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Storm Blown
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jan 79A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
"Beautiful, vivid writing and a power-packed plot . . . I truly loved it." -- Lauren Tarshis, bestselling author of the I SURVIVED series
"Awesome. Super-intense, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat stuff." -- Max Brallier, New York Times bestselling author of the Last Kids on Earth series "Fans of Lauren Tarshis's I SURVIVED series who are ready to move on to lengthier selections will gravitate toward this title. A must-have for all upper elementary/middle grade libraries" -- School Library Journal (Starred Review) "Set against the backdrop of suspense and fear in the face of nature's wrath, Courage tells a storm-centered adventure, filled with action, danger, and life lessons, about two kids facing more than just a hurricane." -- Booklist
A major hurricane is raging across the southern United States, and two unsuspecting kids are about to have the adventure of a lifetime! Perfect for kids who love high-stakes plots and natural disaster movies, and anyone interested in extreme weather!
A little rain and wind don't worry Alejo--they're just part of life at the beach. As his padrino says, as long as there are birds in the waves, it's safe. When people start evacuating, though, Alejo realizes things might be worse than he thought. And they are. A hurricane is headed straight for Puerto Rico.
Emily's brother, Elliot, has been really sick. He can't go outside their New Orleans home, so Emily decides to have an adventure for him. She's on a secret mission to the tiny island Elliot loves. She's not expecting to meet up with an injured goose or a shy turtle. And nothing has prepared her for Megastorm Valerie. Soon Alejo and Emily will be in Valerie's deadly path. Who will survive? "Reminiscent of high-stakes blockbusters, the intense, time-stamped scenes switch back and forth between settings, trying to capture the overwhelming power of the natural world and the futility of humanity's attempts to control it." -- Kirkus "Readers compelled by vivid detail and the masterful building of suspense will find a lot to enjoy here." -- Bulletin "A riveting, deftly crafted, and consistently entertaining novel for young readers ages 9-12, Storm Blown by Nick Courage is unreservedly recommended for both school and community library general fiction collections." -- Midwestern Book Review
"5 Books for Fans of the I Survived Series" -- Barnes & Noble Kids Blog
"20 Kids Books Coming Out in Summer 2020 That Every Reader -- and Parent -- Will Love" -- PopSugar Family
"12 Riveting Middle Grade Adventures | Summer Reading 2021" -- School Library Journal
"Beautiful, vivid writing and a power-packed plot . . . I truly loved it." -- Lauren Tarshis, bestselling author of the I SURVIVED series
"Awesome. Super-intense, suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat stuff." -- Max Brallier, New York Times bestselling author of the Last Kids on Earth series "Fans of Lauren Tarshis's I SURVIVED series who are ready to move on to lengthier selections will gravitate toward this title. A must-have for all upper elementary/middle grade libraries" -- School Library Journal (Starred Review) "Set against the backdrop of suspense and fear in the face of nature's wrath, Courage tells a storm-centered adventure, filled with action, danger, and life lessons, about two kids facing more than just a hurricane." -- Booklist
A major hurricane is raging across the southern United States, and two unsuspecting kids are about to have the adventure of a lifetime! Perfect for kids who love high-stakes plots and natural disaster movies, and anyone interested in extreme weather!
A little rain and wind don't worry Alejo--they're just part of life at the beach. As his padrino says, as long as there are birds in the waves, it's safe. When people start evacuating, though, Alejo realizes things might be worse than he thought. And they are. A hurricane is headed straight for Puerto Rico.
