Galveston's Summer of the Storm

My third grade team selected this book as part of our study of Galveston history and the Storm of 1900. We read this book to more than 100 students and they all loved it! It is a great story with with a wide range of historcial information woven in. We down loaded pictures of places and events mentioned in the book. This book greatly enriched our annual overnight field study to Galveston. Now, we are looking forward to an author visit from Julie Lake. We did edit a few paragraghs (dealing with the medical school) that would be more appropriate for older childern. The paragraghs that we skipped were appropriate to the book though.

The 1900 Galveston Hurricane remains one of the greatest natural disasters ever recorded. How does a writer bring a story with this level of drama and tragedy to children? Austin writer Julie Lake has recreated the time period through research and imagination. Abby Kate is enjoying and extended visit with her grandmother in Galveston Texas on September 8, 1900. The island residents had little warning that the storm of the century is about to break. Living at sea level, high tides were common. In the beginning Abby Kate thinks it is exciting to see ocean spray "crashing up way above the street car trestle." As the water starts to rise the excitement turns to terror. Like many victims that day, Abby Kate must cling to prayer and a makeshift raft in order to survive the nightmare. Lake continues the story through the storm's aftermath. Readers will have a good idea of how the citizens of Galveston regrouped to heal and remake their city. Lake has done her homework and the after word includes excellent historical information. American Red Cross founder, Clara Barton personally visited the island to assist with the recovery.

"Summer of the Storm" took me straight back to some of the happiest days of my life -- days reading the Little House books, and summertimes in Galveston. Julie Lake has created in Abby Kate a character who's as charming and curious as Laura Ingalls Wilder. And, like the Little House books, the setting is full of accurate historical details -- how an icebox worked, the foods people favored, the outhouse, woolen bathing suits ... even the job of providing insurance for a ship's cargo. While the book highlights the havoc wreaked by a hurricane, I would love to see a whole series based on the character and the time period -- turn of the 20th century. I'll be telling my children's school librarians and teachers about this book.

I liked the setting -- Grandma Linden's house, Galveston and the beach. There was so much detail that I felt I was really there and could see it. I really liked the characters (even troublemaker Freddie!), and enjoyed their practical jokes and adventures. I was happy to experience what a hurricane is like by reading this book in the safety of my bedroom.

Ms. Lake did a fabulous job of combining very accurate historical details with an exciting plot and fun characters that children will easily identify with. A book that parents can enjoy just as much as their kids. My 10 year old daughter has already read it twice. Highly recommended!