Title: A Terrible Tide
Author: Suzanne Meade
Age Range: Grade 4+
BOOK SUMMARY
November 18th, 1929. In her small village in Newfoundland, Celia is setting the table for her 13th birthday celebration when the house starts to shake. It’s an earthquake, rumbling under the Atlantic Ocean. A few hours later, the sea water disappears from the harbor, only to rush back in a wave almost 30 feet high, destroying nearly everything in its path. Buildings, boats, and winter supplies of fish and food are washed away, and Celia and her community are devastated. With their only phone line cut off and no safe route to get help, they are isolated and facing a long, cold, hungry winter.
Their house destroyed and village in ruins, Celia and her family must band together and share the work needed for the community to survive. Can Celia find the courage to help her injured loved ones? Will help arrive before it’s too late
Based on the true story of an earthquake that shook Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula, A Terrible Tide tells the tale of this forgotten disaster from the point of view of a young girl whose life is turned upside down.
THOUGHTS ON A TERRIBLE TIDE
Do your kids enjoy historical natural-disaster themed books featuring children? A Terrible Tide by Suzanne Meade is a new historical fiction book, published in 2021. Learn about an interesting event in Canadian history and 1929 Newfoundland, all in one engaging chapter book!
A Terrible Tide was set in a small fishing village on Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland in 1929. The main character, Celia, is about to turn 13. The book tells about the lesser known historical event of an earthquake followed by a tsunami and the aftermath of how the village coped. Although tragic, the book retains an overall positive theme as the village has to work together to overcome the challenges created by the earthquake and tsunami.
The book also shows positive character development of the main character. The main character, Celia, grows in character during the story. She starts out in the story as a child who often only thinks about her own wants and needs. After the tsunami, she has to rise to the challenge of working together with others to help overcome the struggles they are facing despite her feelings. She also has to learn to endure what she can’t change. Celia gains wisdom along the way as she is instructed by others. By the end of the book Celia has changed from being whiny and self-centered to someone who is working on her attitude, being helpful, and enduring her situation. This is a good example for children listening to or reading the story as we all face the struggle of selfishness versus putting our own needs aside for the sake of others.
A Terrible Tide covers themes such as courage, survival, coping with change, enduring, growing up and the loss of previous ways of life.
Children in grade 4 and up would enjoy this book. I enjoyed reading it myself. For sensitive children, be aware that as a natural-disaster themed book, there is of course some death involved. The book does deal with the death of some minor characters who aren’t a main part of the story line. There is also some suspense as the disaster occurs, as well as some injuries as would be expected in a natural disaster. However the descriptions are done in a way that would be suitable for most children in Grade 4 and up.
I highly recommend A Terrible Tide as a way to learn about a lesser- known event in Canada’s history and as a way to learn more about life in a small fishing village of Newfoundland in 1929. There are many details that give an accurate picture of what life was like during that time. The book is also a great example for children about how to work with others, deal with adversity and endure what you can’t change.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BURIN TSUNAMI OF 1929
This video explains about The Tsunami of 1929 – but *warning* it does mention death and shows family pictures of some of the people who died during the event. It might not be suitable for children.
Love Learning Through Historical Fiction?
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