Emily's brother, Elliot, has been really sick. He can't go outside their New Orleans home, so Emily decides to have an adventure for him. She's on a secret mission to the tiny island Elliot loves. She's not expecting to meet up with an injured goose or a shy turtle. And nothing has prepared her for Megastorm Valerie. Soon Alejo and Emily will be in Valerie's deadly path. Who will survive? "Reminiscent of high-stakes blockbusters, the intense, time-stamped scenes switch back and forth between settings, trying to capture the overwhelming power of the natural world and the futility of humanity's attempts to control it." -- Kirkus "Readers compelled by vivid detail and the masterful building of suspense will find a lot to enjoy here." -- Bulletin "A riveting, deftly crafted, and consistently entertaining novel for young readers ages 9-12, Storm Blown by Nick Courage is unreservedly recommended for both school and community library general fiction collections." -- Midwestern Book Review
"5 Books for Fans of the I Survived Series" -- Barnes & Noble Kids Blog
"20 Kids Books Coming Out in Summer 2020 That Every Reader -- and Parent -- Will Love" -- PopSugar Family
"12 Riveting Middle Grade Adventures | Summer Reading 2021" -- School Library Journal
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 16, 2019
21 people are currently reading
1300 people want to read
About the author
Nick Courage
3 books192 followersNick Courage is a New Orleans-born writer who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife (the Young Adult novelist and literary agent Rachel Ekstrom Courage) and their dog, Chaely. His work has recently appeared in The Paris Review Daily, Scholastic’s Storyworks Magazine, The Rumpus, Story, and Writer’s Digest. His website updates autofeed to this page, but he's not really active on Goodreads. For more about Nick—and for free teaching resources, contact, and school visit information!—visit his website: www.nickcourage.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 28, 2019
So pumped for this book to finally be out in the world!
July 10, 2019
Where was a book like this when I was a middle grade reader because, wow, this was an adventure and a half! Natural disasters have always fascinated me. I think it was that if I knew more about them, they were less scary. Or, well, maybe the same amount of scary but I at least felt informed. Either way, I would have loved reading Storm Blown as a young reader. As it stands, I loved it a whole lot as an adult reader as well.
Nick Courage pits a whole cast of characters against the might of Megastorm Valerie. I could only watch in mixed parts horror and awe as the storm raged, and lives were put in the way of it. I loved how Courage doesn't just show how storms of this magnitude affect people and their cities, but also how they affect animals in their wake as well. It was also so refreshing to see people making realistic decisions because, as we all well know, people don't always evacuate when they're told to. Those decisions, and the consequences that came along with them, were half of the draw of this book. It's not hard to love characters when they feel like real people that you'd honestly be worried about.
As for the plot, well it flies by so quickly that there isn't time to blink. Courage manages to ratchet up the tension, without making things too scary for the younger set of readers that might pick up this book. That's not to say that there aren't times were things feel a bit dire. The end of this book had me so tense that I thought I might fall of the bus seat I was sitting on. However there's always a little inkling of hope. Just enough to keep you rooting for the character, person or animal, and hope that they come through everything okay. I teared up at the ending of this book y'all, and I make no apologies for it.
The science of storms is well mapped out in this book, for sure. If you've ever been interested at all in how megastorms develop, or the type of damage that they can cause, this is absolutely a story that you'll love. It's nice to be reminded that the majesty of nature contains things that are infinitely beautiful, and also absolutely terrifying. It's that balance between the two that makes living on our planet such an amazing experience.
Read this! Read it with your young reader and discuss it, read it by yourself, or read it with a book group. Trust me, you won't be sorry. This story is exciting, and also timely I think. As our climate changes, and storms like this become more normal, I think they need this kind of discussion. I honestly hope to see more from Nick Courage very soon.
Nick Courage pits a whole cast of characters against the might of Megastorm Valerie. I could only watch in mixed parts horror and awe as the storm raged, and lives were put in the way of it. I loved how Courage doesn't just show how storms of this magnitude affect people and their cities, but also how they affect animals in their wake as well. It was also so refreshing to see people making realistic decisions because, as we all well know, people don't always evacuate when they're told to. Those decisions, and the consequences that came along with them, were half of the draw of this book. It's not hard to love characters when they feel like real people that you'd honestly be worried about.
As for the plot, well it flies by so quickly that there isn't time to blink. Courage manages to ratchet up the tension, without making things too scary for the younger set of readers that might pick up this book. That's not to say that there aren't times were things feel a bit dire. The end of this book had me so tense that I thought I might fall of the bus seat I was sitting on. However there's always a little inkling of hope. Just enough to keep you rooting for the character, person or animal, and hope that they come through everything okay. I teared up at the ending of this book y'all, and I make no apologies for it.
The science of storms is well mapped out in this book, for sure. If you've ever been interested at all in how megastorms develop, or the type of damage that they can cause, this is absolutely a story that you'll love. It's nice to be reminded that the majesty of nature contains things that are infinitely beautiful, and also absolutely terrifying. It's that balance between the two that makes living on our planet such an amazing experience.
Read this! Read it with your young reader and discuss it, read it by yourself, or read it with a book group. Trust me, you won't be sorry. This story is exciting, and also timely I think. As our climate changes, and storms like this become more normal, I think they need this kind of discussion. I honestly hope to see more from Nick Courage very soon.
July 10, 2019
Storm Blown was an interesting natural disaster story and although I did find it interesting there was some things I was disappointed in as well.
This is a story told in many different pov's with the main ones being Emily and Alejo the two pre-teen kids who where in the storm. The other pov's were that of a bird, the National Climatic Research Center, and Emily's dad. There could have been some others but those are the main ones.
It also takes place in two different places as we get to know Alejo who is from San Juan and is with his Padrino who works for a resort. Alejo helps out for some extra spending money. His Padrino was off work and went home to storm proof his home, but Alejo stayed behind to help with storm preparations. It doesn't take long to learn that this isn't just a small storm but could become a hurricane and Alejo is worried about his Padrino so when nobody would help him he DRIVES a van in a STORM to go find his uncle.
Then we have Emily who is in New Orleans and the storm hasn't quite got there yet. She is kind of bummed because she can't see her brother because he just has surgery and can't have germs around him. She decides to cheer him up by going to their favorite park and island to take pictures and show how brave she is on her own. Here she meets a goose and a turtle who become her friends I guess. I mean the goose follows her around but the turtle didn't have much choice but seemed to like to stay with her anyway.
Some other things happen but ultimately she starts to sneeze which panics her mother and she decides to send her away to a friends house so she don't get germs on her brother. Having a little pity party because her mother is treating her this way and it's all about her sick brother she decides to go off on her own with an almost dead phone. Then she remembers she left her book in the park and goes to get it. Now her friend has told her how there is a storm coming because they had to evacuate from the beach they were at so when it starts getting a bit stormy out you would think the girl would have sense to go home but NO. She is mad at her mother and since she doesn't really think it's going to be a bad storm she stays where she is, but she doesn't know that the storm has been bumped up to a megastorm.
Elliot can't get ahold of his sister so he gets out of bed to go find her with fresh stitches in his stomach! We know this has catastrophe written all over it.
Eventually the two povs combine as the last part of the book is all in New Orleans where Alejo meets Emily and Elliot and the storm is really bad.
Out of the two story povs I liked Alejo the most because I can see him being worried and going to look for his uncle, but he also does some pretty stupid things along the way. Emily on the other hand I just thought she was a brat and that most of this wouldn't have happened if she would have just went home when it started to rain.
Besides thinking that the kids should never have done what they did and should have been smarter about things. I also didn't like how it wrapped up. I felt that I didn't get a safe and happy ending for everyone. I was left wondering what happened to Alejo with his broken arm, we know that his Padrino is okay and that Alejo is with his mother but that is it. Then there is Emily and Elliot and their parents. What happened to Elliot? He was in a bad way because he was sick to begin with so what happened? What happened to the pilot or cameraman? I thought there should have been a little more than what I got at the end.
Now that is me but I am sure kids will think this is a pretty cool adventure story about surviving a natural disaster. I think it's also a good guide on what not to do when it storms and maybe parents can talk to their kids about what to do if your seperated and something like this happens. So if you have young readers I think they would enjoy this book more than I did.
This is a story told in many different pov's with the main ones being Emily and Alejo the two pre-teen kids who where in the storm. The other pov's were that of a bird, the National Climatic Research Center, and Emily's dad. There could have been some others but those are the main ones.
It also takes place in two different places as we get to know Alejo who is from San Juan and is with his Padrino who works for a resort. Alejo helps out for some extra spending money. His Padrino was off work and went home to storm proof his home, but Alejo stayed behind to help with storm preparations. It doesn't take long to learn that this isn't just a small storm but could become a hurricane and Alejo is worried about his Padrino so when nobody would help him he DRIVES a van in a STORM to go find his uncle.
Then we have Emily who is in New Orleans and the storm hasn't quite got there yet. She is kind of bummed because she can't see her brother because he just has surgery and can't have germs around him. She decides to cheer him up by going to their favorite park and island to take pictures and show how brave she is on her own. Here she meets a goose and a turtle who become her friends I guess. I mean the goose follows her around but the turtle didn't have much choice but seemed to like to stay with her anyway.
Some other things happen but ultimately she starts to sneeze which panics her mother and she decides to send her away to a friends house so she don't get germs on her brother. Having a little pity party because her mother is treating her this way and it's all about her sick brother she decides to go off on her own with an almost dead phone. Then she remembers she left her book in the park and goes to get it. Now her friend has told her how there is a storm coming because they had to evacuate from the beach they were at so when it starts getting a bit stormy out you would think the girl would have sense to go home but NO. She is mad at her mother and since she doesn't really think it's going to be a bad storm she stays where she is, but she doesn't know that the storm has been bumped up to a megastorm.
Elliot can't get ahold of his sister so he gets out of bed to go find her with fresh stitches in his stomach! We know this has catastrophe written all over it.
Eventually the two povs combine as the last part of the book is all in New Orleans where Alejo meets Emily and Elliot and the storm is really bad.
Out of the two story povs I liked Alejo the most because I can see him being worried and going to look for his uncle, but he also does some pretty stupid things along the way. Emily on the other hand I just thought she was a brat and that most of this wouldn't have happened if she would have just went home when it started to rain.
Besides thinking that the kids should never have done what they did and should have been smarter about things. I also didn't like how it wrapped up. I felt that I didn't get a safe and happy ending for everyone. I was left wondering what happened to Alejo with his broken arm, we know that his Padrino is okay and that Alejo is with his mother but that is it. Then there is Emily and Elliot and their parents. What happened to Elliot? He was in a bad way because he was sick to begin with so what happened? What happened to the pilot or cameraman? I thought there should have been a little more than what I got at the end.
Now that is me but I am sure kids will think this is a pretty cool adventure story about surviving a natural disaster. I think it's also a good guide on what not to do when it storms and maybe parents can talk to their kids about what to do if your seperated and something like this happens. So if you have young readers I think they would enjoy this book more than I did.
February 21, 2024
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
A gripping, disaster-filled adventure of epic proportions, this MG book will certainly blow you away!
What Fed My Addiction:
Realistic storm experiences.
In the author’s note, you find that Nick Courage grew up in New Orleans, so he grew up with tropical storms and hurricanes. That shows in the book. The storm itself is so vivid, it almost feels like a character. And the build from calm (where many characters assumed the storm wasn’t really even going to hit) to mega-hurricane was all laid out in such detail that it was easy to imagine being in the storm yourself. Speaking of that build…
So. Much. Suspense.
I flew through this book in practically one sitting (I did have to stop for dinner with the family). There is never a moment of dullness in this book: the tension builds and builds and builds until it hits a crazy crescendo at the end!!
Gorgeous writing.
The writing in this book is by no means flowery, but every once in a while there was a description or a turn of phrase that sent a shiver of delight through me.
The animals.
The animals in the book were a fun addition. First of all, Emily ended up with a friendly turtle and duck that added comedic elements to the story, as well as some really sweet moments: what kid doesn’t love the idea of a snuggly wild duck! Then we get a few short chapters from the perspective of a bird who’s caught in the eye of the storm—I thought these chapters were incredibly gripping and I felt so sorry for the poor bird!
Cross-gender appeal.
This is the type of book that will easily appeal to both boys and girls. It helps that the two MCs are a boy and a girl, but there are also elements of the story that will capture the imagination of both genders equally (even those who tend to read along stereotypical lines: the cuddly duck, driving a truck through a storm, etc).
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Kids who make really poor choices (and little help from adults until it’s basically too late).
Okay, these are kids, so you have to cut them some slack, but all three of them (Alejo, Emily and Elliot) choose to jump into extreme danger, and they make decisions that seem downright crazy sometimes. And only Alejo even attempts in any small way to ask an adult for help (but instead of trusting people he actually knows and asking them what to do, he only talks to a random cameraman, a stranger). Emily and Elliott’s mom isn’t super helpful or supportive, but still … Elliot is very sick, post-op cancer, and he makes some very not good decisions (to read more about that, check out the review on my blog and click on the spoiler tag for a mild spoiler.
Turns into a big-budget disaster movie in the end.
