The historical fiction novel, “Out of the Dust” by Karen Jesse, depicts a story about a girl named Billie Jo who has to endure the hardships of the dust bowl in 1934. The beginning of the story takes place in Oklahoma and introduces us to Billie Jo’s mother and father, as well as her friend, Mad Dog. However, as the story progresses, we learn of the obstacles Billie Jo has to face to survive the dust bowl. Crops struggle to grow with no rain and tragic events such as an accidental fire which leads to the death of Billie Jo’s mother and baby brother. Because of this lack of food and good weather, I wouldn’t want to live during this time. As I was reading the story, a moment in which I disagreed with a character's action was when Billie Jo’s