Newbery Books discussion

I got mixed up and read View from Saturday instead of this. If anyone would like to comment/discuss this would be the right thread. I will have to come back after I read it.

I've been all month to post my review. I couldn't figure out how to be the first to post. I'm glad we're still active. As an young teen/adult book I give Out of the Dust 5 stars, as an elementary school book, only 4. The poetry/prose is lovely and touching to read and still we get a good lesson in US history, but 9 year olds shouldn't be encouraged to read a book where the child in the story feels responsible for "the death of her mother after a hideous accident that also leaves her piano-playing hands in pain and permanently scarred."

Kathy, I agree with you, I thought that the book had a good lesson on courage and rescilience for perhaps middle school aged kids, but (like you) I did not feel that it was appropriate for younger children. I enjoyed learning about the dust bowl days during the depression and obviously, Karen Hess did her research because the story seems to be very realistic, but it's just too depressing for young children. Karen Hess is a very talented writer, I've read and enjoyed several of her books, however, this one is not my favorite. If you want to read a really good book by Karen Hess then I would suggest Letters from Rifka or Witness.

Thanks for your recommendations, Annette. I also agree with Kathy's review. It seems that I've read several books lately written in blank verse (others by Sharon Creech). It flows simply and easily and you almost forget that you are reading poetry. But actually it is powerful and lovely to choose the perfect words and compress such meaning into them. I liked the part in Out of the Dust where the town took in the homeless family and let them live in the school while the mother had her baby. That act of hope, love and giving helped to balance out the grimness all around.

I wanted to share a comment from a friend of mine who is a middle school teacher. I liked what she said about "Out of the Dust."

She wrote:
"I loved this book. I have it on tape and many of my middle school RSP students enjoy it. I don't tell them it's really poetry - they find the concept of blank first too abstract. After they read it, and I tell them it was poetry they just read, they seem to "get it" and then have more openness about the idea of poetry.

It is grim - but the grimness is muted somewhat by the power of the words. A special gift that poetry gives to us!"

I love this book. The author describes the dust bowl so perfectly and in great detail. Like how they set the table with the plates upside down to keep the dirt off and yet dust still gets in their food, while they joke about pepper. The shame she feels about her mother, her happiness about the tree in the yard starting to thrive, the hobo that takes her food, it's all so real and tragic, but when children study our nations history in school (the fifth grade I think) this is a perfect way describe the pain and trials of that era. Later they may pick up Grapes of Wrath and understand more, but it's small steps.

It's a great way to realize all our blessings and luxuries today.