City of the Dead: Galveston Hurricane, 1900

July 1, 2013
A quick-paced novel about one of the worst disasters in American history. The 1900 Galveston hurricane killed more than 8,000 people (about 1 in 6 residents) and destroyed more than 3,600 houses. This short novel, the first in the Horrors of History series, opens with a prologue in which a reporter watches men digging up dead bodies after the storm and finding those of nine children and a nun tied in a line with clothesline. It then follows the experiences of six characters: five based on real people and an entirely fictional one, an African-American named Charlie. Three are boys from a waterfront orphanage run by nuns. One is a doctor who usually enjoys powerful storms and whose workman, Charlie, struggles against the elements on his way home. Another, a young schoolteacher, harbors neighbors whose houses are destroyed, only to fear her apartment won't stay standing. Character development and nuance take a back seat to dialogue and action that moves quickly from one imperiled character to another. Gruesome details abound, especially after the storm ends and survivors see the corpses and destruction. Such a high-appeal topic could draw in even reluctant readers, although they may have trouble keeping track of all the characters. Scattered black-and-white historic photographs and two maps remind readers just how real the story is. Not for the fainthearted but likely to appeal to disaster fans. (Historical fiction. 11-14)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 5-8-On September 8th, 1900, Galveston, Texas, was hit with one of the worst natural disasters in history as a hurricane roared through the city and nearly swept it right off the map. An estimated 8000 people were killed and property damage is estimated at almost $100 billion (adjusted 2005 USD). This novel centers on Daisy Thorne, a resident of the ill-fated Lucas Terrace; Dr. Sam Young, an amateur meteorologist; and Albert Campbell, an orphan from St. Mary's Orphanage, and follows their efforts to survive the disaster and what they witnessed and endured while doing so. Anderson does an excellent job of telling the story and weaving actual events into his fictionalized account. Readers will understand the epic nature of this storm and feel genuine pathos for these people and what they went through. Small black-and-white reproductions show the aftermath of the storm. This is a highly accessible entry point for kids trying to understand and put meaning to some of the recent natural disasters that have struck our country as well as a vivid account of one of our nation's worst.-Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX

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