Is out of the dust a true story?

Out of the Dust is based on the author's childhood, but it is not out of the dust a true story. The book is a work of fiction, and while some of the events are based on real events, they have been fictionalized and changed for the sake of the story. For example, the main character, Billie Jo, is a composite character based on several people the author knew, including herself. Additionally, the Dust Bowl itself is a real event that happened during the 1930s, but the specific events that happen to Billie Jo and her family are fictional.