Book 25A (Should Have Read in School): Out of The Dust by Karen Hesse

Out of The Dust by Karen Hesse

Publisher: Scholastic Books
Page Count: 256
Fiction Genre: YA, Historical
Dates Read: April 21, 2015

Summary
When Billie Jo is just fourteen she must endure heart-wrenching ordeals that no child should have to face. The quiet strength she displays while dealing with unspeakable loss is as surprising as it is inspiring.Written in free verse, this award-winning story is set in the heart of the Great Depression. It chronicles Oklahoma's staggering dust storms, and the environmental--and emotional--turmoil they leave in their path. An unforgettable tribute to hope and inner strength.

Review
Billie Jo is a young girl living in Oklahoma during the Depression and dust bowl. She lives with her parents, and is expecting a new sibling any day now. Billie Jo knows how to play the piano beautifully and helps bring in extra money for the family by playing concerts in town. Her whole life is about to be turned upside down because of a horrible accident. This story is told through Billie Jo's journal.

This was a very quick read, but I attribute that to the reading level. The book itself was good, and the writing style reminded me of Lois Lowry's Number the Stars. Though I believe this is a good book, in the end I didn't really care for it because the story line was very simple and there wasn't much complexity to this. However, I think that if I had read this at an age appropriate level I would have really liked it. I do have a lot of appreciation for the book and it's subject matter.

I give this 2 out of 5 stars.

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