Blizzard of Glass: The Halifax Explosion of 1917

by Sally M. Walker

On December 6, 1917 two ships collided in Halifax Harbour. One ship was loaded top to bottom with munitions and one held relief supplies, both intended for wartorn Europe. The resulting blast flattened two towns, Halifax and Dartmouth, and killed nearly 2,000 people. As if that wasn't devastating enough, a blizzard hit the next day, dumping more than a foot of snow on the area and paralyzing much-needed relief efforts.

Fascinating, edge-of-your-seat storytelling based on original source material conveys this harrowing account of tragedy and recovery. This thoroughly-researched and documented book can be worked into multiple aspects of the common core curriculum.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Historical, Canada, Audiobook, Juvenile

160 pages, Hardcover

First published November 22, 2011

About the author

Sally M. Walker has written science books for children, including Earthquakes, an NSTA/CBC Best Science Trade Book of 1997. She lives in DeKalb, IL.

Reviews

[Phyllis Runyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of an explosion of a munitions ship on December 6, 1917 in Halifax Harbor, what lead up to it, the massive force of the explosion, families involved and what happened afterwards. Two thousand deaths (five hundred being children), nine thousand injuries and the blizzard that happened the day after and the extraordinary relief effort make this a fascinating read. It was the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb. On the last page is a picture of an anchor shaft from the ship Mont Blanc that weighs 1140 pounds. The explosion hurled it two and a half miles. At only 135 pages this is a quick read.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up in Chicago, I constantly heard and read about the Great Chicago Fire. However, I had never once heard about the Halifax Explosion of 1917. I wonder if that is simply a regional thing. The Halifax explosion is a very interesting story and I am surprised that it is not more well known (and I now wonder the same about the Chicago Fire elsewhere).

Walker, however, took a nonfiction write by numbers approach to the book. She certainly presented some interesting details about the explosion, but she tried to humanize it with personal tales from the explosion. The problem was that she wrote about far too many people for the reader to connect with any of them. They all just became brief glimpses into how this affected the people of Halifax rather than what would be a more effective heart-wrenching story of a family or families that the reader had connected with. It just came off more like a textbook than well-crafted nonfiction. Still, interesting and informative overall.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! It's the kind of non-fiction I like best, with a combination of facts and personal narrative, all told with a sweeping movement and intensity. The introductory chapters, where we hear about who went to work and who went to school and who stayed home sick and who only went to school in the afternoon, were unbearable as I waited to find out which of these places was safe and which wasn't. As is right and proper in juvenile non-fiction, much of the book focuses on children's experiences and memories. The events of this book may have little bearing on the world today, as astonishing and horrific as it was at the time, but it is moving and fascinating all the same.

I do notice that the last chapter of any juvenile narrative non-fiction seems to be the weak point, as the author tries to tie in the events of the book with the present day and/or make connections for the American child-reader. But this seems to be the expected way one ends such a book these days. Perhaps it's time for some creativity from authors and editors there.

Star knocked off only because I didn't have any "OMG this book is amazing" feeling afterward, and because I did have some trouble keeping track of who was who--though I'm not sure what the author could have done to improve that without going overboard and saying every time, for instance, "James, the boy with the watch and two young brothers who was walking to school, [was thrown to the ground] [sustained this injury] [looked for his brothers]" etc. It's certainly one of the best I've read this year and should turn up on the Sibert docket, if not the Newbery. I prefer this to Amelia Lost.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

In December of 1917, several ships containing hazardous chemicals in the harbor of Halifax collided. The resulting explosion was the biggest man made one until Hiroshima. Not only did the heat and shock waves destroy all of the buildings nearby, but the resultant tsunami also caused major damage. Thousands died. The devastation was incalculable, and this book does an excellent job of explaining this for middle grade readers-- after an introduction of how things aligned for this to occur, the catastrophe is followed through what happened to the members of several families. Maps, copious period photographs, and well-researched information and harrowing tales of survival make this a book that many readers will enjoy.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Dec 6, 1917, there was an explosion in the Halifax Harbour. Around 2000 people were killed and many more injured.

This book is aimed toward younger readers, but I found it a good introduction. There are also plenty of archival photos included. The author decided to tell the stories of a few specific families – to follow what happened to the people in those families, what they were doing at the time, etc. I do think this makes the book more “relatable”.

I did know of the explosion, but this is the first I’ve read about it, to really get more info/details on it. I already have other books on my tbr about the topic, as well. I thought this book was very well done. (Hate to say I “really liked” a book about a disaster, though I’m sure I have before!)

