Children of the Storm: The True Story of the Pleasant Hill School Bus Tragedy [Paperback]

Ariana Harner (Author), Clark Secrest (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001 | ISBN-10: 1555912753 | ISBN-13: 978-1555912758

Imagine being one of twenty children, ages seven to fourteen, stranded in a makeshift school bus for thirty-three hours during the worst blizzard to hit Colorado in over fifty years. The gripping narrative of Children of the Storm leads you through this haunting experience. The morning of March 26, 1931 began with sixty-degree weather and students excitedly running to board Carl Miller's bus for their routine ride to Pleasant Hill School. By the time they arrived at the schoolhouses, it was dark, windy, and cold---obvious signs of a spring snowstorm. Soon after, following the teahers' orders to drive the children to a nearby home for safety, Miller lost his sense of direction in the ensuing whiteout and lodged the bus in a ditch. When rescuers found the survivors a day and a half later, the blizzard had taken its deadly toll. The media avidly pursued the story, and the children became national and international celebrities. Ariana Harner and Clarkk Secrest have written the first comprehensive account of the tragedy, culling details from interviews, newspaper clippings, and archival documents. This is a tale of media exploitation, false heroism, lifelong heartbreak, and hard-won survival.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A story of 33 fateful hours, in which 20 children faced nature's toughest tests.

About the Author

Ariana Harner has worked at the Colorado Historical Society editing the Colorado Society's monthly newsletter, Colorado History NOW, and has contributed to Colorado Heritage, the Society's quarterly magazine. Clark Secrest is a former newspaper reporter, editor, and columnist, and currently writes for Colorado Heritage magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555912753
• ISBN-13: 978-1555912758
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #927,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Hits Close to Home, October 29, 2001

By 

An 11-year old reader (Kiowa County, Eads, Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Storm: The True Story of the Pleasant Hill School Bus Tragedy (Paperback)

Children of the Storm: The True Story of the Pleasant Hill School Bus Tragedy
Ariana Harner and Clark Secrest
On a clear, sunny spring day in 1931 the bus driver, Carl Miller, made his route to bring the twenty children to the Pleasant Hill school house, a one room building located on the plains of Kiowa County, Colorado. Upon arriving, a terrible storm cloud came up from the north. Carl Miller and the teachers decided they should send the children home, instead of keeping them at the one room school house without food or water. The bus started out in what was then a blinding blizzard. It was not long before he was lost, finally ran off the road, and the bus was stranded.
Finally, Mr. Miller thought that it would be best for him to try to find help. He asked the oldest child on the bus, Bryan Untiedt, to make sure the other children do not go to sleep. Do whatever he could to keep them from freezing to death. Some of the children had very little for coats. Mr. Miller was soon lost and later found frozen to death. There were no phones and the only help was from families and friends, who were unable to find them until the second day. They found three children had already frozen to death and seventeen were still alive. They were all taken to the hospital for treatment of frostbite on their hands, feet, etc...
The Denver Post interviewed the children and families. Bryan Untiedt was promoted as a "hero" by the Post. Other newspapers were interviewing and photographing the survivors, as well.
Nineteen days after the tragedy, all the survivors and their families were invited to Denver for one week to see different sites. Mr. Bonfils, the owner of the Denver Post, presented all the survivors with some cash and a gold-plated heroism medal. Bryan Untiedt was also invited to Washington, D.C. by President Herbert Hoover.
This story was very informative about what can happen in a short time with spring storms and how dangerous they can be on the plains of Colorado. I did not like how the media made Bryan Untiedt a hero more than the other survivors. I feel that you should read this book called Children of the Storm. Ages 8 to Adult. Talli, Eads Middle School, 6th Grade

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Research & Great Writing, April 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Children of the Storm: The True Story of the Pleasant Hill School Bus Tragedy (Paperback)

This is an incredible book that appeals to more that just the local Colorado area in which it happened. The extensive research that went into this book is incredible. The writing is fascinating and extremely well done. Historical data is accurate and this book uncovers a tragedy that changed many lives. Also check out Mr. Secrest's other Colorado historical book Hell's Belles - great book as well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tragic tale of unlikely heroes and their exploiters, May 30, 2001

By 

Peter (Chitedze, Malawi, Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children of the Storm: The True Story of the Pleasant Hill School Bus Tragedy (Paperback)

Having grown up in Colorado, I found this book informative, poignant, and a genuinely great read. I remember people eluding to a bus tragedy in Colorado ages ago but never was able to learn the circumstances, until now. That so tragic an event could have been exploited by so many unconnected to its events speaks volumes to the age we live in. I found the details and timeline remarkable given the generations that have passed and the silence so long held by the tragic participants. Well researched!