Children of the Storm: The True Story of the Pleasant Hill School Bus Tragedy

by Ariana Harner, Clark Secrest

A story of 33 fateful hours, in which 20 children faced nature's toughest tests.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Tragedy, Survival

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

On March 26, 1931, a blizzard swept into Colorado. Just as the blizzard was starting, a bus full of children were delivered to school. The bus driver, Carl Miller, argued with teachers Maude Mosier and Franz Freiday that the children should remain at the school with a coal burning stove. Thinking they knew everything, they insisted he take the children home. Those teachers later doubled down, insisting that they knew best and anyone would have made that decision. I find that hard to believe, as anyone with two brain cells to rub together would know it makes NO SENSE to go out into whiteout conditions. These two teachers should have, at bare minimum, went to live in a cave for the rest of their days. I don't care what anyone says, my child would never set one big toe in any classroom they thought they were in charge of again. Everyone has the potential to make mistakes, but this was ridiculous and their attitude in the aftermath sealed the deal for me. As Miller pulled out in the bus, conditions were whiteout. The bus became stuck in a ditch, stranding the children. I think it is important to note that these children were not dressed for this weather, as the day had started off fairly warm. It is also important to note that this was a WOODEN school bus with CARDBOARD windows. The conditions that the children would endure on that bus for the 30+ hours they were trapped is, frankly, unimaginable, despite the great detail provided by the book. I cannot imagine enduring this, especially as a child. I would hate watching my friends suffer in such a way. Eventually, a couple of fathers set out in wagons with blankets and food to take to the school, assuming their children were there, only to discover that they were not. They made a mad dash to find the children, and did, and rescued them. They took them to a nearby house, which was only half a mile away. It is so, so sad to think about the surrounding farmhouses that could have housed the children, but nobody could see them because of the conditions. Eventually, the children who survived were able to seek medical attention. In total, five children would die, as well as the bus driver.

I cannot imagine the PTSD that these children (and their families) endured for the rest of their lives. I am sure they also had lasting physical effects from the frostbite to some degree as well. For a positive note, this tragedy did implement some bus reforms that we are familiar with today. Two-way radios were required in all buses going forward, emergency supplies had to be carried on every bus, and telephones had to be in every school. The dead have a memorial in Holly Cemetery in Colorado, and there is also a roadside memorial with their names on it as well. I bought this book during an Audible sale, and I am definitely pleased with this purchase, despite the fact that I spent the whole book enraged at the teachers and school board members.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 4 out of 5]

On March 26, 1931 twenty kids and one bus driver Carl Miller started off their day on way to school in the nice 60 degree weather. By the time the bus arrived the weather turned ugly, it was dark, windy and bitter cold. With teachers orders the bus diver was on the way to the nearest home for safety. On the way Carl Miller lost his way and drove off into a ditch stranding him and the kids for a day and a half in the spring storm.
The media just went crazy with the story and the kids became national and international celebrities. Good book about a heartbreaking story. Not the best written book out around but good. I did like the fact the authors did a update on the surviving kids as adults in the back. Nice touch and a needed closer.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extensively researched with multiple perspectives woven together, providing a comprehensible timeline of events through many of the participants' eyes.'
I feel overwhelming empathy for Ome Untiedt. I don't believe he ever came to terms with the loss of his brother, Arlo, and the experience.
An unforgivingly heavy read with an attached recommendation of Highly.
Always listen to your mother. Take your coat.

[Annelise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so powerfully disturbing and heart breaking that it infected my dreams. What these children went through in 36 hours is unfathomable.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievable story of young children's experience during and after a deadly blizzard. A testament to the resilience of the young and the will of the human spirit.

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad true story... I would be prepared for children dying:( I liked that this book does tell you what happened after this tragedy.

