Tolog Review: Out of the Dust

Out of the Dust 
by Karen Hesse
reviewed by Fiona Mass 

Karen Hesse’s historical drama, Out of the Dust, tells the story of teenager Billie Joe and her emotional journey to escape the dust and find where she belongs. Billie Jo tells the story in first person in free verse poems. The poetry adds depth to the novel because not everything is described in detail, which leaves room for the imagination of the reader to interpret things the way they want and allows the reader to connect with Billie Jo on more personal levels. Then, Billie Jo’s life is thrown upside down when a tragic accident occurs that is partly her fault, and she must overcome her guilt and pain in order to forgive herself as well as return to the one thing she loves more than anything else, playing the piano.

Billie Jo is a thirteen year old girl living in Oklahoma in 1934. She lives with her mom and dad and loves to play the piano. Her dad works the land growing wheat, but as the dust eats away at their crops, they are lucky to make a quarter of the profits their land should. Billie Jo’s mother becomes pregnant, and they are all very excited for the new arrival. One morning, Billie Jo’s mother is cooking by the stove and reaches for the pail of water, only it isn’t water in the pail. It’s kerosene. The kerosene lights on fire and burns Billie Jo’s pregnant mother badly and Billie Jo’s hands. Billie Jo’s mother now spends her days writhing in pain in her bed while Billie Jo’s burnt hands keep her from the one thing that can make her feel better: her piano. Her mother passes away giving birth and they lose the baby. Now, Billie Jo and her father drift apart, she says, “I don’t know my father anymore” (Hesse 75). He won’t even look her in the eye when all she wants to do is make him proud. Will Billie Jo be able to make her father proud? Will she ever play the Piano again?

Karen Hesse’s writing style is unlike any I’ve ever seen before. She skillfully uses the poems to emphasize certain points and descriptions. She uses many analogies that create vivid imagery and interest such as to opening lines of the novel, “As summer wheat came ripe, so did I, born at home, on the kitchen floor” (Hesse 1). Hesse compares Billie Jo to the wheat which gives a mental image of the expansive wheat fields on a warm Summer day. Hesse also makes use of repetition to emphasize her points and show strong relations between things. Out of the Dust was a book unlike any I have ever read and had a really inspiring story. Billie Jo’s perseverance and dedication was very impactful and unpredictable at times. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good story about growth and family. I enjoyed watching Billie Jo adapt and grow, emotionally and physically throughout the novel, and am sure you will too.