LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of the Dust, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, Survival, and the Dust Bowl
Poverty, Charity, and Community
Coming of Age
Family and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
Billie Jo’s mother tells her that the family is going to get back all the money they lost when the banks closed. This news comes as a relief to Billie Jo, who is grateful they will have enough money to pay a doctor to deliver the baby.
Finally, some good news arrives for Billie Jo and her family. Typically, a child Billie Jo’s age is much too young to think about economics and the survival of her family. However, the conditions of the Dust Bowl leave her with no choice but to grow up long before she’s ready to do so.