[Dakota Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow! What a story, what loss and sadness....but there was also kindness and bravery....a true story of two ships colliding in Halifax causing a huge explosion, and a tsunami. Then two blizzards hit during rescue efforts...the largest man-made explosion before the atom bomb.

[Joella · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was an explosion in 1917 that killed about 2,000 people in Halifax, Canada. Did you know about that? I sure didn't. But wow, what a story. There were two boats that crashed. But even worse is that one of the boats was totally loaded with TNT and other such things to help with the war in Europe. The result was the biggest explosion until the atomic bomb.

The interesting thing about how Sally Walker tells the story is that she doesn't just tell facts about what happened. She tells the story about various people and what they were doing. I kept reading about these school kids, these wives, or these telegraph workers or firemen thinking... "No, please don't be one of the ones that dies! I know you want to put the fire out, but it's going to explode before you get the first bucket of water on it!" Heart wrenching. This story made me wonder about serious devastation.

However, I really liked this book. My coworker says that I get sucked into the disaster type of books. But I think it is more than that. I actually get ill at the sight of lots of blood, guts and glory. (Just ask my brother what happened when he broke his arm...and that didn't even have any blood.) However, the determination and hope that people show in the face of disaster, that is what I am drawn to. Walker concludes with one main thought. "Even in the darkest times, we look for a glimmer of hope...The Halifax Harbour explosion story is a tale of devastation and despair. It is equally a tale of recovery and hope...Their stories become a part of us. We become a part of them. And so life continues." Brilliant. Sally Walker has written yet another bit of non-fiction that reads like a suspenseful action story. And once again she shows the world that when there are people who have such courage in the face of such disasters, there is hope in the world.

[Jan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I seem to be having a problem with books I am listening to on Overdrive. This is at least the second or third youth oriented book I have read. It is a well written one, but, still a children's book.

I am very glad that this was not the first book I have read about the disaster that occurred in December 1917 in Halifax Harbor. Curse Of The Narrows by Laura M. MacDonald is ever so much better. This book, however, tones down the disaster that occurred whereas Curse brings home just how much of a disaster it is. This is especially so because this isn't a very well known incident. Part of this was due to it occurring during WWI and Canada probably wanted to tone it down while many Canadians were blaming it on the Germans. Germany had nothing to do with it.

Two ships collided in the middle of Halifax harbor. One of these ships was loaded with armaments and flammable stuff (coal, oil, etc) while the other was loaded with items meant for the saving of Belgium, including bandages and other related items that would catch fire real easy. At least one of the ships was abandoned and subsequently went plowing into the pier. The wreckage caused a tsunami. And a few days later they get a blizzard. So they had a confluence of fire, water (too much) and snow. Relief was unable to get through for several days.

Blizzard only gives us a very scanty view of this. Maybe because it is a children's book. And the author doesn't feel a young person capable of understanding what happened. Whereas Curse, I think, gave a fuller story.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew nothing of the Halifax Explosion that was the largest man-made explosion until the atomic bombs dropped. The subject matter was fascinating but I think Walker could have done a better job in crafting the story. The photographs were great including illustrations but the addition of all of the different families (their jobs, their home life, who was sick, who was walking to school) left it too mundane to really want to muddle through. I wanted THE STORY. I wanted the thoughts, actions, what an explosion of that caliber does to things and really just a report how people were affected including deaths and injuries.

The story was comprehensive, giving a feel for the area and its history and even what it's like now and what's studied in the history books, but the additional "human" touch didn't add anything to the story. What happened was story enough.

Could have been much better had there not been all of the side stories.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to believe that the lovely city of Halifax, Nova Scotia once experienced an explosion that literally erased brick and wooden buildings as well as piers, ships and people when the city and its surrounding areas was struck by waves of sound, water and heat when the SS Mont Blanc and SS Imo collided and the Mont Blanc's 2900+ tons of explosives ignited and produced the most powerful blast in the world until the atomic bomb.

Certainly not as in-depth as McDonald's Curse of the Narrows: The Halifax Explosion 1917 especially the trial and investigation that determined culpability, the horrific injuries and hardship in the cities and towns on both sides of the narrowing harbor entrance.

An excellent introduction to the occurrence especially for younger readers as well as the origin of Halifax sending Boston the Christmas tree that sits in the Commons every year since 1971 (originally it was a one-time gift in 1918) as a remembrance of the help, assistance and supplies that Boston sent in the first days following the disaster.

