Blizzard:The Storm That Changed America by Jim Murphy

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Murphy, Jim. 2000. BLIZZARD: THE STORM THAT CHANGED AMERICA. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN
0439211581.


2. PLOT SUMMARY
In 1888 a blizzard grips the Northeast United States. Jim Murphy recounts the lives of those who were affected as well as the conditions that made even the toughest men and women fear for their lives.

3. IMPRESSIONS
I live near Buffalo, New York, so I am well aware of horrible weather and have lived through at least two blizzards. However, I cannot image the awesomeness of this storm in 1888. Having gone through tough weather, I know what deep snow and blankets of ice look like. Nothing I have seen compares with the photographs Murphy includes. I also know that those pictures certainly do not do the conditions justice.

Murphy writes with no frills. He is very matter-of-fact in his delivery and he spares no detail. It was more like a history lesson than a book. He includes newspapers from that time period as well as artist's renderings. These certainly did not lend as much credence as the actual photographs.

The reading level of this book is mid to high seventh grade. Most newspapers are not written this high, so this book would be a challenge for many young adults. However, the "action" is such that I can imagine lower readers skimming the parts they don't understand and grabbing onto those parts that they do.

One criticism I have is the weaving of indiviual's storylines. Murphy tells us the inital plight of a certain person near the beginning of his book and then wraps it up in the end. I found myself flipping back and forth trying to remember names and where they were and what they were facing. This was confusing at times.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0590673092/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

*Starred review in REED BUSINESS INFORMATION: "Murphy's well-rounded information about the various circumstances that worsened the effects of the storm make the tale both more fascinating and more tragic. Mali's steady delivery is very well suited to the material; it allows listeners time to absorb this gripping history lesson."

*Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Dramatic period photos, news accounts, and personal stories take readers into the eye of a storm that battered the East Coast of the United States in March 1888, altering lives and public policy forever."

Amazon.com (2008). http://www.amazon.com/