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A review by bwluvs2read
Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America by Jim Murphy
4.0
With an impressively ominous and suspenseful tone, Jim Murphy describes the meteorological, societal, and technological elements that created one of the greatest natural disasters to ever affect the American people: the monstrous blizzard of 1888. Through diligent synthesis of a wide variety of primary sources, Murphy uses personal accounts to tell the story of the storm. A seasick reporter in the New York Harbor, a seventeen year old girl traveling from Buffalo, and a hard-working factory employee, are just three out of the many people mentioned who were paralyzed, starved, even killed by the storm. Though their stories are brief, they are lights of humanity and hope in the midst of nature’s savagery. Chapter by chapter, Murphy builds an extensive overview of the effects of the storm, describing the struggles of rural farmers, the frustrations of New York’s mayor, and the dangers of ten-foot snow drifts.
Blizzard is an ambitious book: simultaneously addressing many historical events and their role in the storm such as the Industrial Revolution, women entering the workforce, and enormous influx of immigrants during the late 19th century. Murphy’s tone and vocabulary are appropriate for the subject matter as well as the intended audience, 6th to 8th grade students. Some vocabulary words will prove challenging for younger readers but older students will be fully engaged by the harrowing details of the storm. Wisely, Murphy includes engravings, maps, illustrations, and photographs to help the reader understand the full impact of the storm. Each image is briefly captioned and is just as helpful as the table of contents, historical endnote, and index that Murphy provides. The information offered within is carefully researched, curated, and presented to the reader with both primary and secondary sources referenced throughout. The author pulls quotes from newspapers, letters, diaries, and memoirs written by survivors of the storm to create a meaningful historical narrative.
Catching readers’ attention with a picture book quality cover and sustaining their interest with a tale of disaster as big as any retelling of the Titanic’s sinking or battlefield horrors, Murphy has created a worthy addition to any library that lacks engaging informational texts. Blizzard can be browsed, read aloud, or researched - any method will capture the book’s message. With the wow-factor to attract readers and information worthy of exploration, Murphy has the power to create interest where previously there was none.
Blizzard is an ambitious book: simultaneously addressing many historical events and their role in the storm such as the Industrial Revolution, women entering the workforce, and enormous influx of immigrants during the late 19th century. Murphy’s tone and vocabulary are appropriate for the subject matter as well as the intended audience, 6th to 8th grade students. Some vocabulary words will prove challenging for younger readers but older students will be fully engaged by the harrowing details of the storm. Wisely, Murphy includes engravings, maps, illustrations, and photographs to help the reader understand the full impact of the storm. Each image is briefly captioned and is just as helpful as the table of contents, historical endnote, and index that Murphy provides. The information offered within is carefully researched, curated, and presented to the reader with both primary and secondary sources referenced throughout. The author pulls quotes from newspapers, letters, diaries, and memoirs written by survivors of the storm to create a meaningful historical narrative.
Catching readers’ attention with a picture book quality cover and sustaining their interest with a tale of disaster as big as any retelling of the Titanic’s sinking or battlefield horrors, Murphy has created a worthy addition to any library that lacks engaging informational texts. Blizzard can be browsed, read aloud, or researched - any method will capture the book’s message. With the wow-factor to attract readers and information worthy of exploration, Murphy has the power to create interest where previously there was none.