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[Damianw]

Title:Blizzard of glass
Author:Sally M. Walker
Genre:nonfiction
Publication Date:November 22,2011
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Blizzard of Glass by Sally M. Walker is a nonfiction story that is a very gory book but it was worth the time.If you're into nonfiction I recommend it. Also if you're in 8th grade this book would be appropriate for you to read. I learned about a huge explosion that killed thousands and how the explosion happened; along the way, I learned about families how some survived and some didn't. I also learned about the wars they helped fight like World War 1. The reader doesn’t just learn about the explosion; we learn about how the Halifax boat carried supplies to wars and the recovery of the explosion and what else the explosion did. As if the explosion wasn't enough, there was a blizzard while they were trying to recover the dead and heal the living in Richmond and Halifax in 1917.

[Kifflie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the biggest man-made explosion to happen before the advent of the atomic bomb. Two ships collided in the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, starting a chain of events that resulted in one of them blowing up. Hundreds of people were killed instantly, and several thousand were injured. The sheer force of this event was pretty impressive. The relief efforts were heroic. I had never heard of this event before reading this book, and this is a well-told story, focusing on the families who were strong affected by the disaster.

[Shella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well researched heartfelt account of a little known disaster in Halifax during 1917. There were many great nonfiction text features- with the exception of a general map. This was the largest man- made explosion before the atomic bomb- and very little has been written about it for younger readers. The way the author wrote it- you feel like you share the emotions of the community that through devastations found hope. I was particularly impressed with the mayor of Boston and his efforts to support the people of Halifax.

[LibrariAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Halifax is my hometown.
2. December 6, 1917 was the day of the explosion. By pure happenstance, I started reading this book on Dec 6, 2022 at 1:15 pm. It had been 4 hours since the clock tower had tolled at 9:05 am in Halifax in remembrance.

For the next 4 days, I lived the explosion, practically in real time, trying to place Halifax 1917 locations with my memories of Halifax 1994. I even texted my older sisters. I don't think I've ever felt so close to history. Testament to the author's writing, it was gripping, and I was tearing up by the end.

[Inge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story I actually hadn't heard about before discovering this book, how is that possible? I liked the simple style of this book, where the author also adds an explanation to some of the terms used, some more useful than others. It was short enough to not feel dragged out, while still building up the story and also going into the aftermath and summarizing nicely. The audio book is 2 hours and 51 minutes, easily digested in an afternoon.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked parts of the book very much. The last couple chapters about the aftermath of the explosion were really good.

However, I agree with several of the other reviews that she focused on so many families, that I didn't really feel emotional connection (because I had to keep flipping back to the beginning to see who was whose child).

[Amber Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A shorter version of a story I just learned about in the last year. Devastating and tragic, but with some hope and love intermingled.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

stiffy jaun

[Lauren Brewington]

I only read this so I could do a project for Aiden lol, but it was kinda interesting

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been interested in the Halifax explosion for quite a while now, especially after reading The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden. I think Walker did an excellent job of explaining what lead up to the explosion and how families were affected. I had a hard time envisioning how the two ships collided, but thankfully a quick YouTube search was able to show me some videos and clear that up. I felt this was well done without oversimplifying everything.

[Amber Scaife · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nonfiction book on the 1917 Halifax explosion, geared toward middle grade.
An interesting account of the event, and although I would have liked a bit more detail, I think it is perfectly done for its intended audience.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard of this explosion but never knew the facts until I read this book. On December 6, 1917, a munitions ship loaded with explosives collided with another ship in Halifax harbor, setting off a fire and explosion that destroyed much of the town and killed thousands of people. In addition to the many injured, over 40 people completely lost their vision because they were standing in front of windows that shattered when the explosion occurred. It was followed by a blizzard that hampered rescue efforts. Walker selected particular children and their parents to follow before, during, and after the blast, thereby putting a human face on the tragedy for readers. In some cases she was able to interview relatives of the survivors for first-hand accounts. Photos and maps provided additional emphasis to the horror of the destruction. Walker describes how rescue and relief efforts were undertaken--imagine being suddenly homeless in the winter!--as well as how the neighborhoods were rebuilt. Boston, Massachusetts, was especially forthcoming in sending relief, and even today is honored by the people of Halifax. Since December 6 is my birthday, I'll never again celebrate without pausing to remember another event that happened on that day. Highly recommended!

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. I can see 4th/5th/6th grade students being drawn in as Walker narrates the stories of several of the families and other individuals who started out having a typical day on December 6, 1917. At 9:00 a.m. a ship carrying tons of munitions to the war in Europe was making its way through the narrow straight between Halifax and Dartmouth and collided with another ship. At first it seemed as though the initial fire could be contained. Within a few minutes, though, the largest man-made explosion prior to Hiroshima devastated the two cities, instantly killing 2000 people. If you were standing at a window watching the fire before the explosion, chances are the blizzard of glass flying at you also blinded you. Walker describes the aftermath including how people came from all over Canada and the United States to help the community recover.

