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ogreart's review against another edition
5.0
I always enjoy Murphy's histories. He has a way of making very personal. I like that. Mali's narration was wonderful.
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
4.0
Very quick read. Collection of individual stories, followed by a list of resulting corrections. The post storm discussion is very quick. No real depth into the events, just the results.
crystal_reading's review against another edition
4.0
I originally read this a few years ago. Murphy does a great job of delivering the facts within a narrative.
sc104906's review against another edition
5.0
The great blizzard of 1888 came out of nowhere and caught many people in New England unaware. Two stories of snow, below freezing temperatures, and hurricane winds affected New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and many others. This nonfiction book uses personal accounts, photos, and drawings to complement the stories. This book presents a real picture of what life was like during 1888, especially during a snowstorm. While many survived, there were many who died.
This book was supremely interesting! The author made the material interesting by tying it to real people and their stories.
This book was supremely interesting! The author made the material interesting by tying it to real people and their stories.
mlangman's review against another edition
4.0
Another required middle school book finished, and this one I really enjoyed! This true story of the brutal 1888 NY blizzard was a page turner. The author provided enough details and factual information, but also let the true stories of real people involved in this incident drive the story. In addition, the text was very accessible to a middle schooler, with a wide assortment of graphics and photos to further support the text. My 5th grader saw it on my desk and immediately picked it up and started reading!
g2pro's review against another edition
3.0
Just picked this one up by chance. It is short and is a bit a history I'd never heard of.
mrstomato1018's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book would be a little bit better than it was. While it was interesting, I had a hard time keeping up with the various people mentioned throughout the book. It also didn't help that two people had the same name, which made keeping their stories straight even more challenging. Still, I learned a lot about the blizzard of 1888, and it made me appreciate modern technology even more.
cherylallison's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
bwluvs2read's review against another edition
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.