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Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America
With accounts from the survivors and period photos, a tale by the author of the Newbery Honor book, The Great Fire tells what is was like to live through the Great Blizzard of 1888 that crippled New York City with its fierce winds and blinding snow. 18,000 first printing.
136 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2000
25 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
Jim Murphy
32 books87 followersAn American author of more than 35 nonfiction and fiction books for children, young adults, and general audiences, including more than 30 about American history. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2010 for his contribution in writing for teens. Jim lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, in a hundred-year-old house with his wife Alison Blank, a children’s TV producer and children’s book author and editor, his two talented musician sons, a regal mutt, an African water frog that will live forever, and a house vast collection of books..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
June 27, 2015
This book is targeted at the YA market, so it isn't a super in depth history. Actually, that's one of the big pluses for me. Murphy seems to have covered everything I want to know & he did in a way that made me feel it. He included a lot of personal accounts & wrapped up with the effects that this storm had on our society.
We've had others that were bigger before & since, but this one caused a lot of changes as it highlighted systems that had been outgrown by the population & technology. For instance, he tells of how a horse is electrocuted by downed wires & the dangers to humans that they caused. The law requiring them to be buried was finally upheld. It had been in place for a few years, but was ignored & no one really cared. Now everyone did.
The hardships suffered by all were incredible, but especially on the poor. Murphy highlights how tough the job market was & does a great job making prices real. He did this with every point, brought it down into understandable terms that really made an impression. I think any kid from 10 on up (maybe younger) would get a lot out of this on their own. Can't recommend it highly enough for young or old.
We've had others that were bigger before & since, but this one caused a lot of changes as it highlighted systems that had been outgrown by the population & technology. For instance, he tells of how a horse is electrocuted by downed wires & the dangers to humans that they caused. The law requiring them to be buried was finally upheld. It had been in place for a few years, but was ignored & no one really cared. Now everyone did.
The hardships suffered by all were incredible, but especially on the poor. Murphy highlights how tough the job market was & does a great job making prices real. He did this with every point, brought it down into understandable terms that really made an impression. I think any kid from 10 on up (maybe younger) would get a lot out of this on their own. Can't recommend it highly enough for young or old.
July 4, 2018
Re-accounting and accounts of the storm of 1888 that wiped out NYC. Stories of survival and death. Quick and enlightening.
February 3, 2022
Short book that tells the history of a severe blizzard that hit the Northeastern US in March, 1888. Though the storm covered many states, from Virginia to Maine, the story is focused on the area around New York City. It contains stories of individuals who miraculously survived and many who did not. Back then, weather forecasting was still pretty primitive, and telegraph communications were easily disrupted. Near the end, the author recounts some of the improvements that were made in disaster planning as a result. It provides enough historic details to give readers a good idea about how people lived in those days and how different it is from today.
December 8, 2022
You won't get nonfiction that's much more detailed than what two-time Newbery Honoree Jim Murphy offers, and Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America is a story of all the little details that went wrong to set New York City and much of the Eastern Seaboard up for one of the most devastating natural disasters in the area's history. Weather forecasting was still an inexact science in the 1880s, but strides had been made. The invention of the telegraph allowed local weather observations to be shared across the United States to get an idea of shifting patterns and what weather they could be expected to produce. Storms whipping up off the Gulf of Mexico or across the mainland could be detected in advance and safety measures taken, but the system was far from foolproof. One night in March 1888 when forecasters shut down their instruments and went home, there was little indication for concern about the two storm fronts moving in the general direction of New York, one wandering toward the Atlantic Coast and the other blowing across Lake Michigan. But by the time forecasters returned to work, a monstrous problem was imminent.
New York City politicians didn't know the damage a raging blizzard could do, and neither did most of the citizenry. In spite of violent gusting wind and piles of snow emptying from the sky, men and women insisted on commuting to work, by carriage, train, or on foot. Some kids wouldn't hear of skipping a school day, and bundled up to trudge through snowdrifts above their heads. Trains ran into mountains of snow heavy enough to derail them if the engineer attempted to ram through. The tracks backed up for miles, and many who disembarked from stalled trains to walk through the extreme elements froze to death. Travel by carriage wasn't much better. As the more fortunate people took shelter for the night after an otherworldly day of wind and snow, they rested in the probability that the next day would be better.
It wasn't. From March 11 to 14 the Great Blizzard kept up the offensive, prolonged by a freak weather pattern. After the Atlantic storm passed New York City and appeared headed to sea, it inexplicably reversed course and attacked a second time, convincing some that the storm had a sadistic mind of its own. The city had no contingency plan for hazardous snow, so the drifts piled high, whittled down only by teams of immigrants armed with snow shovels and paid small amounts to clear the streets. Airborne electrical lines, which city government had ordered buried underground years ago, became lethal as heavy snow ruptured them, spraying sparks and igniting people who got too close. The East River froze enough that daring individuals could tread across from Brooklyn to the city until tugboats were dispatched to barrel through the ice, breaking it up so regular river traffic could resume. By the time the blizzard abated, many hundreds had died, city life had ground to a standstill, and public perception of government's role in natural disasters had changed. No one wanted a repeat of the Great Blizzard, and new laws and stepped-up enforcement of old ones reflected the fears instilled by the terrible winter storm.
Blizzard! is chock-full of historical detail, but the personal anecdotes are the engine that makes the story go. Roscoe Conkling, a gruff, independent political figure, braved the outrageous outdoor conditions as few others could have. He pushed his luck too far, though, and ended up a casualty of the Great Blizzard. James Marshall, seventeen-year-old employee of the Singer Sewing Machine factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey, tried to walk home with friends in the deadly cold. He was the group's sole survivor, but paid a sobering price. Blizzard! contains stories of defiance, apathy, and heroism in the face of the storm, but my favorite is that of the two Chapell brothers. Stranded in the driven snow with no one looking for them, nine-year-old Gurdon and four-year-old Legrand cleverly survived what would have been one of the storm's most grievous tragedies. The Great Blizzard took a severe toll on the East Coast, but people learned a lesson that stayed with them for generations: however advanced society is, nature is a force, and precautions must be taken or unnecessary tragedy will follow.
Jim Murphy's writing is similar to that of a novelist, using word pictures and expressive language. Blizzard! doesn't feel as immediate as his 2004 Sibert Medal winner, An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, but that is arguably Murphy's magnum opus, so it's understandable. Blizzard! is a fine examination of a memorable incident from the late nineteenth century, with lessons for us to absorb as we ponder our place in the natural world, and I might rate it two and a half stars. You'll have deeper awareness of history for having read this book.
New York City politicians didn't know the damage a raging blizzard could do, and neither did most of the citizenry. In spite of violent gusting wind and piles of snow emptying from the sky, men and women insisted on commuting to work, by carriage, train, or on foot. Some kids wouldn't hear of skipping a school day, and bundled up to trudge through snowdrifts above their heads. Trains ran into mountains of snow heavy enough to derail them if the engineer attempted to ram through. The tracks backed up for miles, and many who disembarked from stalled trains to walk through the extreme elements froze to death. Travel by carriage wasn't much better. As the more fortunate people took shelter for the night after an otherworldly day of wind and snow, they rested in the probability that the next day would be better.
It wasn't. From March 11 to 14 the Great Blizzard kept up the offensive, prolonged by a freak weather pattern. After the Atlantic storm passed New York City and appeared headed to sea, it inexplicably reversed course and attacked a second time, convincing some that the storm had a sadistic mind of its own. The city had no contingency plan for hazardous snow, so the drifts piled high, whittled down only by teams of immigrants armed with snow shovels and paid small amounts to clear the streets. Airborne electrical lines, which city government had ordered buried underground years ago, became lethal as heavy snow ruptured them, spraying sparks and igniting people who got too close. The East River froze enough that daring individuals could tread across from Brooklyn to the city until tugboats were dispatched to barrel through the ice, breaking it up so regular river traffic could resume. By the time the blizzard abated, many hundreds had died, city life had ground to a standstill, and public perception of government's role in natural disasters had changed. No one wanted a repeat of the Great Blizzard, and new laws and stepped-up enforcement of old ones reflected the fears instilled by the terrible winter storm.
