For my historical fiction book talk, I read Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse.

This book took place in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. The book states “But the entire Oklahoma Panhandle is so dry, everything is going up in flames” (Hesse 156). This book takes place in the 1930’s. The novel explains “January 1934” (Hesse 7). There were dry wheat fields and apple trees. For example, the book says “I walk with Daddy around the farm and see that the pond is holding its own, it will keep Ma’s apple trees alive, nourish her garden, help grass around it grow, enough to lie in and dream if I feel like it. . . As long as the dust doesn’t crush the winter wheat, we’ll have something to show in the spring” (Hesse 219). The ground is almost always covered with the thick blanket of dust from the dust storms. The book points out “I was sulking in the car beside my father when heaven’s shadow crept across the plains, a black cloud. . . More birds tumbled from the sky frantically keeping ahead of the dust. We watched as the storm swallowed the light. The sky turned from blue to black, night descended in an instant and the dust was on us. The wind screamed. The blowing …show more content…
Billie Jo is a fourteen year old girl that has red hair and a freckled-face. She was passionate about playing piano until a terrible accident caused her to lose her mother and brother. The accident also caused Billie Jo to burn her hands so that she has lumps of flesh for hands. Playing the piano is the only thing that can help Billie Jo feel better, but her wounds keep her from playing the piano. Billie Jo has a person vs. self conflict because she has to find a way to get over her mother’s and brother’s death. Also, Billie Jo’s father does not notice that Billie Jo is there, so she has to deal with her father forgetting about her. Billie Jo and her father do not talk to each other and become isolated as they deal with their character vs. self