Title: Stormstruck
Author: Cathy Beveridge
Publisher: Ronsdale Press
Age Range: Children (9+)
Time Period: 1913
Location: Goderich, Ontario
“The hot dense shadow on the shore of Lake Ontario is a time crease, created by the Great Storm of 1913. When Jolene, Michael and their grandfather discover it, Jolene is exhilarated and relived. Perhaps a journey to the past will take her mind off the fact that she can’t seem to find her passion in life. But when she becomes friends with Em, a mysterious girl with a passionate zeal for family and the suffragette movement, Jolene feels more fragile and directionless than ever. Then she discovers a stray dog falsely accused of attacking a child. While she strives to see justice rendered in the present, Jolene faces a much more serious challenge in the past. When Em impulsively leads the twin onto the Regina, and the ship sails out onto Lake Huron into the Great Storm, Jolene knows that she must use her inner resources if they are to survive the ordeal.”
Author Cathy Beveridge sure has a way of dragging a reader through the history of a Canadian disaster with such intensity that it feels like you are right there in the midst of it. This is the third in her series of adventure books that focus on Jolene, her brother Michael, and Grandfather as they explore history by time travel.
The last book, Chaos in Halifax, lead the children through the Halifax Explosion. Now they are in an RV, schooling on the road as their father researches the Great Storm of 1913. Another disaster I’d never heard about before starting these living history books! Apparently, storm systems collided over the Great Lakes, creating something like a hurricane, that massacred boats and left many, many sailors dead.
Once again, I’m surprised at how easy time travel is absorbed into this story. I keep expecting it to feel unrealistic and hokey, but it’s done so well and seamlessly that it’s fun to follow along. I love that the kids are doing school in the RV, essentially doing to distance learning while they are out on an adventure.
Characters are brought to life in a way that you start feeling so passionately for them, even knowing what is destined to happen to them. It’s really well written.
- How to Keep a Toddler Busy While Homeschooling - March 21, 2024
- 25+ Things Your Kids Learn From Video Games - March 20, 2024
- 10 Words For New Homeschoolers - March 20, 2024