Out of the Dust By: Karen Hessee

Billie Jo the main personality throughout the novel demonstrates enormous strength, courage throughout her ordeal. This book is written in free-verse poems, so the reader is able to understand the story. The story takes place during the depression in Oklahoma, when times were very hard to make ends meet.

Billie Jo grew up in the dust bowl, where farming was impossible, due to environment, and poor conditions of the soil. Farming was poor due to the dust that accumulated , andd no water available.

Billie Jo's Mother died when she was 14 years old in a freak accident that happened in the kitchen of their house. Billie Jo was often hired as a pianist, and made a few dollars.

After the death of her Mother Billie Jo decided to leave her home, and seek a better life in Arizona. She got on a box car on a train for three days. She did lots of thinking, and decided to return home. She now got along with her Father. Billie Jo's Dad, has a special lady friend Louise.

This book is very interesting, but true, and very clear about happenings in the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression. It deescribes trials, and problems in the 1920's, and 1930's in the United States. L.D. 5/16/05