Sea of Dust (Metaphor)
Early in the novel, Billie Jo is excited to see snow falling on her family's farm. But instead of melting and bringing much-needed moisture to the soil, the snow blows away. Billie Jo says: "The wind snatched that snow right off the fields, leaving behind a sea of dust, waves and waves and waves of dust, rippling across our yard." In this metaphor, Billie Jo likens the wasteland of dust on the farm to a wavy sea.
Anger Simmering Over Like a Pot (Simile)
During an argument over whether they should start trying to plant drought-tolerant crops, Ma quakes with anger. However, she hides this anger from her husband. Billie Jo says: "Instead, she goes out to the chickens and her anger, simmering over like a pot in an empty kitchen, boils itself down doing chores." In this simile, Billie Jo compares her mother's tactic for dispelling her anger to a pot of boiling water turning into vapor.
Like a Fired Locomotive (Simile)
One night, Billie Jo wakes to the sound of the wind rising. She goes outside to see a dust storm developing in the distance; she watches as the forceful dust comes through and kills their wheat. Billie Jo says: "It wasn’t until the dust turned toward the house, like a fired locomotive ... that Daddy woke." In this simile, Billie Jo emphasizes the destructiveness of the powerful dust storm by comparing it to a coal-fired train locomotive headed straight for their house.
Cheekbones Like Bicycle Handles (Simile)
Early in the novel, Billie Jo uses somewhat self-deprecating language to describe herself as "a long-legged girl with a wide mouth and cheekbones like bicycle handles." In this simile, Billie Jo highlights how her high, wide cheekbones protrude from the sides of her face by comparing them to handlebars on a bicycle.
Watched Them Fry (Metaphor)
When a dust storm blows through the family's farm, Billie Jo leaves the house in the middle of the night to witness the dust's destructiveness. She says: "I watched the plants, surviving after so much drought and so much wind, I watched them fry." In this metaphor, Billie Jo speaks of the wheat being torn or flattened by the wind-borne dust as though the plants are being fried in oil.
