Customer Reviews

Blizzard

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Acclaimed historian Murphy shows how a devastating 1888 blizzard not only shut down our northeastern states for days, but radically altered the way Americans live; its repercussions are being felt even today. He illustrates how political corruption, ineptitude, and contemporary social attitudes exacerbated the storm's fallout. Using carefully chosen excerpts from survivors' personal accounts, he also gives us a vivid feel for what life was like then for immigrants, women moving into the workplace, and others who had to struggle to survive everyday. He employs an interesting mix of graphics to further illustrate his story. Junior high school students who believe history is boring may think differently after reading this; it should also appeal to readers interested in natural disasters, and in social histories. Here's another winner from the author whose "The Great Fire" brought Chicago's infamous conflagration so brilliantly to life.

Do you think non-fiction books can't be good? Well your wrong. Blizzard is a really good non-fiction book. It is about the blizzard of 1888. The storm caught most people by surprise because it was unusually warm on March 10, 1888. There was a storm system coming from the North and one coming from the South. The one in the North went along the Canadian border then started to swooped down. The one coming from the South went along the Gulf of Mexico,and then went South some then started to go North. People were in panic. They lost alot of people March 11, 1888. For example, people looking for the subway would get lost and not be able to be found. If they were found they had already died of freezing, being burried, or starving. Two little boys heading out to find their grandmas house got lost then were found not long after burried but still alive. And another example is two tugboats crashed into each other. Most of the people in that accident lived but some died. This is a good book for all age levels.

Jim Murphy has written a fascinating and captivating account of the storm that hit the northern east coast of the United States in March, 1888. At the end of one of the mildest winters in the East, two storms coming from different directions combined to create an unexpected storm, with high winds and freezing snow that devastated the northeast. The story focuses mostly on the effects of the storm in New York City, where all public transportation came to a standstill, and the storm virtually shut down the city. The snow was so deep and the winds so strong that the trains were actually buried in the snow, trapping the passengers inside. Most businesses were closed down because people could not get to their jobs. Those who did venture outside risked their lives in the freezing temperatures. The storm lasted for two days, and an estimated 800 people died in New York City alone.

This is a well-written, and interesting book. Authentic photographs are included, which enchance the narrative. Jim Murphy is an outstanding writer of Young Adult nonfiction. The events of the "great blizzard" come to life in this book.

Having seen references to the 'Great Blizzard of 1888,' I was intrigued enough to pick up Jim Murphy's 2000 hardcover on the subject. Although it's rated for younger readers, I found it was a comprehensive, entertaining summary of a long-ago 'perfect storm.'

Murphy details the development of the 1888 blizzard via a combination of two storms and the awe-inspiring impact it had on America - basically it shut down the East Coast! Cities and towns were buried under four feet of snow. Visibility was often zero; temps were below zero and made worse by the 40-60 mph winds. Trains were stuck in drifts; telegraph wires were down; etc. At least 400 people died.

Murphy follows different men, women and children in various East Coast locations and how they coped with the storm, which looped back and struck the East Coast a second time after its initial run-through! Some survived; some died; one lost his hands and feet to frostbite. Additionally, Murphy uses vintage photographs and his own evocative drawings to capture the storm's impact.

As fascinating as the story of the storm was, its impact, as documented by Murphy, was just as interesting. So many changes in weather reporting, laws, regulations, etc. resulted from this wake up call from Mother Nature, it's truly amazing.

So, whatever your age, I think you'll enjoy and learn from BLIZZARD! I know I did. Recommended.

I felt the story was pretty mundane and written for the 10 to 14 yr old audience. The pictures were mostly all drawings. The story was rather repetitious memories of people who actually lived and recorded their memories of the storm......but how much can you say about a snow storm that isn't repeated over and over again. Young people might find the book interesting, but I thought it was pretty dry. My 15 year old thought it was just OK.