Module 11-Informational Books

Blizzard!

Murphy, J. (2000). Blizzard! New York: Scholastic.



Summary

A storm that was expected to die out before it even turned bad hit New York and much of the northeastern United States on March 13, 1888.  Not once, but twice the vicious blizzard ripped through the area depositing twenty one inches of snow!  Communications and travel were down, there was no electricity and coal began to run out leaving those that lived to tell the tale with much to talk about.  Because of this momentous natural disaster, many public policies and laws and even the way weather was forecasted were changed, along with the creation of underground transit and cables.

Impression

The real-life photographs and era created illustrations in this book are a wonderful accompaniment to the facts and interwoven stories of this time in American history.  I had never heard of this event before I read this story, and it is amazing what it did to change the way many things are now done.  I happened to be starting a weather unit in my class, and there were several points brought up in the book that I was able to use to enrich our textbook's information.

Review

Grade 5 Up-In the style of The Great Fire (Scholastic, 1995), Murphy writes a fascinating account of the March, 1888, storm that paralyzed the Northeastern U.S. for four days. This terrifying natural disaster is described from the perspectives of several individuals of various ages and social positions, primarily in New York City, some of whom survived the storm and some of whom did not. The narrative is a readable and seamless blend of history and adventure adapted from extensive first-person accounts and primary news sources. Beginning with an ominous harbinger, the scene is set with descriptions of what life was like at that time, including popular culture and means of forecasting the weather, which completely failed in this instance. The text is exciting without being melodramatic: as the storm arrives, strengthens, and stays, readers come to see the horrible extent to which people had to cope with the loss of food, heat, communications, and loved ones. Concluding by explaining why this event is important, the author places it in the context of other weather and its effect on history. Authentic photographs, drawings, and maps that demonstrate the course of the storm, all done in the same sepia tone as the text, perfectly illustrate the book. Overall, a superb piece of writing and history.

Medlar, A. The book review. School Library Journal. 46(12)

Library Use

1.  This is a great resource to use when collaborating with a teacher on a weather lesson or unit.  There are many fourth grade Science TEKS addressed in the story, as well as fifth grade.