The following sites can be used to support and enrich
the Book Club unit for Out of the Dust by
Karen Hesse.
Learn about the Setting of the Novel
- Map
of the Dust Bowl - A map showing the drought area of the Great Plains
in the 1930s is found at this site.
- Photographs
of the Dust Bowl - Black and white photographs of Cimarron County,
Oklahoma, the area hardest hit by the Dust Bowl—and the specific setting
of Out of the Dust—are presented at this Library of Congress site.
In order to access these photographs, use the search key in the upper right-hand
corner. Type in key words "Cimarron County". Then choose from listed
photos.
- Songs
about the Dust Bowl - This site provides the words to more than a
dozen ballads that tell the stories of Dust Bowl farmers and migrants. All
were written in the 1930s by folk-singer and Oklahoma native Woody Guthrie.
- President
Franklin D. Roosevelt - This biography of the 32nd president includes
his personal background and political achievements.
- The
Dionne Quintuplets - A promotional photograph of the famous Canadian
quintuplets is displayed.
Explore the Events of the Novel
-
Surviving the Dust Bowl - An American Experience
presentation from PBS, this film tells "the remarkable story of the determined people who clung
to their homes and way of life, enduring drought, dust, disease--even death--for nearly a decade"
during the ecological disaster known as the Dust Bowl. The web site provides teaching ideas, a
map and time line for the Dust Bowl, and transcripts of interviews with survivors. The videotape may
be ordered through the web site.
- Black
Sunday - A short description of the most damaging dust storm, which
struck on April 14, 1935, is given at this site. This storm is depicted on
pages 162-176 of the novel.
- Migrating
to California -This Library of Congress site offers a detailed account
of the experiences of Dust Bowl refugees who pinned their hopes on a better
life in California.
Read Theme-related Literature
-
"Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar - This is one of many web pages that offer the text of Dunbar's famous
poem ("I know what the caged bird feels, alas!"). You can use the poem to develop the theme of
how people confront hardships and to contrast formal, rhymed poetry with the free verse style
of Out of the Dust.
-
"Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden - Again, this is just one of many web pages that have the text of Hayden's poem. The poem,
which describes the "austere and lonely offices" of a father's love, has theme connections
to Out of the Dust.
Listen to Songs Mentioned in the Novel
-
My Baby Just Cares for Me
- This web site provides lyrics only (no audio) for this song, which is mentioned on page 50 of the
novel. Scroll down the page to find the original lyrics; many performers have adapted the song with
the names of different celebrities.
-
Walking My Baby Back Home
- This site provides lyrics and plays the song, which is also mentioned on page 50.
-
Bye-Bye, Blackbird
- This song is mentioned on page 131 of the novel.
-
Stormy Weather
- This song is mentioned on page 135 of the novel.
Meet the Author