Out of the Dust

Biblio Bits Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse, Scholastic Press, 1997 (ISBN 0590360809)

Reading Level/Interest Age Ages 11-14

Genre Poetic narrative, Historical fiction

Plot Summary

This 1998 Newbery Award winner introduces fourteen year-old Billie Jo Kelby, a girl living in the Oklahoma dustbowl in the 1930s. Billie Jo narrates the story through spare, poetic free verse, and conveys a story of struggle and devastation, small victories and hope. The Kelby’s own a piano, which is unusual for a family of their position, and both Billie Jo and her mother play, though in differing styles. When Billie Jo loses her mother and newborn brother after a fire, she and her father must recover from their grief and forge a new relationship. Billie Jo’s hands have also been badly burned, which means she cannot play the piano without pain. This is an engaging portrait of personal triumph, set in a unique time and place.

Critical Evaluation

Hesse succeeds in drawing a vivid portrait of this period of hardship from American history; the land itself and the weather play important supporting roles in this story. Each entry includes a title with a month and year; sections are marked by the seasons, which underscores the importance of the land and growing periods at this time and in this place. There is a lot of white space on the pages, and though it "looks" like a book of poetry the narrative element and character development makes a strong, and sometimes suspenseful, plot that will carry readers along. This could also be a good historical fiction selection for a reluctant reader.

Reader's Annotation

Sometimes just the act of living is courageous. When Billie Jo is responsible for a terrible accident, she loses her mother, her baby brother, and her music. What will her new life be like, with just her dad, surviving the Great Depression?

Author Information

Karen Hesse was born in 1952 and grew up in Baltimore (MD). She credits her fifth-grade teacher with encouraging her love of language and writing, and though she worked at a variety of jobs, she "never gave up dreaming about publication" (Scholastic, n.d.). Hesse currently lives in Vermont with her husband and two daughters. (Information in this author biography is from her official site at Scholastic.)

Challenge issues

Bleak and devastating, in keeping with the historical time period, and some references to the dancehalls. Nothing explicit, however.

Booktalking Ideas

I would want to give listeners a feeling for the vastness and importance of the landscape and land in this book. The land is sometimes fickle, untrustworthy, difficult, and punishing. I would choose to put this in a booktalk with other engaging, historical books from various time periods. But it could also fit as an obvious choice with books on the Great Depression, both fiction and nonfiction. Showing some of Dorothea Lange's or Walker Evans' photographs could round out a presentation.

Curriculum Ties

Well, it's an obvious choice for a historical fiction unit in a language arts class, as well as for a social studies class on the Great Depression; it's a deeply atmospheric book that offers insight into the life of a real girl living during this time. But it could also be a great book for small literature circles or book groups since there is so much that is said and unsaid on the pages, giving readers a lot to discuss.

Why this book?
This book was the first that brought poetic narrative for young adults to my attention. There's something about the spareness of the page and the words that makes for a powerful impact on a reader. Since then, others have experimented with the genre including Sharon Creech and Sonja Sones.

Awards
Newbery Award, 1998; Scott O'Dell Historical Fiction Award; Booklist Editor's Choice, Books for Older Readers; ALA Notable Children's Books, 1998; School Library Journal Best Books, 1997.

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Biblio Bits Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko, Putnam Juvenile, 2004 (ISBN 9780399238611)

Reading Level/Interest Age 10-12

Genre Realistic fiction, historical fiction

Plot Summary

Moose and his family move to Alcatraz Island so his dad can work at the prison, but also so that they will be close to San Francisco and a special school for his sister to attend. Moose's sister Natalie has symptoms of autism (though no one calls it that back then) and his mother hopes that Natalie will be accepted into the school that could make a difference in Natalie's condition. Meanwhile, Moose adjusts to a new home on the island that houses the famous prison in which Al Capone served time. There are several other families with children on the island, and Moose quickly learns that the warden's daughter, Piper, has a lot of ideas that could land them in trouble. When his mom takes a job teaching piano lessons in the city, it means that Moose has to look after Natalie in the afternoons after school (treating her "like a regular sister"); not only does this inhibit his ability to play baseball with his school mates, but it also means that Moose and Natalie develop a deeper relationship.

Critical Evaluation

Moose narrates with a vivid and funny voice; readers can sense he is a "real" boy, one who likes baseball, is just deciphering the boy/girl thing, and has family obligations that sometimes feel like a burden to him. The characters are realistic (particularly the kids and how they relate to each other), with many humorous exchanges and believable dialogue. The story is engaging and captivating, particularly with the dramatic tension that Piper's character introduces. Additionally, towards the middle and end of the book, tension builds again when Moose spots his sister holding hands with an inmate (when Moose was supposed to be watching her). The heartwarming conclusion has a twist that leaves a reader wondering about what really happened. Though set in the 1930s, it's clear that the concerns for 12 year-old boys have not changed much.

Reader's Annotation

Not everyone goes to Alcatraz because they are a high-profile criminal like Al Capone; Moose moves there with his family so his dad can work at the prison. But when Moose meets the Warden's daughter, he knows that not all the trouble-makers are behind bars.

Author Information

Award-winning children's author Gennifer Choldenko has written several titles for children and young adults. She studied art at Rhode Island School of Design and began in a career of graphic design and illustration. Choldenko grew up in a large family, including one sister with symptoms of autism, after whom Natalie's character is based (in the Notes section of the book). Choldenko resides in California with her husband and two children. (Author biographical details, except where noted, are from the Bloomsbury Publishing website.)

Challenge issues

One potential challenge could be the uncertainty that surrounds Natalie's contact with the convict. All that Moose witnesses is Natalie holding hands with him, but he fears that it could have been (or might have been) more sinister. This reference might upset younger readers or their parents.

Booktalking Ideas

This title would be a good one to include in a booktalk on families that include people with special needs or how people with special needs have been viewed and treated in history. It could also go in a historical fiction booktalk or booktalk based on 1st-person narratives.

Curriculum Ties

Life in the 1930s would be a good one, since the focus of this book is not the big issues like the Great Depression, but more about the lives of regular people and the things they did and thought about. It would be a natural choice for a unit on people with special needs and how they have been viewed through history (mentioned above also).

Why this book?
With Moose's engaging narration, a plot that flows and moves along, while developing believable characters, and humor, this book is a natural selection for readers looking for a good historical fiction novel (though the history is not necessarily the main event here). Fans of The Schwa Was Here (Shusterman) might also enjoy this book, for the similar tone and humor, pace, friendships that are developed, and obstacles that are overcome.

Series/Sequel

Al Capone Shines My Shoes is due out in fall 2009, according to a Publisher's Weekly interview.

Awards
Newbery Honor 2005, School Library Journal 2004, ALA Notable Books 2005

Rockport Public Library owns?

Yes