Literature Guide: Out of the Dust (Grades 4-8)

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Summary: Good book for a gloomy day
Review: I thought this was a good book because it was very sad book and it really showed me how it would be without a mom a dad who was so hurt by this that he lost all intrest in his child Billy Jo. It was a good book and I would recamend it to everyone

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Summary: Hesse's Out of the Dust
Review: Billy Jo longs to escape the Oklahoma dust bowl and to leave behind the family and personal tragedy she has met there. However, when she takes advantage of an opportunity to leave, she learns that the dust and family she leaves behind are more valuable than what lies ahead.

Rating:
Summary: Okay but needs more
Review: I liked this but it wasn't the best. I'm not saying it was stupid, but if your looking for a great read: don't get it.

Rating:
Summary: Out of the dust
Review: The best book i have ever read would be out of the dust. The book is about a young girl named Bobby Jo who is living in the dust bowl during the great depression. Bobby Jo's life is hard and her mom, with a baby on the way, has been severely burnt along with Bobby Jo's hands. Her mother dies in birth anlong with her brother. Her Father is depressed and cannot raise crops in the dry weather. Bobby Jo's passon is to play the piano but cannot because she used to play with her mother and her hands are still burntand it hurts to much. This book ends with her father marrying a woman who Bobby Jo really likes,but her mother and brother are still with her.

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Summary: Good book if you want to be depressed
Review: This book takes realistic fiction for children too far. Although it is well-written, it is very depressing. It gives the reader an interesting inside view of life in the dustbowl, and the narrator is a very interesting and likeable character, but her life goes from sad to tragic to VERY sad to EXTREMELY depressing to UNBEARABLY sad - and only near the very end is there a somewhat positive ending. The overall feeling that this book conveys is depression. More space should have been given to dealing with issues in a positive manner and, possibly,how to overcome obstacles - even if only small steps can be taken.Most kids can think of depressing situations - very few know how to resolve conflicts and overcome life's setbacks. This is the type of book that adults choose to show their kids "so you think you have it bad..." and some are caught up in the novelty of the easily readable poetic form, but I don't think many children will enjoy it.

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Summary: My favorite book!
Review: I read Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. The book is about a girl named Billy Jo. She lives in the early 1930's, in Oklahoma. There are many dust storms, so her family has not had much luck with crops. Soon, Billy Jo's mom dies through her own fault. Problems start without mom around, and Billy Jo and her dad are not very close. Karen Hesse, the author, expreses Billy Jo's feelings in poetry. The story really sounds possible, it talks about a strong girl who can really be on her own. I really liked the like poetry in this book. So far it has been one of the best books I've ever read. The book had places where you could not put the book down. This book won the Newbery Medal!

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Summary: Out of the Dust
Review: Out of the dust was a wonderful book. I was moved by what the author had to say. I'm telling everyone to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for all ages
Review: I was interested in reading this book when it was awarded the Newberry Medal and never got around to it, but when it ended up on a list of the best Children's/Young Adult's books of the past century, I knew I had to read it. I am sorry I waited so long. I was so touched by the story, the emotions and the tragedy which was a part of daily life during the dust bowl. I have already passed along the book and have started telling everyone I know to read it. Don't miss this one!

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Summary: i really liked this book
Review: this girl name billie jo is from oklahoma. there is a huge duststorm and everything is cruddy.her mother died while giving birth.billie jo doesn't know what to do without her mother.her father doesn't talk much about it.bilie jo has a piano and she cannot play it becuase of her hands.the father meet this woman and billie jo doesn't want anything to do with her.some of billie jo's friends had to leave away from the dust.

Rating:
Summary: Out of the Dust
Review: I think this is a very interesting book. It really explains how the main character is feeling and what she wants to do to try to save her family. At the end it's not really a happy ending but it's ok. It's not the best book I've ever read but, it's pretty good.