Blizzard! is chock-full of historical detail, but the personal anecdotes are the engine that makes the story go. Roscoe Conkling, a gruff, independent political figure, braved the outrageous outdoor conditions as few others could have. He pushed his luck too far, though, and ended up a casualty of the Great Blizzard. James Marshall, seventeen-year-old employee of the Singer Sewing Machine factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey, tried to walk home with friends in the deadly cold. He was the group's sole survivor, but paid a sobering price. Blizzard! contains stories of defiance, apathy, and heroism in the face of the storm, but my favorite is that of the two Chapell brothers. Stranded in the driven snow with no one looking for them, nine-year-old Gurdon and four-year-old Legrand cleverly survived what would have been one of the storm's most grievous tragedies. The Great Blizzard took a severe toll on the East Coast, but people learned a lesson that stayed with them for generations: however advanced society is, nature is a force, and precautions must be taken or unnecessary tragedy will follow.
Jim Murphy's writing is similar to that of a novelist, using word pictures and expressive language. Blizzard! doesn't feel as immediate as his 2004 Sibert Medal winner, An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, but that is arguably Murphy's magnum opus, so it's understandable. Blizzard! is a fine examination of a memorable incident from the late nineteenth century, with lessons for us to absorb as we ponder our place in the natural world, and I might rate it two and a half stars. You'll have deeper awareness of history for having read this book.
August 25, 2014
That was the most amazing, wrenching, incredible 144 pages I have ever listened to!
A three day freak snow storm from Virginia up to the Canadian border and Michigan to the east coast that brought EVERYTHING to a stand-still. Much of the story was about the effect on New York City and the immediate country side but that was not all.
Not just what happened during the storm, but the long term legislation and disaster practices that were voted into existence afterward were discussed.
The national weather service came into being as a direct result of the storm of 1888.
This storm is one of the most well remembered and documented storms in history.
Everyone should hear or read this story!
A three day freak snow storm from Virginia up to the Canadian border and Michigan to the east coast that brought EVERYTHING to a stand-still. Much of the story was about the effect on New York City and the immediate country side but that was not all.
Not just what happened during the storm, but the long term legislation and disaster practices that were voted into existence afterward were discussed.
The national weather service came into being as a direct result of the storm of 1888.
This storm is one of the most well remembered and documented storms in history.
Everyone should hear or read this story!
January 17, 2018
I read this aloud to my children. We digested it a few chapters a week for three weeks. It was a good dose of reality without over-explaining too many sad details of the sorrows of the blizzard for my elementary age audience. We had very good discussions around the differences modern conveniences make contrasted with the way our reliance on them can cripple us at times, as well as general differences in technology and infrastructure through the past few centuries.
October 10, 2015
This was an interesting read about 2 huge storms that merged and became one monster storm. Even though this is for kids, I liked how New York learned and adapted from the tragedy that followed this storm. They implemented changes so that the next time a storm of enormous proportion came through, they could minimize the tragedy, destruction, and death and help the clean up move faster.
May 24, 2021
I wish I'd had the print version of this nonfiction book but have only listened to the audiobook, which was included (free) with my annual (not free) subscription to Audible. The text was impressive enough, but I know from having read the print version of another Jim Murphy book, The Great Fire, that there were photographs in the hardcover and so I missed out on seeing all of them. For that reason, I'm likely to get a copy of the print version for my book collection.
Jim Murphy seems to focus on disasters*, and the books are intended for young people. His writing is not sugar coated. People die in these terrible disasters. Reading about them could be a lesson in reality for youth. I classified this as YA and not middle grade because I think it is likely I would never give a true-disaster book to a child younger than twelve. Your mileage may vary.
That said, I think Jim Murphy's writing is worth reading. When I read about a natural disaster I consider it a way of honoring those who were injured or killed. Their lives were worth something and I wonder what was lost when they left the world so suddenly, in such unexpected ways.
* He also writes historical fiction (Dear America series) and other juvenile history books.
Jim Murphy seems to focus on disasters*, and the books are intended for young people. His writing is not sugar coated. People die in these terrible disasters. Reading about them could be a lesson in reality for youth. I classified this as YA and not middle grade because I think it is likely I would never give a true-disaster book to a child younger than twelve. Your mileage may vary.
That said, I think Jim Murphy's writing is worth reading. When I read about a natural disaster I consider it a way of honoring those who were injured or killed. Their lives were worth something and I wonder what was lost when they left the world so suddenly, in such unexpected ways.
* He also writes historical fiction (Dear America series) and other juvenile history books.
February 6, 2022
3.5 rounded up
well researched and informative
well researched and informative
March 6, 2023
A book written from journals, diaries and articles of the time. This was an event that I had not been aware of before, but was a major disaster in America. It was tragic because so many lives were lost and so much damage done, but served to improve many cities' preparedness for natural catastrophes. I enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot!
June 16, 2025
Written almost as a thriller, this true story was a fascinating read aloud. Contains pictures to see what an insane storm it was. America’s most severe blizzard in history.
September 14, 2024
I found this to be very dull and not engaging. I had higher hopes for it I guess. Perhaps to high of hopes.
November 15, 2008
It had been an unusually winter, so mild that Longfellow,
enjoying the warm sunshine, had just penned a poem
about dandelions. Two unusual weather patterns were about to combine and bring the East Coast to a standstill. For three days, beginning on March 12, 1888, one of the greatest blizzards in recorded American history was about
to paralyze everything.
Murphy, a Newberry Award winner, has combined the personal accounts of several individuals of different ages and social positions to bring a sense of "being there" to his account.
What made the storm even more unusual was that after having pounded the Northeast, the storm reversed course and plastered the same area again. Snow removal became impossible; trains became stuck for days, and soon
food was in short supply, prices rising commensurately
with demand. Shoveling was impossible, and soon tunnels needed to be dug to get anywhere. Sleighs could be seen moving down the street at a level with second-story windows.
Different ethnic and class groups fared differently.
Some needed money so badly and working conditions were so demanding that they walked miles in the blizzard, risking life and limb, to get to work.
There were spectacular feats of bravery and extraordinary examples of stupidity. After the storm, huge cakes of ice had formed on the river, and some bright little fellow got the idea of using a ladder to bridge the distance from shore to one of the large ice floes. He demonstrated how safe the
ice was and soon was making a mint by charging for the use of his ladder. Everything went well, with several hundred people gathering on the huge piece of ice, until the tide turned and the ice began to break up into small floes and float out to sea. Many managed to scramble ashore, but, sure enough, some refused to leave at the first signs of breakup, and they became stranded on increasingly small pieces. Finally, only one man, dressed quite nattily, remained stranded until a tug pushed its way through the ice to rescue him. The blizzard of 1888 killed some 800 people, and this does not include those who died from heart attacks or ancillary causes. The storm
changed the way the government viewed snow.
The economic hardship and losses were so substantial
that cities realized they could no longer afford to ignore snow removal. Even though 17,000 shovelers had been hired to clear streets, the task was haphazard at best. Electric lines were another problem. They had been strung on overhead poles
by numerous private utilities. Visions of live wires
snapping on mounds of snow and an electrocuted lineman hanging from a wire with blue flames coming from his mouth left indelible impressions on both citizens and politicians. Soon laws were passed requiring that wires be moved underground.
The Signal Corps, which had previously been given responsibility for weather reports, had its mandate given to a new agency, the Weather Bureau, which was also charged with
learning about what causes storms in order to better predict them. It remained a difficult task. A hurricane in Texas killed 6,000 several years later, despite predictions. Nature -- or God if you prefer to believe She actually pays attention to such things -- remains impossible to predict with complete accuracy. Storms, like life, remain
random and mysterious.
This is wonderful narrative history, seen through the eyes of numerous individuals. One gets a real sense for the ambiance of the time.
enjoying the warm sunshine, had just penned a poem
about dandelions. Two unusual weather patterns were about to combine and bring the East Coast to a standstill. For three days, beginning on March 12, 1888, one of the greatest blizzards in recorded American history was about
to paralyze everything.
Murphy, a Newberry Award winner, has combined the personal accounts of several individuals of different ages and social positions to bring a sense of "being there" to his account.
What made the storm even more unusual was that after having pounded the Northeast, the storm reversed course and plastered the same area again. Snow removal became impossible; trains became stuck for days, and soon
food was in short supply, prices rising commensurately
with demand. Shoveling was impossible, and soon tunnels needed to be dug to get anywhere. Sleighs could be seen moving down the street at a level with second-story windows.
Different ethnic and class groups fared differently.
Some needed money so badly and working conditions were so demanding that they walked miles in the blizzard, risking life and limb, to get to work.
There were spectacular feats of bravery and extraordinary examples of stupidity. After the storm, huge cakes of ice had formed on the river, and some bright little fellow got the idea of using a ladder to bridge the distance from shore to one of the large ice floes. He demonstrated how safe the
ice was and soon was making a mint by charging for the use of his ladder. Everything went well, with several hundred people gathering on the huge piece of ice, until the tide turned and the ice began to break up into small floes and float out to sea. Many managed to scramble ashore, but, sure enough, some refused to leave at the first signs of breakup, and they became stranded on increasingly small pieces. Finally, only one man, dressed quite nattily, remained stranded until a tug pushed its way through the ice to rescue him. The blizzard of 1888 killed some 800 people, and this does not include those who died from heart attacks or ancillary causes. The storm
changed the way the government viewed snow.
The economic hardship and losses were so substantial
that cities realized they could no longer afford to ignore snow removal. Even though 17,000 shovelers had been hired to clear streets, the task was haphazard at best. Electric lines were another problem. They had been strung on overhead poles
by numerous private utilities. Visions of live wires
snapping on mounds of snow and an electrocuted lineman hanging from a wire with blue flames coming from his mouth left indelible impressions on both citizens and politicians. Soon laws were passed requiring that wires be moved underground.
The Signal Corps, which had previously been given responsibility for weather reports, had its mandate given to a new agency, the Weather Bureau, which was also charged with
learning about what causes storms in order to better predict them. It remained a difficult task. A hurricane in Texas killed 6,000 several years later, despite predictions. Nature -- or God if you prefer to believe She actually pays attention to such things -- remains impossible to predict with complete accuracy. Storms, like life, remain
random and mysterious.
This is wonderful narrative history, seen through the eyes of numerous individuals. One gets a real sense for the ambiance of the time.
January 4, 2022
I read this aloud to my husband over the course of weeks, and I highly recommend it as a read aloud to upper elementary and middle-school-aged kids and adults. I am eager to read his other book about the Chicago Fire, too, because now I know what he does.
Murphy did thorough research on this blizzard and compiled narratives from all over the east coast into a captivating narrative. At the end, you truly understand how this one blizzard changed America, and if you have lived through similar disasters, like, say, a pandemic, you see how so much about human nature and politics is the same no matter which century you're looking at. I want my middle school students to read nonfiction for pleasure. I want their teachers to assign them to choose nonfiction to read so that they can see that's it not all dry facts but can be as exciting as a fictional plot (and you come out knowing more).
I'd give this five stars if the chapters were smaller, but this is only the complaint of a person reading aloud, I think. My husband enjoyed it, too, and it prompted conversations about our own extreme weather experiences, politics, history, and how in ways our modern conveniences make us even more vulnerable to nature, ironically. Reading this book together is a precious memory we made.
Murphy did thorough research on this blizzard and compiled narratives from all over the east coast into a captivating narrative. At the end, you truly understand how this one blizzard changed America, and if you have lived through similar disasters, like, say, a pandemic, you see how so much about human nature and politics is the same no matter which century you're looking at. I want my middle school students to read nonfiction for pleasure. I want their teachers to assign them to choose nonfiction to read so that they can see that's it not all dry facts but can be as exciting as a fictional plot (and you come out knowing more).
I'd give this five stars if the chapters were smaller, but this is only the complaint of a person reading aloud, I think. My husband enjoyed it, too, and it prompted conversations about our own extreme weather experiences, politics, history, and how in ways our modern conveniences make us even more vulnerable to nature, ironically. Reading this book together is a precious memory we made.
June 29, 2017
A young adult novel about the New York blizzard that devastated New York in the late 1800's. I enjoyed it, though parts were harsh and described just how horrible it was for those who died during the storm. A great book for those who have read the Dear America books and want more information on historical disasters.
