By Melanie Benjamin
Delacorte Press, 2021. 351 pgs. Fiction
Many immigrants were tricked into coming to America with hopes of a better life and dreams of owning their own land in Nebraska. Life was hard and unforgiving but most homesteaders found a way to survive. The morning of January 12, 1888 started warmer than normal on the Great Plains so many settlers and children left their heavy winter clothes at home and left the house to work the land and attend school for the first time in days. The Children's Blizzard is the story of the unexpected blizzard that hit just as school was about to let out for the day. Many of the school teachers were young themselves and were faced with impossible choices. No one was prepared for the brutal nature of this storm. Many people died, and the heartbreaking part was that the majority were children trying to get back home.
The Children's Blizzard is a historical fiction novel based on facts about the time period and the storm itself. It is heartbreaking and bleak. The four main characters all make different decisions during the storm that alter the trajectory of their lives. I found the details and description of the storm fascinating, but I had a hard time finishing the book because I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Recommended for people who are looking for a historical fiction novel that explores a unique event in our Country's history.
AL
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