History Literature / OutOfTheDust

* ICouldaBeenAContender: Ma. At least Billie thought so.

* UnnamedParent: Averted with Billie Jo's father, whose name is revealed to be "Bayard". Also averted with her other, who is referred to once as "Polly" (and twice "Pol" by her husband).

** From the chapter "Midnight Truth'':

'''''Out of the Dust''''' is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the UsefulNotes/NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest kind]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically]], and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as the hole in their lives created by the death of Ma.

'''''Out of the Dust''''' is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest kind]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically]], and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as the hole in their lives created by the death of Ma.

* DrowningHisSorrows: After Ma gets [[spoiler: disfigured in the kerosene accident,]] Bayard does this in a nearby town called Guymon to forget his life's problems. [[WhatTheHellHero Billie isn't happy about it]], although she forgives him for it fairly quickly (at least, much quicker than for causing the FreakAccident).

-->''I called Mr. Hardly from her office and asked him to let my father... I was coming home''.

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest kind]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically]], and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as the hole in their lives created by the death of Ma.

* SecondPlaceIsForLosers: Subverted, Billie Jo is proud of herself when she wins second-place in the TalentContest.

* UnnamedParent: Averted with Billie Jo's father, whose name is revealed to be "Bayard". Also averted with her other, who is referred to once as "Polly".

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest kind]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: [[DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically]],]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole in their lives created by the death of Ma.]]

* BodyHorror: [[spoiler: Happens to Ma after Billie Jo accidentally douses her in kerosene. She dies shortly after.]] It also happens to Billie herself, as her hands [[spoiler: become crippled due to third-degree burns.]]

* UnnamedParent: Averted with Billie Jo's father, whose name is revealed to be Bayard.

* DeathByChildbirth: [[spoiler: Ma, who dies giving birth to Billie's would-be baby brother.]]

* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Ma was a [[GoodParents pretty nice and caring]] mother, so naturally, [[spoiler: she has to die.]]

* EarnYourHappyEnding: Well, not really a ''happy'' ending - it ''is'' TheGreatDepression, after all. But after a bookload of suffering, the surviving characters are much happier by thr end than at any other point in the entire novel, espicially Daddy.

* NotSoStoic: When Billie Jo and Daddy go to a town ball, he actually ''smiles and laughs.'' Billie is noticeably shocked.

* DrowningHisSorrows: After Ma gets [[spoiler: disfigured in the kerosene accident,]] Bayard does this in a nearby town called Guymon to forget his life's problems. [[WhatTheHellHero Billie isn't happy about it.]]
* EarnYourHappyEnding: Well, not really a ''happy'' ending - it ''is'' TheGreatDepression, after all. But the characters, especially Daddy, are much happier at the very end than at any other point in the entire novel, and they had to go through a ''shitload'' of suffering first.
* {{Escapism}}: [[InUniverse In-universe]], Billie Jo plays the piano as a way to escape her brutal, unforgiving life.

* SlidingScaleOfRealisticVersusFantastic: As realistic as humanly possible, though it's to be expected, considering it's basically the kiddie equivalent of a [[JohnSteinbeck Steinbeck]] novel.

--> '''Daddy''': I didn't have half your sauce, Billie Jo.

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest kind]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: [[DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically]],]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole created by the death of Ma.]]

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest caring]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: [[DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically]],]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole created by the death of Ma.]]

* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Ma was a [[GoodParents pretty nice and caring]] mother, so, naturally, [[spoiler: she has to die.]]

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest caring]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically,]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole created by the death of Ma.]]

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[GoodParents caring]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically,]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole created by the death of Ma.]]

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[GoodParents caring]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically,]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy [[CharacterDevelopment learn to endure]] their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole created by death of Ma.]]

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression. She has a [[GoodParents caring]] mother, nicknamed Ma, [[spoiler: DeathByNewberyMedal who dies tragically,]] and a [[TheStoic distant]] father, nicknamed Daddy. As the novel progresses, Billie Jo and Daddy learn to endure their tough existences, as well as [[spoiler: the hole created by death of Ma.]]

Out of the Dust is a 1997 novel by acclaimed children's author Karen Hesse. It won the NewberyMedal in 1998. The novel is a collection of free-verse poems, making it a unique entry in the world of ChildrensLiterature. The plot deals with its protagonist Billie Jo Kelby, a [[{{Tomboy}} tomboyish]], talented pianist, struggling to survive in the Oklahoma Dust Bowl during TheGreatDepression.

* SoProudOfYou: Downplayed when Billie tells Ma she scored the highest out of the whole eighth grade on a standardized test.