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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
A terrible accident results in death; the accident itself is not graphic but its emotional weight is enormous
Language
None
No profanity
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Maternal death by accidental burning; a girl's guilt about her role in the accident; father's grief; the relentless misery of the Dust Bowl era
What this book is about
Billie Jo's mother dies from burns after a terrible accident, and Billie Jo's own hands are scarred. Her father retreats into grief while the dust storms of the 1930s bury everything. Hesse's Newbery Medal winner tells this story in spare, beautiful free verse poetry, creating one of the most affecting accounts of the Dust Bowl era and one girl's path through guilt and grief toward something like peace.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Mother dies from accidental burns
Protagonist's guilt about the accident
Depression-era poverty and loss
Reader Verification
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