Out of the Dust Focus Guide

Out of the Dust

by Karen Hesse

Billie Jo's life is changed forever by a terrible accident; she can't play "hot" piano anymore, and it feels as if she has lost her father's love. Will she find a way to survive or give way to hopelessness?

Barbara's Notes: I wish I could write like Karen Hesse. Out of the Dust is captivating and an extraordinary tool for teaching poetry. Readers get so caught up on the actual story, they can forget it is a series of poems. The focus guide teaches poetic terms while providing opportunities for critical thinking.