and inner strength. Hesse’s novel is by no means a lighthearted book of prose poetry but a tribute to a young girl who faces unbelievable tragedies and prevails over years of discontentment.
Review Excerpts
“This intimate novel, written in stanza from, 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
“After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry”. From Library School Journal
Connections
Teachers may use OUT OF THE DUST to teach US history regarding the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, one of the major events during the Depression Era.
Compare and contrast the hardships in Billie Jo’s life with the types of hardships students face today. It will be interesting to find similarities between the two eras.
Discuss what life lessons can be learned from OUT OF THE DUST.
Other books depicting hardships during the Depression Era:
Egan, Timothy. THE WORST HARD TIME: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE GREAT AMERICAN DUST BOWL. ISBN 0618773479
Henderson, Caroline. LETTERS FROM THE DUST BOWL. ISBN 0806135409
Stanley, Jerry. CHILDREN OF THE DUST BOWL: THE TRUE STORY OF THE SCHOOL AT WEEDPATCH CAMP. ISBN 0517880946
Photo courtesy of http://www.amazon.com/
Book Review: Poetry
OUT OF THE DUST by Karen Hesse
Bibliography
Hesse, Karen. 1997. OUT OF THE DUST. Scholastic Publishing. New York. ISBN 0590360809
Plot Summary
Fourteen-year-old Billie Jo narrates this story through her personal journal written in free-verse. Billie Jo writes of the depressing realities of living during the early 1900’s when constant dust storms blow hopes, like a fine dusting of red soil, completely over the plains. Billie Jo finds that all things she holds dear can suddenly be taken away with the wind. Billie Jo’s turmoil and grief include the loss of a parent, sibling, and the gift of music, in addition to the grit that continually buries her soul. Billie Jo finds hope when there appears to be none. She forges forward with a new connection with her father and together they find ways to forgive and move forward into a life that brought hardships and senseless losses.
Critical Analysis
The authors use of free-verse poems in this John Newbery award winning novel, allows the reader to share in the heroine’s thoughts and feelings. Reading the journal entries, a bond is created between the reader and the fictional narrator. Billie Jo’s losses feel real and painful. The triumphs over hardships become joyful celebrations to the reader. Hesse’s choice of book title, OUT OF THE DUST not only depicts the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the Depression, but can be understood as honoring of hope and inner strength. Hesse’s novel is by no means a lighthearted book of prose poetry but a tribute to a young girl who faces unbelievable tragedies and prevails over years of discontentment.
Review Excerpts
“This intimate novel, written in stanza from, 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
“After facing loss after loss during the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, Billie Jo begins to reconstruct her life. A triumphant story, eloquently told through prose-poetry”. From Library School Journal
Connections
Teachers may use OUT OF THE DUST to teach US history regarding the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, one of the major events during the Depression Era.
Compare and contrast the hardships in Billie Jo’s life with the types of hardships students face today. It will be interesting to find similarities between the two eras.
Discuss what life lessons can be learned from OUT OF THE DUST.
Other books depicting hardships during the Depression Era:
Egan, Timothy. THE WORST HARD TIME: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE GREAT AMERICAN DUST BOWL. ISBN 0618773479
Henderson, Caroline. LETTERS FROM THE DUST BOWL. ISBN 0806135409
Stanley, Jerry. CHILDREN OF THE DUST BOWL: THE TRUE STORY OF THE SCHOOL AT WEEDPATCH CAMP. ISBN 0517880946
Photo courtesy of http://www.amazon.com/
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment