Cora and the Terrible Twister: A Tri-State Tornado Survival Story

Girls Survive

by Julie Gilbert, Francesca Ficorilli (Illustrator)

Cora Moffat is struggling to concentrate on her English class when her teacher's focus lands on a classroom window. As the class turns to look, they see an enormous black cloud, angry and vicious, heading their direction. When the devastating tornado hits the school, Cora does all she can to help herself and others survive the destruction and make it out of the building alive. Readers can learn the real story of the Tri-State Tornado from the nonfiction back matter in this Girls Survive story. A glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts are also provided.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Middle Grade, Animals, Fiction, Survival

104 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

About the author

Although Julie Gilbert’s masterpiece, The Adventures of Kitty Bob: Alien Warlord Cat, has sadly been out of print since Julie last stapled it together in the fourth grade, she continues to write.

Julie is the author of Cemetery Songs, a young adult novel about adoption, identity and the ghosts of the past. She has written several books for Capstone/Stone Arch Books, including the Dark Waters series and several titles in the Girls Survive series. Her novels consider themes of identity and belonging, along with a healthy dose of fantasy and magic. Her short fiction, which has appeared in numerous publications, explores topics ranging from airport security lines to adoption to antique wreaths made of hair. She is especially committed to diversity in her writing.

Julie is also a librarian. She loves working in libraries because she learns something new every day. Although she has also published extensively in the field of library science, her scholarship tends to have fewer plot twists and interesting characters than her novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Ashley Scroggins]

Discovered this new-to-us disaster series (similar to the I Survived series). Gave us some GREAT discussion topics for Bro Mom Book Club! 🤘🏼🌪️

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Murphysboro, Illinois in 1925 Cora heads off to school like any other morning, but her dog tries to keep her at home. She wonders at his strange behavior but still makes it to school on time. When the sky turns horribly dark during the middle of the school day, Cora and her classmates and teacher wonder what is going on. And then they see things flying by the window, things like stoves and trees and they realize they need to get to safety as soon as possible. But will they make it in time?

It is hard to fathom a tornado so wide people couldn’t see the edges of it. This read will definitely have readers appreciating the incredible power of these storms, and empathizing with communities that have been touched by such a devastating storm. Cora makes it through the storm, but her friend Claire loses a limb to the ordeal, and a classmate is killed in front of their eyes. It isn’t a light read by any means, but does honor the people of Murphysboro and what they went through a century ago. Definitely know the reader you hand this to and whether they can handle the content or not.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: Flying broken glass stabs someone in front of Cora and Claire and this classmate doesn’t make it. Part of the building lands on Claire; Cora has to face the horrible injury, put a tourniquet on so she doesn’t bleed out, and get her friend out of the building, but it isn’t a surprise when Claire loses the limb. (Description of a lot of blood, but not a graphic description of the crushed limb.) There are other fatalities mentioned. A pet dies.
Ethnic diversity: Mostly white Americans.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: The town is leveled and pretty much no one has a house standing at the end.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In another of the Girls Survive series, adolescent Cora Moffat tells the story of being trapped in her English class when the worst tornado to ever hit the Midwest destroys her entire town and surrounding areas.

Cora slams out of the house that morning, mad at her mother and annoyed by her baby sister. Some of her classmates including her once best friend, Claire make things worst when they tease her about a tear in her skirt. That all changes when later in the afternoon a tornado slammed into the school. Cora and many of her classmates are injured, but when Cora realizes how badly Claire and another friend are hurt, she steps up to do all she can to help.

Cora’s learns a lot of lessons on the importance of helping others, keeping,
friends and strengthening family bonds.

The author’s note includes details from the actual 1925 Tri-State tornados, the deadliest in U.S. history.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Girls Survive book involves a massive, profoundly destructive tornado that hit while children were in school. The story is very intense and has multiple grim elements that might be too much for some readers, even if they have enjoyed other books in the series. The level of tragedy and destruction in this series varies, and this one includes the destruction of the whole town, the deaths of side characters, a traumatic physical injury that requires amputation, and the off-page death of the main character's beloved pet dog. The book is action-packed and poignant, with powerful messages, but its harsh realities may be too much for some kids in the target audience.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

i usually read a kindle FIRE version but this one was through my ebrowser ... from my local library leaning program ...so i did have a few pics... all in black and white ... would have preferred color or even more pics. there are words throughout that are highlighted and underlined i am seeing they are spelling words ... curious how they did decide which words to pick? do the age limit or what? a learning book ... very cool. from Jan 1, 2024. this is a new book. interesting. disaster books for children. children's 1900s American Historical fiction. children's action & adventure books.

[Crixy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a horrible thing to happen, but I liked how people kept their cool and they were trying to help each other and to encourage each other through this hard time. I really recommend this book for people who like reading a feel good story. Really loved it! There’s more of the series and I really recommend this series!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt very ahistorical. I mean, the tornado was real, but it seems unlikely the kids at the school would talk about how to process their feelings. And Cora was unpleasant from the first chapters, while the friend who loses an arm had a very strange emotional journey.

Anyway, good for learning there was a tornado disaster, bad for building characters who seem real inside their setting.

[bookloverk8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I really liked this children's historical fiction. So many of my students love the "I Survived" series so I am hoping to introduce them to more historical fiction options. This one has some heavier topics so I would suggest 3rd graders or older.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books so much!

[Jessica Lerbs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stilted and anachronistic and they killed the dog!

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true and exciting novel about upper elementary students stuck at school when a large tornado hits the town. The author lived through a similar experience.

[Roxana Rathbun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to learn information about a real event. Spoiler*******************The Dog Dies :(