By this time, you've probably figured out that Out of the Dust is full of darkness, depression, death, and despair. We've got some good news, though—it's not all that bad. Remember, it's called Out of the Dust for a reason: it's ultimately about how Billie Jo and the gang move past their difficulties and develop hope for the future. And all of them, be they major characters like Billie Jo and her dad or minor players like Joe De La Flor, display different degrees of determination and grit.
The moral of this story is definitely fall down once (or like, fifty times), and get up twice (or fifty-one times, as the case may be).
Questions About Perseverance
- You are the head of the nominations committee for this year's winner of the Most Determined Literary Character Award. Which character from Out of the Dust would you nominate and why?
- How do Daddy and Billie Jo share the same sense of determination?
- What factors motivate characters in the book to persevere against the challenges of the Dust Bowl?
- Imagine what Billie Jo's future looks like after the book's conclusion. What does she end up doing with her life? How is her outlook on the world different as a result of going through the Dust Bowl and losing her mother?
Chew on This
Billie Jo and Daddy can only overcome their circumstances when they decide to work together.
Billie Jo shares the same motivations for continuing to play piano as Daddy does for continuing to grow wheat in dire circumstances.