[Karla Jespersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book. First is it a true story about a blizzard in Holly Colorado. It is a story about 22 children being stranded in a snow storm and how they did or did not survive. I know the publishers are coming out with an updated version with hopefully more interviews from survivors or their relatives. A Must read

[Paula Clever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy.. great book ..learn how to survive in snow storm from this tragedy

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so haunting, I hate so much that it's a true story! Deeply painful, but glad I read it.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Carl Miller started picking up the 20 children on his school bus route the morning of March 26, 1931 the weather was a balmy 60 degrees in southeastern Colorado. Black billowing clouds had begun to form in the distance and by the time Carl parked the bus in front of the one-room Pleasant Hill School they were in the midst of a freak blizzard that plunged the temperature to -20 and visibility to zero. The two teachers convinced Carl that he should take the children to a nearby home rather than try to ride out the storm in the schoolhouse as they were low on coal and had no food or water. Against his better judgment Carl agreed but soon he and his busload of children were hopelessly lost in the raging storm. Unable to see, Carl drove the bus into a ditch and the old bus' engine died. The children would spend 33 hours trapped in the 11 foot x 5 foot bus as the winds blew at 70 miles per hour and snow drifted into the vehicle through cracked windows. Carl kept the children jumping, exercising and even hitting and yelling at one another to keep them from falling asleep. He ultimately made the decision to leave the children and try to find help. Carl and 5 children would die in this tragedy.
Although this was a heartbreaking story it was very well written and researched. It is also the story of how an opportunistic newspaper editor turned this tragedy into increased subscriptions for his paper and his need to make an "American Hero" out of one of these traumatized children. The book ends with interviews and biographies of the surviving bus passengers.

[Jovita · Rating 3 out of 5]

March 26, 1931, On the remote plains of southeastern Colorado it was uncommonly warm, and residents were relieved that the troubles of winter were gone for another year, or so they thought. As the children rode the bus to Pleasant Hill School dark clouds began to form and by 9:00 the snow was blowing and coming down heavily. A decision was made to bus the children to a nearby home rather than keeping them at the one room schoolhouse that was low on supplies.

By the time the bus reached the main road, the children could not see the school behind them and the bus driver, Carl Miller, could not see beyond the windshield. He was lost. The children would spend 33 hours trapped in the school bus. Carl tried desperately to help the children stay warm, he ultimately made the decision to leave the children and try to find help. Carl and five children would die in this tragedy.

This was a sad heartbreaking story of what the children had to endure, watching their classmates freeze to death and then becoming the political and media stories. What these children went through was horrific. I did like that the author added an update on the surviving children and adults of this tragedy. -J

Inky Impressions

[Jay Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The snowstorm that struck the eastern plains of Colorado in 1931 was made worse when a school bus full of children were stranded in deep drifts for 33 hours. Not all of them survived, including the bus driver and his young daughter. It was a tragedy that still haunts the small community of Pleasant Hill. This book, non-fiction, goes into great detail and with much research into how the events unfolded that day and how the survivors were saved, and what exactly happened to the children and bus driver that didn't make it out alive. The author interviewed everyone still alive that she could find and traced their lives since the tragedy to the present. She also read newspapers, and other primary source accounts of the incident and wove them into a very readable story. I would say I enjoyed reading it, but I did not enjoy learning the sad fate of the children, although I was familiar with the story before picking up the book. If you have an interest in Colorado history or historic disasters, you will definitely be intrigued by this story. The author is the former editor of the Colorado Historical Society's monthly newsletter and has written many historical accounts over the years.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the morning of March 26, 1931, a blizzard struck southeastern Colorado and western Kansas just as children arrived at school. The schoolteachers at Pleasant Hill School, between the towns of Holly and Towner, ordered the bus driver to take the students back home. Almost immediately he made a wrong turn, got lost, and soon the bus ended up in a ditch. The authors describe the struggle to outlast the storm, and tell what happened later to those who survived not only the storm, but the political and media frenzy. This tragedy inspired legislation requiring that school buses be painted yellow, soon becoming a nationwide standard.

[ReadingWench · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, but tragic