Tornado Terror

April 1, 2017
Gr 2-5-Tarshis's latest retells tales of two tornados: 1925's Tri-State Tornado and 2011's Joplin tornado. This juxtaposition of a historical event and a modern disaster is thought provoking and will inspire much discussion among students on similarities and differences. Each tale is told from the perspective of a child who actually survived the event, and the narratives are both stirring and factual. Tarshis also includes historical reference information, details on her research process, and copious archival images that enhance the narrative. The text is large, and nearly every page contains at least one picture, which will likely entice reluctant readers. VERDICT This high-interest addition to an already beloved series is a no-brainer for elementary school libraries.-Ellen Norton, Naperville Public Library, IL

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

jeffdaboss - Tornado Terror is a really good nonfictional book. I'm not exactly into nonfiction, but I really liked Lauren Tarshis's new book on famous tornadoes. The book covers two major tornadoes: The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 and the Joplin Tornado of 2011. Both stories switch from focusing on a person's testimony to the tornadoes progress to the person. In the Tri-State Tornado of 1925, Tarshis follows Adrian Dillon of Parrish, Illinois, and how his plans for a special marbles tournament would be ruined. She highlights what life and science was like in the 1920's, while progressing the through the day. Once the tornado hit and Adrian's true story is done, she gives facts about the tornado, like how many people were killed, the aftermath, and the improvement of the scientific field of weather. Next, she talks about the Joplin Tornado, and how it came on Bennett Satterlee's birthday. She alternates from the Satterlee's point of view to renowned storm chasers Jeff and Kathryn Piotrowski's point of view. The focus lands on the aftermath once the tornado hit, and what the town did to support each other. Once both tornado stories are finished, Tarshis informs the reader about general tornado knowledge, like vocabulary, "Mr. Tornado", among other things. Tornado Terror was a really good book, and one you should get.