About the Author
Karen Hesse was born August 29, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland, and is an American author who writes children books and literature for young adults. She studied poetry at Towson St. College and married Randy Hesse. Karen Hesse graduated from the University of Maryland, and she majored in theater, anthropology, psychology, and English. She has also won awards of the John Newbery Medal for her novel, "Out of the Dust." Karen Hesse read newspapers from that time period and listened to stories from her grandparents about The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl, and wrote a book and titled it "Out of the Dust."
Pre-Reading Reflection
In the United States the significant historical event that occurred in 1929 was that the stock market crashed, which was a large economic downfall that forced people out of their jobs. The impact of The Great Depression caused banks to shut down and cut down their employes wages, and other companies left all of their workers unemployed. During The Great Depression the dust bowl began and farmers could not plant any crops and a drought and strong winds caused dust storms and destroyed all of the farmers crops. The Great Depression can relate to today's society because of the Government shutdown.
Vocabulary
Draught - a draught is a version of a piece of writing.
Withered - to become dry and shriveled
Scorch - burning with flame or heat.
Sod - ground with grass
Duster - a brush for dusting furniture
Parched - dried out with heat
Migrants - people who move place to place
Gaunt - starving from hunger
Withered - to become dry and shriveled
Scorch - burning with flame or heat.
Sod - ground with grass
Duster - a brush for dusting furniture
Parched - dried out with heat
Migrants - people who move place to place
Gaunt - starving from hunger