Middle Grades Literature- Out of the Dust By: Karen Hesse

Welcome: Middle Grades Literature- Out of the Dust By: Karen Hesse
Description: This gripping story, written in sparse first-person, free-verse poems, is the compelling tale of Billie Jo's struggle to survive during the dust bowl years of the Depression. With stoic courage, she learns to cope with the loss of her mother and her grieving father's slow deterioration. There is hope at the end when Billie Jo's badly burned hands are healed, and she is able to play her beloved piano again. The 1998 Newbery Medal winner.
Grade Level: 6-8
Curriculum: English / Language Arts
Keywords: literature, dust bowl, Great Depression, grief, life experiences
Author(s): Jamie Hertz