Search - Out Of The Dust

Written as a free style poem, this book is heart wrenching and compelling. Vivid imagery effectively forces the reader to go through the same sorrows and joys that Billy Joe experiences. I could not put it down until I was finished.

Excellent book about the dust bowl. Hesse is a great writer and this story is very captivating.

Younger readers may enjoy most, junior high and below. "A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better - playing the piano - is impossible with her wounded hands. To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma - and in the surprising landscape of her own heart." The book told in free form poems.

Newbery Medal Winner - unique format, sort of like a diary in blank verse.

Winner of the Newbery Medal adn the Scott O'Dell award.

Excellent story set during the dust bowl. Told from a teenager's viewpoint in freeverse.

This book is sad and intriguing at the same time. It's written in poetry-form and is a hard book to put down

This book made me cry and I LOVED it!

awesome book! great for adults and kids!

Although this is classified as a children's book, both my mother and I enjoyed it very much. Not just for kids!

Scholastic-Newberry medal book. A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better--playing the piano--is impossible with her wounded hands.

Haven't read it but I know moms or dad who read it as a chapter book to their kid each night--like a chapter a night, instead of a picture book. Geared for young readers (9+).

A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better-playing the piano-is impossible with her wounded hands.
To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma-and in the surprising landscape of her own heart.

children's poetry telling a story - I had to read it for a class... it was hard for me to get into tho and I love poetry.

Very good book

a terrible accident changes everthing.

A terible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might make her feel better-playing the piano- is impossible with her wounded hands.

To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, BIllie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma-and in the surprising landscape of her own hear.
Winner of: Newberry Medal
Scott O'Dell Award
ALA Notable Children's Book
ALA Best Book for Young Adults
A School library Journal BEst Book of the Year
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A Book Links "lasting Connection"
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A NY Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection

Newberry winner, Scott O'Dell winner, Booklist Editors choice, School Library Journal Best Book of The Year winner --- and many more!!!

This story is told in the form of free verse poetry but it is much more than a collection of poems. Each one tells a little more of the story. Great for pre teens and adults.

from back cover:
"A terrible accident has transformed Billie Jo's life, scarring her inside and out. Her mother is gone. Her father can't talk about it. And the one thing that might maker her feel better - playing the piano- is impossible with her wounded hands.
To make matters worse, dust storms are devastating the family farm and all the farms nearby. While others flee from the dust bowl, Billie Jo is left to find peace in the bleak landscape of Oklahoma - and in the surprising landscape of her own heart.

4 out of 5. Beautifully written in a free form poetic style, gives a girl's view of events that happened to her and her family in the Oklahoma dust bowl years of her adolescence. Moving.