February 11, 2018
This is a fascinating account of the Great Blizzard of 1888 which hit New England and completely shut down New York City and many other places. Stories of survivors, and some who didn't survive, fill the pages along with photographs and drawings. This was quite a storm and because of it many things changed. I got rather chilly reading about all the snow and the howling winds.
September 1, 2016
Fascinating! I saw a documentary on this historic event, but this book was better.
October 29, 2021
On March 12th of 1888, a rainstorm that no one suspected would be more than a simple storm became a devastating blizzard. The storm hit from Virginia to Maine. Soon that rainstorm started to snow. Life at the time didn't have national weather forecasts or even long range forecasts, so the residents of New York did not know a huge blizzard type storm was coming their way piggyback to their current snow storm. The people of New York begin to struggle as they try to continue life as usual with the horse and cart/carriage drivers trying to maneuver the streets, doctors making house calls, and day laborers going about their jobs. While those who could tried to tend to the homeless or less fortunate others tried to keep warm in the safety of their homes. The violent waves caused a few shipwrecks leaving 11 stranded on a pier. Many thought it would be a short storm as this had been the warmest winter so far on record. In only a few hours as the blizzard hit, it covered the entire city in just a few hours in over 21 inches of snow. This effectively brought the East coast to a standstill. More than 400 people died. This forced the city governments to develop programs and plans for safe and effective snow removal in streets and public areas for public safety. It also pushed forward New Yorks plans for their subway system. On a national scale, it pushed the government to develop the United States Weather Bureau. This true story used facts, first hand accounts, and newspaper (often exaggerated) to tell the true tales of survival, the goodness of people, the criminals or people who would take advantage, and the lengths people will go to survive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2022
It would start as rain on Sunday and feet of snow greeted those that managed to open their doors on Wednesday. A quick look at the storm that inundated the New York City of 1888 with massive amounts of snow. Amounts that even today would likely bring the city to a standstill. The author uses personal accounts of some survivors that braved the storm - mostly due to having an employer that believed that if they could make it to work, so could the employees. One must recall that this was before the subways and people walked everywhere - blocks and blocks and with the tropical-storm force wind gusts, dropping temperatures and wind chill with consistent, non-stop blizzard conditions that dumped inches of accumulation every hour. . . . Even trains would get stuck in massive drifts and those that left the protection of a train-car may or may not have survived to shelter a mere mile in the distance. People would collapse from the cold into a snowdrift and not be found until days later.
One positive aftermath was that all the wiring that clogged the area over the streets - many poles collapsed in the winds, leaving dangerous sparks from live electrical wires - all the wiring was to be placed underground. Construction of the underground train/subway system was finally approved. Also, hundreds of staff were hired not only to clear snow but to clean the streets which resulted in the development of 'public works departments.
Short, quick read and Murphy works to keep his tale moving especially with so much information available about the damage done to the city and surrounding regions.
2022-094
One positive aftermath was that all the wiring that clogged the area over the streets - many poles collapsed in the winds, leaving dangerous sparks from live electrical wires - all the wiring was to be placed underground. Construction of the underground train/subway system was finally approved. Also, hundreds of staff were hired not only to clear snow but to clean the streets which resulted in the development of 'public works departments.
Short, quick read and Murphy works to keep his tale moving especially with so much information available about the damage done to the city and surrounding regions.
2022-094
March 4, 2023
I found this book very interesting. It is considered "juvenile" history in its classification. I would say anyone from middle school on up would find it an interesting book. Maybe younger, as a read-aloud.
A number of things stood out to me. One was the hardiness of people in the late 1800's, along with their diligence and commitment/loyalty to their jobs. (Sometimes through fear of losing their job.) But the number of people that battled the elements to get to work was quite amazing to me. (Although some did lose their lives, others survived.) Additionally, the bravery and willingness to help others was also quite incredible.
Another thing that stood out to me was how this storm did, indeed, change America, partly because of how things went in New York City. Electric lines were buried after this in cities across America; the subway system of New York finally came to fruition, and other large cities did likewise. Snow removal became the responsibility of the city across the country. (As of the writing of this book, only one major city - Detroit - does not plow snow on residential streets.) The National Weather service was born, and is working 24/7.
The book relates personal accounts/stories of people who lived and died during this storm. There are photos and drawings spread throughout the book. If you're interested in history, I think you will enjoy this book.
