Out of the Dust Author: Karen Heese D ate published: October 1997 Genre: Realistic fiction

1. Out of the DustAuthor: Karen HeeseDate published: October 1997Genre: Realistic fiction Catie T. 1st Period

2. Setting • This book takes place during the great depression in Oklahoma. The Dust Bowl was also during this time period which hurt a lot of families because they could not grow crops or raise cattle during this painful drought.

3. Characters

4. Conflict • The great depression had a large drought that turned every thing to dust. When the powerful drought destroyed the crops, families were hurt in a time for need of food, water, and shelter. The conflict is Man vs. nature.

5. Summary of Plot • Billie Jo is a young girl that lives during the Great Depression. The Dust Bowl has hurt her family’s crops and she has lost her mother and brother to a painful accident. She tries to regain her confidence and hopes for the best.

6. Theme • Accidents can happen to anyone. • Text Evidence 1: Everyone blames her when her dad put the pail next to the stove. • Text Evidence 2: She didn’t know her mother was coming back. • Text Evidence 3: Billie Jo’s mother didn’t know it was kerosene.

7. Point of View • The point of view is third person limited because the author uses observations. She tells the story through Billie Jo’s eyes and includes her emotions throughout the story. If the author used a different point of view it would probably be through the eyes of someone else who is looking at the inccident.

8. Symbolism • I think the apple tree represents Billie Jo’s mother and the large green apples growing are her baby brother. When the dust dries, the tree dies like her mother dies because of the the kerosene.

9. Recommendation • I would recommend this book because of the hope for the drought to stop and the life of bother Billie Jo’s mom and brother. Also Billie Jo learns a lesson that accidents can happen to anyone but has a hard time believing half her family is gone.