Title: Out of the Dust
Author: Karen Hesse
Published Year: 1997
Pages: 227 pages
Awards: John Newberry Medal, Scott O'Dell Award
I was first introduced to this book in 2001 at the end of my junior year of high school. I had gone to the local Elementary school for lunch as a fun event for Elementary school kids to have a high school kid as a friend. Part of the lunch event was going into the classroom as well as having lunch and getting to go to recess. During the classroom part, this book was the school work that was being read at the time. Each kid had a copy that the teacher had paid for out of her own pocket, and while she read, the students all followed along. The kids were actually all into it, and when she gave them a chance to read part of it aloud during the reading time.
The book takes place during the Great Dust Bowel while FDR was president. It follows the life of a little girl living right in the middle of the Dust Bowel in Oklahoma and the trials and tribulations her family goes through during a couple years.
The way the book is written is perfect for a 5th or 6th grader and also provides historical references in a setting that is easy for that age group to identify with. After reading I could not help but think it was a much younger version of Grapes of Wrath. It also reminded me of Sarah Plain and Tall.
I do recommend this not only for the young adult crowd but for the adults as well. For me it was a quick read but has kept many vivid images alive in my imagination based on the picture the author is able to create.
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