{Synopsis} – Eleven-year-old John Hale has already survived one brutal Dakota winter, and now he’s about to experience one of the deadliest blizzards in American history. The storm of 1888 was a monster, a frozen hurricane that slammed into America’s midwest without warning. Within hours, America’s prairie would be buried under ten feet of snow. Hundreds would be dead, thousands terrified and lost and freezing.
John never wanted to move to the wide-open prairie. He’s a city kid, not a tough pioneer! But his inner strength is seriously tested when he finds himself trapped in the blinding snow, the wind like a giant crushing hammer, pounding him over and over again. Will John ever find his way home?
{My thoughts} – I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. We had some pretty bad winters up there, but nothing was like the description within the pages of this book. I couldn’t imagine being a child growing up in this time period and living through this type of weather.
John is an eleven year old boy that has mover from Chicago to Dakota. They are getting ready for the winter when they have an early snowfall that shakes them all into work. They realize that winter is coming early and that it is going to be a harsh one. Everyone starts to get ready for the upcoming winter. The impending cold weather that is on it’s way. No one however, is prepared for the storm that is about to hit. No one is ready for the weather change and how bad things can and will get before it is all over.
John and his sister are at school when the worst storm hits. They are with their teacher and they are somewhat safe. They all have jobs, the students and everyone is helping the best they can and staying busy. Eventually three men from town show up and they help everyone into wagons and are going to get them to the local hotel to ride out the storm. A lot happens in the time they leave the school to when they are meant to arrive at the hotel.
I couldn’t imagine being in their situation. I couldn’t imagine having to use quick thinking. I couldn’t imagine thinking straight when knowing there was a high possibility I wouldn’t survive the storm. I am astonished at how smart and bright all of the children in this series are. I am astonished that they had the ability to think and put things together long before their years. These books have quickly become some of my favorites.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series very soon.
Final Conclusion: 5 Star Rating.
