Out of the Dust

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Bibliography

 Hesse, K. (1997). Out of the Dust. New York: Scholastic, Inc. ISBN: 9780590371254, 227 pp.

Summary

Out of the Dust is written in verse from the viewpoint of fourteen-year-old, Billie Jo. She is struggling to find hope on her dust covered farm in Oklahoma. The only thing her family has to look forward to is the baby her mother will soon deliver. However, like the dusty crops, that dream tragically fades away. After an accident that leaves Billie Jo badly burned and alone with her father, things don’t seem like they can get worse. She leaves dusty Oklahoma to find a better life, but she quickly realizes she belongs at home. As she and her father work together to develop a relationship, they see hope on the horizon of a new life.

Critical Analysis

The poetic form of this Newbery Award winning novel allows readers to hear Billie Jo’s thoughts as well as paints a dreary picture of the harsh effects of the Dust Bowl on Oklahoma. A great hopelessness and pain in portrayed through Billie Jo’s stories of her mother’s death and her loss of talent for playing the piano--the one thing that gave her hope during the dust storms. However, due to the short poems, the story is not weighted down by tragedy, and it is an accurate account of the bleak times faced by farmers. The poetic elements such as line breaks and figurative language help tell a rich story with minimal text. Although the story does convey the courage and resilience of Billie Jo and her father, the novel does not have an absolute resolution, and the reader is left wondering if the farm and the beloved Billie Jo will in fact be saved. Also, the characters do not feel fully developed, and there is a sense of detachment from the story because of this. However, it is an interesting account that would be a great complement to a US history unit on the Great Depression and the effects of the Dust Bowl.

Beauty Queens

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Bibliography

 Bray, L. (2012). Beauty Queens.  New York: Scholastic Paperbacks.  ISBN:  9780439895989, 400 pp.

Summary

This satirical novel about the world of beauty pageants begins with an airplane crash. The fifty “Miss Teen Dream” contestants are on their way to the beach for a photo shoot when they are struck by tragedy. Most of the girls and all of the crew do not survive. The twelve remaining contestants must find a way to survive on the island without killing each other. Miss Texas quickly takes charge, but as she starts to lose her wits the other girls are forced to look within themselves to find their true identities instead of what has been created for them through pageantry. The girls briefly think they may be rescued by the crew of the reality television show “Pirates Bodacious IV: Badder and More Bodaciouser”, but when that does not work out they must create their own plan. The only problem is the island may not be as deserted as they once thought…

Critical Analysis

Beauty Queens is a satire about beauty pageants, America’s obsession with reality TV, and the ridiculous marketing techniques of products. However, while poking some fun, Bray also creates a well-written story about young girls discovering their true qualities and appreciating what they have to offer that is more than skin deep. A transgender contestant introduces the idea of what sexuality really means and how society views it, and through this story line Bray gives a wonderful lesson on tolerance and open-mindedness. The story is told while focusing on each character individually. The reader learns more about the characters through contestant fact sheets with uniform questions the contestants have answered about themselves. There are also footnotes to explain some of the made up products, television shows, and people created by the author. The only extra material that really interrupts the story instead of adding to it are the commercial breaks which are meant to show the ridiculousness of product marketing and television. These commercials are a bit over the top and aren’t necessary in order for the reader to understand the satirical nature of the overall story. Despite this flaw, the story is quick with lots of adventure, and it conveys a powerful message while also soliciting a good laugh.

Divergent

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Bibliography

Roth, V. (2011). Divergent.  New York: Katherine Tegen Books.  ISBN:  99780062024022, pp. 487.

Summary

Beatrice Potter is a part of a faction known as Abnegation in a dystopian society based in Chicago. There are four other factions that make up the community in an effort to create a more peaceful world. The five factions Abnegation (selflessness), Candor (honesty), Amity (peace), Dauntless (bravery), and Erudite (knowledge) hold a choosing ceremony each year where sixteen year olds decide to which faction they will belong. They say that a faction is more important than your family, so Beatrice knows she must choose wisely. Even though she respects the gentle spirit of the Abnegation faction, she never feels like she belongs. In a surprising turn of events, she chooses Dauntless and enters an initiation process that is more difficult than she can ever imagine. During the initiation she changes her name to Tris, and she continues to hide the most important secret she has carried with her even from her faction. As she becomes more comfortable with her new faction, she suddenly learns that none of the factions are exactly what they seem, and she begins to wonder if their society can stand much longer with the five factions in place.

Critical Analysis

Roth has brought a fresh twist to the ever popular dystopian novel genre. At first, the idea that all people of a faction can emulate one characteristic trait seems far-fetched. However, as the characters are developed the reader sees that is not the case at all, and perhaps that is the theme of the novel. Can a society divided into factions really survive, or is everyone a bit divergent? Tris is a strong female character. Despite her insecurities, she stands up for herself and shows courage during difficult times. The love story between Tris and Four is realistic and doesn’t overshadow the main theme to become the central plot of the story. The only true downside is the slow climax. Roth tells so much back story that by the time the climax comes, it is a bit rushed and underdeveloped. The ending does leave the reader ready for the next installment in the trilogy, Insurgent, which was released May 2012.