Verse Novel

Out of the Dust

By: Karen Hesse

Hesse, Karen. Out of the Dust: A Novel. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

ISBN: 0590360809

Karen Hesse tells a tragic and triumphant story of a 14 year old girl named Billie Jo during the time of the Dust Bowl. Hesse writes Billie Jo's story through verse. After causing an accident by throwing kerosene onto a stove which leaves her pregnant mother and her own hands badly burned Billie Jo is faced with the fact of her mother's death while giving birth to her brother. Billie Jo is made to feel as if she is the one to blame for the tragedy. Billie Jo must learn how to deal with her distant father, her burned up hands that no longer can play the piano, and the drought and famine brought on by the Dust Bowl.

Hesse stirs up very strong emotions when reading about this young girl's life, and how difficult times were. Sadness over took me when reading the verses about Billie Jo's difficult times of physical and emotional pain. The poem titled "Blame" goes into great detail about the pain Billie Jo is feeling because of the circumstances of her life. Hesse gives very detailed descriptions about how terrible life was for those who lived during the Dust Bowl. The sense imagery and emotional impact she enforces with her descriptions of how everything was covered in dust feels like you are on the plains of Oklahoma yourself. "Dust Storm" is a poem with so much vivid imagery that describes scenes from this horrible time.

Out of the Dust not only tells a story of a young girl, it also tells about a very important and interesting event in our nation's history. Hesse's book was written for young adults and I know readers will really enjoy this realistic story. Her novel through verse gives great insight and knowledge pertaining to how bad things really were during the Dust Bowl.

All the poems are very consistent in quality, and they all flow together nicely to tell a powerful story. All the poems in the book are written by Karen Hesse, and each poem reinforces the main point of the book. The book is divided into seasons starting with the winter of 1934 and ending in the autumn of 1935.

Out of the Dust is a verse novel. The verses make the reader realize how fortunate we are, and how we should never take anything for granted. I do not see how anyone could read the pages from this book, and not have deep strong emotions stir up inside them. Hesse does an amazing job telling how Billie Jo turns her life around and pulls herself out of the dust.

Beginning: August 1920

I came too fast for the doctor,

bawling as soon as Daddy wiped his hand around

inside my mouth.

To hear Ma tell it,

I hollered myself red the day I was born.

Red's the color I've stayed ever since.

Daddy named me Billie Jo.

He wanted a boy.

Instead,

he got a long-legged girl

with a wide mouth

and cheekbones like bicycle handles.

He got a redheaded, freckled-faced, narrow-hipped girl

with a fondness for apples

and a hunger for playing fierce piano.

Activity: After reading the whole poem, discuss with students how the author is describing what took place when Billie Jo was born, and how the author describes characteristics about her. Students can then write a poem about themselves and what was happening when they were born, or they can write a poem about their own personal characteristics. Students can even interview family members to hear the story of when they were born, or characteristics about themselves when they were little.