A number of things stood out to me. One was the hardiness of people in the late 1800's, along with their diligence and commitment/loyalty to their jobs. (Sometimes through fear of losing their job.) But the number of people that battled the elements to get to work was quite amazing to me. (Although some did lose their lives, others survived.) Additionally, the bravery and willingness to help others was also quite incredible.
Another thing that stood out to me was how this storm did, indeed, change America, partly because of how things went in New York City. Electric lines were buried after this in cities across America; the subway system of New York finally came to fruition, and other large cities did likewise. Snow removal became the responsibility of the city across the country. (As of the writing of this book, only one major city - Detroit - does not plow snow on residential streets.) The National Weather service was born, and is working 24/7.
The book relates personal accounts/stories of people who lived and died during this storm. There are photos and drawings spread throughout the book. If you're interested in history, I think you will enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
A brief overview of the blizzard of 1888 that unexpectedly and quickly struck Maine down to Virginia, causing death and unparalleled hardships for thousands.
Using clippings from newspapers, weather records and journals, Murphy shares various people’s narratives of being stuck on a train, losing their way to their own barn, attempting to make it to work and children trying to get to school in extremely high winds and feet of snow.
A final section describes the aftermath and the steps various cities began taking to have emergency contingency plans in place to avoid such a loss of life and hazardous situations again.
Ages: 12+
Cleanliness: mentions people dying. A horse is caught in electrical wires and is killed. References a man caught in wires and electrocuted - not too detailed. Mentions drinking and alcohol.
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Using clippings from newspapers, weather records and journals, Murphy shares various people’s narratives of being stuck on a train, losing their way to their own barn, attempting to make it to work and children trying to get to school in extremely high winds and feet of snow.
A final section describes the aftermath and the steps various cities began taking to have emergency contingency plans in place to avoid such a loss of life and hazardous situations again.
Ages: 12+
Cleanliness: mentions people dying. A horse is caught in electrical wires and is killed. References a man caught in wires and electrocuted - not too detailed. Mentions drinking and alcohol.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
January 10, 2023
1888. Winter has been a bit warmer than usual. The Signal Corps, a branch of the armed forces, sends out their weather update: More of the same, and goes home for Sunday. Nature has other plans as a perfect storm combines two fronts. Snow begins to fall. It keeps falling all over New England.
There have been other storms as destructive or even more destructive than this one. What makes this one different is the wealth of personal stories, newspaper accounts, books and other records. And this storm marked the beginning of many of the things we take for granted.
This book has many pictures, but the stories of the people affected by the storm pull the reader into this disaster. Hundreds of people died. Thousands were affected, some permanently.
Deaths and aftermath conditions are explained, but not dwelt on. Survivors dot the book as well as the two young boys buried in the snow, but alive in their snow cave.
This book is easy, compulsive reading. It brings out not only the storm, but living conditions and the people of 1888 New York City. The stories stay with you after the covers are closed.
There have been other storms as destructive or even more destructive than this one. What makes this one different is the wealth of personal stories, newspaper accounts, books and other records. And this storm marked the beginning of many of the things we take for granted.
This book has many pictures, but the stories of the people affected by the storm pull the reader into this disaster. Hundreds of people died. Thousands were affected, some permanently.
Deaths and aftermath conditions are explained, but not dwelt on. Survivors dot the book as well as the two young boys buried in the snow, but alive in their snow cave.
This book is easy, compulsive reading. It brings out not only the storm, but living conditions and the people of 1888 New York City. The stories stay with you after the covers are closed.
February 3, 2021
AudioBk-B, Libby, Released 2/13/05, Listened 2/3/21, Narrator Taylor Mali, 3 Hours, Nonfiction, Juvenile, Snowstorm, East Coast, March 12-14,1888. I must admit, I had never heard of this particular storm. I thought the book was about a blizzard called "The Children's Blizzard" a true story I had previously read by David Laskin, which actually happened earlier in the same year, Jan. 12-13, 1888, in Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota. Both storms were brutal, with lots of damage, and many deaths. In the this blizzard story, the author relates changes that took place after the devastation was realized. Things such as underground utility wires, underground transportation, and even city governments obligation for better services to their residents, such as snow removal. (The author pointed out that snow removal is done in every major city, except Detroit!) 4☆'s = Very Good. However, I would categorize this book as YA, not Juvenile!
