Dust Devil

Bibliography

Isaacs, Anne. 2010. Dust Devil. Ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books. ISBN 9780375867224

Plot Summary

Dust Devil is an action-packed tall tale about Angelica Longrider, also called Swamp Angel.  She is a “renowned woodswoman and wildcat” who lives in Tennessee. Like Paul Bunyan, Swamp Angel eventually grows too big, and in 1831 moves from Tennessee to the Montana prairie where there is more room for her. While in Montana, a massive windstorm moves through. She tames the storm and magically discovers a horse in the center. She meets a kindred spirit in the horse, whom she names Dust Devil. Angel and Dust Devil go up against Backward Bart and his Flying Desperadoes who are antagonizing the people of the prairie. They go on a quest across Montana to bring these men to justice and restore the peace.

Critical Analysis

Dust Devil provides a spirited and courageous heroine who prevails over an evil gang through her cunning and Dust Devil’s ability to call up the weather. This evokes the archetypes of good and evil with good prevailing in a happy ending. Other themes in this story are perseverance through adversity, acceptance, and female strength.

The engaging, whimsical painted illustrations provide a clear picture of the exaggerated size difference between Swamp Angel and Dust Devil to the other characters. Much of the story could be told through only the images. 

As wonderful as the images are, it’s the picturesque language, with strong use of metaphor and simile, that makes this book special. Read aloud, Dust Devil paints the picture of some of the regional issues on the prairie. It also helps put Angel’s large size in context. There are many humorous lines, for example: “[The] Desperadoes busted through Montana as fast as bad news.” Both the illustrations and the writing create a strong cultural detail of prairie life in 1830s Montana. 

I would enjoy reading this story before a visit to the Bob Bullock State Museum because there is a lot of discussion about the creation of landscape. Also, this tall tale is similar to Texas tall tales with references to landscapes and the strong use of exaggeration.

Review Excerpts

This book is a: 

  -  New York Times Notable Children’s Book

  -  Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Winner

  -  Junior Library Guild selection

  -  New York Public Library’s Best 100 Books of 2010

  -  Publishers Weekly starred review

  -  Kirkus review starred review

Booklist Starred Review: “Once again, Isaacs’ story and Zelinsky’s oil-paint-on-wood artwork create a laugh-out-loud tall tale with folksy phrasing and slapstick exaggeration. There are really two adventures in one here, which makes for a lengthy read-aloud, but children will delight in the deadpan, Old West narration and every gleefully silly, expertly rendered visual detail, from Bart’s steed (a saloon-sized mosquito) to Angel’s full-branched pine-tree knitting needles. A few pourqoui elements wrap up this handsomely designed, thoroughly entertaining stand-alone sequel.”

School Library Journal: “Zelinsky and Isaacs pull out all the stops…Zelinsky has a heyday masterfully illustrating the high jinks with his meticulous oil paintings on cedar, aspen, and maple veneers, all of which are elegantly encased by a thin red border. Using softly glowing tones, he brands his own version of a Western folk style to flawlessly render the big-sky setting.”

Connections 

-  This would be a fun book to use to introduce a US geography lesson.

-  This could be used along with a weather lesson on different landscapes (Tennessee vs. Montana) and 

    tornados.

-  Students could translate this theme by recreating the story in another part of the country or another 

   country. This writing activity would involve identifying story characteristics and elements.

-  Teachers can hand out individual pages of the story and have the students find any similes, 

   metaphors, or figurative language. 

-  This book would be easily adapted into a dynamic skit.

-  Other tall tales:

        Garretson, Jerri. Twister Twyla: The Kansas Cowgirl. ISBN 1460964810

        Kellogg, Steven. Paul Bunyan. ISBN 0688058000
        Kellogg, Steven. Pecos Bill. ISBN 0688099246
        Nolen, Jerdine. Thunder Rose. ISBN 0152060065

        Osborne, Mary Pope. American Tall Tales. ISBN 0679800891