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
The train ride is difficult. Billie Jo burns up in the desert and freezes in the mountains. Along the way, she spots several camps of fellow migrants, including a young girl covered in dust. When Billie Jo sees the girl, she feels like she knows her.
As Billie Jo navigates the hostile climates during the train ride and sees migrant families, it starts to become apparent that other regions of the country are not as secure and forgiving as she had hoped.
Themes
