leasummer's review against another edition
3.0
This is a middle grade history on the Halifax Disaster. I somehow missed it was a children’s book, but that was apparent with given definitions of barley and pension. It gives a quick overview, focusing on the children’s stories.
Audiobook note: written by a women, read by a man. I find this to be a really disappointing trend in science and historical books.
Audiobook note: written by a women, read by a man. I find this to be a really disappointing trend in science and historical books.
lindasdarby's review against another edition
3.0
The story is interesting and completely heartbreaking. I would have rated it higher but the writing is so pedestrian. I definitely want to read more about this terrible accident.
bak8382's review against another edition
3.0
December 6, 1917 began as any other day as the people of Halifax and Dartmouth went about their lives, but time stopped at just after nine in the morning when a ship carrying explosives collided with another ship in the harbor causing a huge explosion that could be felt 50 miles away. Almost 2000 people were killed by the explosion and subsequent tsunami, and a blizzard the next day hampered rescue efforts.
[a:Sally M. Walker|208138|Sally M. Walker|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1377789029p2/208138.jpg] begins the book slowly following the movements of both ships and the lives of several of the families living in and around Halifax. She continues the story through the present day accounts of relatives of the survivors. While the stories bring a personal element to the tragedy there are too many of them to keep track of, especially for the audio listener who cannot go back and reread. Otherwise this is great historical nonfiction for students.
The explosion was the largest man made disaster until the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, and yet I knew nothing about it until reading this book. Perhaps because it happened in the midst of WWI, which is a war often skimmed over in American education anyway. Incidentally many people at the time initially believed they were being bombed by the Germans.
[a:Sally M. Walker|208138|Sally M. Walker|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1377789029p2/208138.jpg] begins the book slowly following the movements of both ships and the lives of several of the families living in and around Halifax. She continues the story through the present day accounts of relatives of the survivors. While the stories bring a personal element to the tragedy there are too many of them to keep track of, especially for the audio listener who cannot go back and reread. Otherwise this is great historical nonfiction for students.
The explosion was the largest man made disaster until the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, and yet I knew nothing about it until reading this book. Perhaps because it happened in the midst of WWI, which is a war often skimmed over in American education anyway. Incidentally many people at the time initially believed they were being bombed by the Germans.
annakim's review against another edition
4.0
While this is an incredibly riveting account of a little-known event (outside of Halifax/Canada), most of the momentum built up in the first 2/3 of the book petered out towards the end.
abigailbat's review
5.0
Sally Walker has penned another riveting historical account. Blizzard of Glass will captivate tweens and teens who are fascinated with disasters. Hand this one to your many Titanic fans. And, as always with Sally Walker's work, the book contains super back matter (index, author's note, sources, etc.).
Full review on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2012/01/blizzard-of-glass.html
Full review on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2012/01/blizzard-of-glass.html
anon27's review
4.0
This is a story I actually hadn't heard about before discovering this book, how is that possible? I liked the simple style of this book, where the author also adds an explanation to some of the terms used, some more useful than others. It was short enough to not feel dragged out, while still building up the story and also going into the aftermath and summarizing nicely. The audio book is 2 hours and 51 minutes, easily digested in an afternoon.
quietjenn's review
3.0
Solid, well-researched and documented account of historical event that I don't think is as super well-known (in these parts, at least) as it should be. I think the personal narratives could've been wrought a little more compellingly, but over-all I have no real complaints.