May 10, 2023
This story of the great blizzard of 1888 reads like a novel. Aimed at middle-grade and older students, it would be a good addition to a school curriculum. Weather forecasting was in its infancy, and due to unforeseen changes in the weather and a combination of mistakes, the east coast was completely taken by surprise when a howling blizzard of hurricane-force winds and foot after foot of snow buried the largest cities on the seaboard. The text is augmented by dozens of historical photos and drawings of the event. In closing, the author summarizes other blizzard events up to the present day, and details how the 1888 blizzard changed the way cities all across America address weather emergencies.
July 21, 2021
Way interesting I have always been interested in this subject. At the end it was explained why there is so much information about this time period and why so many books have been written about it.
July 23, 2024
I love reading stories about extreme events in our history. This was the blizzard in the northeast states in April of 1888. Afterwards it changed many of the precedures and laws regarding storms.
December 22, 2025
An interesting look into American life in the late 19th century, in the context of a crazy, deadly storm.
September 6, 2018
fairly superficial, but interesting to consider the logistics of blizzard prep, survival, and aftermath in a world without labor laws, much machinery, or easy communication.
June 6, 2018
Okay, so it was better than The Great Fire, but still not great. It gives the basic facts and some personal accounts. But I wanted more. I suppose it's useful as quick go-to for teaching purposes, but frankly it was no better than a long Wikipedia article. I've come to the conclusion that Jim Murphy’s writing is just not for me.
This book has only made me want to find a more in-depth book about the blizzard and New York’s history. Better yet, Erik Larson, can you write a book about this blizzard? Please and thank you.
Taking An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 off my lists. Not worth the trouble. I might as well just read a Wikipedia article about it.
This book has only made me want to find a more in-depth book about the blizzard and New York’s history. Better yet, Erik Larson, can you write a book about this blizzard? Please and thank you.
Taking An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 off my lists. Not worth the trouble. I might as well just read a Wikipedia article about it.
September 20, 2019
This is the third book that I've read by Jim Murphy and I think he does a great job bringing nonfiction alive for young readers. I've enjoyed all of the books and would like to read more.
That said, I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Great Fire, but that could've just been my mood.
I didn't know anything about this blizzard but it sounded pretty insane. I honestly can't even picture what it would've been like. Do we even have weather like this anymore or are we more capable of dealing with it? I honestly don't know. I loved all the individual stories that Murphy told about people trying to survive, that's what makes his writing so great, he makes it personal and tells individual stories.
There will be spoilers ahead if you want to stop reading!
I thought the most fascinating story was the tale of the two little brothers. My heart was clenching when they set off alone. Of all the accounts, that seemed the one most destined for disaster, but the fact that they survived was absolutely miraculous. I can only imagine how their parents felt. It was also pretty hilarious, that guy with his stick poking right into them. I loved that.
I didn't understand why that one secretary decided she couldn't spend the night. I definitely would've stayed there. I don't see how staying in an empty building was scarier than facing the blizzard.
I can't imagine how it was facing times like that without all the modern conveniences we have today. People are pretty resilient.
That said, I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Great Fire, but that could've just been my mood.
I didn't know anything about this blizzard but it sounded pretty insane. I honestly can't even picture what it would've been like. Do we even have weather like this anymore or are we more capable of dealing with it? I honestly don't know. I loved all the individual stories that Murphy told about people trying to survive, that's what makes his writing so great, he makes it personal and tells individual stories.
There will be spoilers ahead if you want to stop reading!
I thought the most fascinating story was the tale of the two little brothers. My heart was clenching when they set off alone. Of all the accounts, that seemed the one most destined for disaster, but the fact that they survived was absolutely miraculous. I can only imagine how their parents felt. It was also pretty hilarious, that guy with his stick poking right into them. I loved that.
I didn't understand why that one secretary decided she couldn't spend the night. I definitely would've stayed there. I don't see how staying in an empty building was scarier than facing the blizzard.
I can't imagine how it was facing times like that without all the modern conveniences we have today. People are pretty resilient.
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