Walker's writing is superb. She has become a "go to" author for me as far as finding good books for students. She understands her young audience of readers and, in this book, weaves together details to create a suspenseful narrative filled with intriguing facts and tidbits of information students will ponder over and over again.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I applaud Sally M. Walker's brevity. In the hands of another modern historian, the reader would likely slog through every political intrigue, alliance, battle, pandemic, economic justification, and every minute detail of World War I to explain this singular event. Nowadays, a reader travails through two to three hundred pages before the actual event indicated in the title actually occurs. I suspect that a lot of this has to do with getting the page count up which in turn translates to more cheddar. The fact that this accident was the largest man-made explosion until July 26, 1945, leveled Halifax, Canada, and killed thousands is both fascinating and tragic. However, the reader will notice that Walker’s language and explanations are often better suited for a middle-school history text. She feels it necessary to spend entire sentences defining words. They’re so canned it seems like she copied them straight out of the OED. Thanks Walker, I knew the definition of “pension” in the sixth grade.

[Marjorie Ingall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, freaky and terrifying -- and how had I never heard of the Halifax Explosion, the biggest man-made explosion before Hiroshima? These Canadians are really too quiet and unassuming.

The book is super-suspenseful as the author ticks off what each member of several families living near the harbor was doing on the morning that two ships -- one laden with munitions -- converged. The tick-tick-tick tone of it all is sickeningly scary, super-cinematic, kind of puke-inducing. You have no idea as you're reading which kids and grownups are going to die (though depending on where they are in proximity to the water, you have a pretty good idea). If this were a movie, you'd be all TOO MUCH, MICHAEL BAY! when the BLIZZARD comes after the giant explosion, hampering rescue efforts. Terrific reporting with impressive use of source materials -- historical documents and interviews with descendants.

[Annalee Schnebele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Umh, I think I might be crazy because all I've heard about this book is how amazing it is and how no one can put it down. I read it hoping to find some nonfiction books for our 7th and 8th grade teachers for next year.

It was a really interesting topic. And some of the information in it was fascinating. I definetly want to know more about this moment in history. But, the author's voice was irritating and condescending. It's very difficult to write ya nonfiction well, and I don't think this is a good example of engaging writing for teens. Maybe I'm just really particular. I don't know. I will bring it to my middle school teachers to look at, but I'm not going to give it a very strong recommendation.

I would recommend this book to 7th and 8th graders who are interested in history, but are not turned off by condescending writing and can follow up with lots and lots of different characters. The topic - super interesting, the actual book - could be better.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In typical American style I had never heard of the Halifax explosion before reading this book. The greatest explosions the world has seen before Hiroshima and it is not to be found in American textbooks. Why? Because it happened in Nova Scotia of course! That is so far away and unrelated to us...

Well, on to the book review. I thought this book was well written and very interesting. The pictures were well selected and illustrated the accident and the aftermath. The author follows the fate of several families that day. This part was a bit confusing, but I know why she wrote it the way she did. The book is essentially recording the memory of a terrible event. At times it is horrible to read just because it is hard to imagine the depth of suffering that went on, but overall the story is one of heroism and tragedy that has deeply affected the community. It is well worth a read.

Recommended for grades 5 to adult.

[Kermit · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 stars

I had never heard of this disaster that happened in Dec. 1917 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This is a short children's nonfiction book, and I saw the title on an ALA's Best of.... booklist.

A ship filled with munitions for World War I ran into another ship in Halifax Harbor. The resulting explosion was the largest manmade explosion that had ever occurred. It remained the largest manmade explosion until 1945 when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

The book was made very personal by the author choosing to focus on a half dozen particular families and what specifically happened to them.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle grade history, which means that it's accessibly written and full of personal narratives, possibly more so than an adult book on the same subject might be. And more pictures, too. The subject itself is fascinating enough on its own, and Walker builds up suspense by taking her time in setting the scene. She also doesn't skip out shortly after the explosion happened, instead following up on the relief efforts afterwards.

Of course, you could always read the Wikipedia article on the explosion, but it isn't as personal, and there aren't as many pictures of the devastation.

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed. I didn't feel as engaged in the people as I would have liked. I don't know if it was because we were introduced to too many families for me to keep them straight or because not enough time was spent developing a relationship with them before the tragedy. It is a very interesting story and certainly one I had not heard about. I guess here in the US we don't care much about bad things way over in Canada. The Halifax explosion was the largest man-made explosion prior to the atomic bomb. I think this could make great historical fiction, where the author might take more liberties with the characters so that we might be more invested in them.