The Children's Blizzard

A Novel

De: Melanie Benjamin

Narrado por: Cassandra Campbell

From the New York Times best-selling author of The Aviator's Wife comes a story of courage on the prairie, inspired by the devastating storm that struck the Great Plains in 1888, threatening the lives of hundreds of immigrant homesteaders, especially schoolchildren.

“A nail-biter ... poignant, powerful, perfect.” (Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network)

The morning of January 12, 1888, was unusually mild, following a punishing cold spell. It was warm enough for the homesteaders of the Dakota Territory to venture out again and for their children to return to school without their heavy coats - leaving them unprepared when disaster struck. At the hour when most prairie schools were letting out for the day, a terrifying, fast-moving blizzard blew in without warning. Schoolteachers as young as 16 were suddenly faced with life-and-death decisions: Keep the children inside, to risk freezing to death when fuel ran out, or send them home, praying they wouldn’t get lost in the storm?

Based on actual oral histories of survivors, this gripping novel follows the stories of Raina and Gerda Olsen, two sisters, both schoolteachers - one becomes a hero of the storm and the other finds herself ostracized in the aftermath. It’s also the story of Anette Pedersen, a servant girl whose miraculous survival serves as a turning point in her life and touches the heart of Gavin Woodson, a newspaperman seeking redemption. It was Woodson and others like him who wrote the embellished news stories that lured Northern European immigrants across the sea to settle a pitiless land. Boosters needed them to settle territories into states, and they didn’t care what lies they told these families to get them there - or whose land it originally was.

At its heart, this is a story of courage, of children forced to grow up too soon, tied to the land because of their parents’ choices. It is a story of love taking root in the hard prairie ground and of families being torn asunder by a ferocious storm that is little remembered today - because so many of its victims were immigrants to this country.

©2021 Melanie Benjamin (P)2021 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

“In this atmospheric novel, as relentlessly paced as a thriller, you experience the encroaching storm from many perspectives and, in the process, understand something important about the tenacity of the human spirit.” (Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles)

“Melanie Benjamin reminds us that immigrant stories are at the heart of American history. She weaves a moving and uplifting tale of courage, family, and sacrifice.” (Jean Kwok, author of Searching for Sylvie Lee)

“Melanie Benjamin never fails to create compelling, unforgettable characters and place them against the backdrop of startling history.” (Lisa Wingate, author of The Book of Lost Friends)

The misery of the children.

I think this story could have been told just as well without the swearing and cuss words.

Good Story

Overall. I would say that this was a really good audiobook, with a great story. I personally like that the author took a historical event, and created her own characters, particularly school children, rather than adults. Also, thanks to the narrator, at times I found myself imagining and feeling like the characters, during their moments of intensity, hardship, and grief. I will say, however, I did find it a little confusing at the beginning, with things like, who was who, what their relationships were with each other, and whether or not we were in a flashback. Other than that though, I still say that this a good story to listen to.

Interesting Read

This was book was for the most part an enjoyable and engaging read. In the beginning, it was difficult to keep all the characters and their stories straight, but as the book went on it became easier and the story flowed a bit better. I personally liked the second half of the book better as it described the aftermath of the blizzard. (Though I didn't find the ending super satisfying :( )

Overall, I'd say it wasn't my favorite book, but it kept me entertained and I'll likely recommend it to friends.

Great novel

A wonderful novel! It really put a personal touch and human perspective on the great blizzard

Has good intentions

I really wanted to love this book but I kept getting confused with who was a sister, etc!!! Maybe because it didn’t hold my interest so I wasn’t paying attention???!!! Maybe that’s it !!! Narration was perfect!!!

A long slog uphill, both ways, in the snow.

This is the perfect example of a well written book that showed many different perspectives of a horrible historical event. Even so, none of the characters were particularly endearing. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. And it keeps on going. I was very interested to learn about this little known blizzard but wow I think I’d rather read 3 books about the Holocaust instead & I’d finish feeling happier than after this book.

Heartbreaking

I could not stop reading this book. Everything about it was heartbreaking, horrifying, courageous and amazing. The audio person was excellent.

A Chilling Story

When I first started reading I wondered how you could write an entire book about a blizzard! I was amazed how this book kept my interest and enjoyed all the characters. At the end when I learned it was based on a real event I thought the book was very creative.

From a rural Nebraska native

Having lived in this area in Nebraska my entire life & attended a one-room country school thru sixth grade, of which my brother & I walked one mile each way thru pastures, climbing over barbed-wire fences in all kinds of weather, this story has always fascinated me. I have always been able to somewhat imagine what those children and their teachers (who were also children) went thru on that horrible day. I wish this book was a little more non-fiction. It was interesting, but I knew the real story, so that knowledge took away from this one. A couple of the town names were mispronounced. Also didn’t appreciate the author’s political opinions at the end.

Good story.

Unessary foul language. The story was good but sad. What the "news" did then they still do today. Half truths and outright lies about the land, the blizzard, and the American Indians.