Themes
Key
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
After a difficult few weeks, the weather finally calms down and there are clear skies. The region comes back to life as people resume their normal lives. After such a difficult period, no one wants to stay inside. Billie Jo and her father decide to go to a funeral for a woman they call Grandma Lucas, although she is not actually related to them. To attend the funeral, they have to drive to Texhoma.
The weather regularly forces the people of the Panhandle to stay in their homes and put the rest of their lives on pause. No matter how important something may seem, the weather can always thwart it. As such, the community tries to take advantage of the nice weather when they can.
Themes
At the start of the drive, the weather is great. However, the sky quickly turns black, and an intense dust storm picks up all around the area. It is the worst storm Billie Jo has ever seen. Her father pulls her out of the truck, and they seek shelter in a nearby house. A woman lets them in, as well as many other people who were on their way to the funeral. Everyone huddles together and waits out the storm. Occasionally, more people file into the house to seek shelter.
The last time Billie Jo was caught out in a dust storm, she was relatively close to home. Now, she and her father have no way of getting back and must rely on the kindness of a stranger for survival. Luckily, they come across the right person, who is willing to open her home to the many people caught in the chaos of the storm.
Themes
After the storm, Billie Jo and her father go home, though some others continue on to the funeral. When they get home, they see huge piles of dust. The piles are so massive that Billie Jo can no longer tell where her mother and brother are buried. When Billie Jo goes inside, everything is buried in dust. Additionally, her father checks on the animals and tells her things are not good. Billy Jo notes that at least they still have the truck. However, when her father tries to start the truck up again, it won’t turn over.
The storm ruins everything—the funeral, the crops, the truck—leaving Billie Jo and her father with few options. Everything they own is covered in dust and there is nothing they can do to turn their situation around except to hope.
Themes
