A Reading Guide to Out of the Dust

by Scholastic Inc. (Contributor)

This reading companion is perfect for students, parents, and teachers who have enjoyed and want to know more about Karen Hesse's Newbery Award-winning novel, Out of the Dust.Out of the Dust is a favorite middle-grade novel. This companion gives background on the author, including an interview, questions to guide reading, clues to the story's themes, plot, characters, and setting, a glossary, writing and other activities, and more. If you loved Out of the Dust, you need this reading companion.

64 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

For more than 100 years, Scholastic has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children's books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media.

Reviews

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planning to read with my 6th graders. Good history lesson about the Dust Bowl in the 30's.

[Sierra Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is about a young girl named Billie Jo growing up in Oklahoma. After the tragic event of losing her mother literally and her father figuratively. The Great Depression was present more so inside Billie Jo than in America at the time.
The young Billie Jo writes stanzas and poetry as her story. Each section is contrasted with dates and time, almost like diary entries turned into a song. Each poem has a singsong feel, almost like water torn up by a storm. Billie Jo expresses her sorrow from the loss of her mother and the vastness of escaping her hometown and explaining the paralleled dark openness of her home state.
Although this book was full of verklempt woe, there were highlighting plots of certain sections that lifted our spirits after they have been drowned in Billie Jo's sadness.
Karen Hesse captures the dark tones of the Great Depression while adding a child-like view of the world. The story makes the audience feel small and out of place. Out of the Dust is a great way to introduce history while folling a unique but heart-breaking story line.