Out of the Dust is a novel by award-winning author Karen Hesse. The novel is written completely in free verse, which provides a unique challenge to students who are used to reading prose.
The novel is set during the Dust Bowl in the 1930's and follows the trials and tribulations of a young female narrator, Billie Jo.
This novel can be incorporated into the ELA and Social Studies classroom into a number of ways. In ELA, Out of the Dust provides the opportunity for students to become familiar with free verse. Furthermore, novels written in verse are more accessible to readers of all abilities (struggling readers won't be intimidated by hundreds of words on a page, whereas proficient readers will be challenged/intrigued by a new form).
In the Social Studies classroom, Out of the Dust gives a more personal connection to the Dust Bowl, and is a nice companion to the famous Dorothea Lange photographs from the period.
As an English teacher, I would recommend this novel in 7th-8th grade, which pairs with the New York State Social Studies curriculum of American History in these grades.
I've never read that one but it sounds very good.
ReplyDeleteAnother book that could be paired with studying the dust bowl is John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.
I think it would be interesting to study the dust bowl through more than one novel.
Look at you go girl!!! WOOP WOOP!!! Great stuff! Already getting some great ideas!!
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading this book when I was in eighth grade, just because it was something different than we had ever had to read before.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new tips!