I loved the action and suspense, but in the end, I’ll confess that it all got a little over-the-top for my personal tastes (and turned completely unbelievable). It reminded me of a Hollywood disaster movie—you don’t watch those for realism but for the thrills. Still, while this wasn’t my personal preference, those movies are huge for a reason, and kids will certainly find themselves turning the pages!!
This is a fantastically exciting read that kids won’t be able to put down!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
A gripping, disaster-filled adventure of epic proportions, this MG book will certainly blow you away!
What Fed My Addiction:
Realistic storm experiences.
In the author’s note, you find that Nick Courage grew up in New Orleans, so he grew up with tropical storms and hurricanes. That shows in the book. The storm itself is so vivid, it almost feels like a character. And the build from calm (where many characters assumed the storm wasn’t really even going to hit) to mega-hurricane was all laid out in such detail that it was easy to imagine being in the storm yourself. Speaking of that build…
So. Much. Suspense.
I flew through this book in practically one sitting (I did have to stop for dinner with the family). There is never a moment of dullness in this book: the tension builds and builds and builds until it hits a crazy crescendo at the end!!
Gorgeous writing.
The writing in this book is by no means flowery, but every once in a while there was a description or a turn of phrase that sent a shiver of delight through me.
The animals.
The animals in the book were a fun addition. First of all, Emily ended up with a friendly turtle and duck that added comedic elements to the story, as well as some really sweet moments: what kid doesn’t love the idea of a snuggly wild duck! Then we get a few short chapters from the perspective of a bird who’s caught in the eye of the storm—I thought these chapters were incredibly gripping and I felt so sorry for the poor bird!
Cross-gender appeal.
This is the type of book that will easily appeal to both boys and girls. It helps that the two MCs are a boy and a girl, but there are also elements of the story that will capture the imagination of both genders equally (even those who tend to read along stereotypical lines: the cuddly duck, driving a truck through a storm, etc).
What Left Me Hungry for More:
Kids who make really poor choices (and little help from adults until it’s basically too late).
Okay, these are kids, so you have to cut them some slack, but all three of them (Alejo, Emily and Elliot) choose to jump into extreme danger, and they make decisions that seem downright crazy sometimes. And only Alejo even attempts in any small way to ask an adult for help (but instead of trusting people he actually knows and asking them what to do, he only talks to a random cameraman, a stranger). Emily and Elliott’s mom isn’t super helpful or supportive, but still … Elliot is very sick, post-op cancer, and he makes some very not good decisions (to read more about that, check out the review on my blog and click on the spoiler tag for a mild spoiler.
Turns into a big-budget disaster movie in the end.
I loved the action and suspense, but in the end, I’ll confess that it all got a little over-the-top for my personal tastes (and turned completely unbelievable). It reminded me of a Hollywood disaster movie—you don’t watch those for realism but for the thrills. Still, while this wasn’t my personal preference, those movies are huge for a reason, and kids will certainly find themselves turning the pages!!
This is a fantastically exciting read that kids won’t be able to put down!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
November 25, 2019
I purchased this book after hearing Nick Courage speak at a local event for children's writers. He's an enthusiastic champion of our local writing community here in Pittsburgh and I found myself eager to check out his latest book--which didn't disappoint! Although I don't typically read adventure-style middle-grade books, this book kept me engaged from the first page. The tension-building was spot on --I kept finding myself thinking, "how can it get worse?" but it always did, in that good way that books do! I found Nick's writing style descriptive and engaging. I also enjoyed the addition of the animals and learning how they were affected by the storm. (Though I did wonder what happened to the poor, injured Canadian goose!) While my teen daughters have aged out of middle-grade, I could definitely see them enjoying this when they were younger, and I will certainly be passing it along to my 9-year-old son when he gets a bit older (it may be a little long for him as of now).
May 14, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Great book! This was fast paced with lots of action. Upper elementary kids at my school will really enjoy this and be unable to put it down. It will be good for reluctant readers as well. Looking forward to purchasing for my library.
Great book! This was fast paced with lots of action. Upper elementary kids at my school will really enjoy this and be unable to put it down. It will be good for reluctant readers as well. Looking forward to purchasing for my library.
June 2, 2019
Interest Level: 3-6
Imagine you live at the beach and a tropical storm is coming your way. Do you worry? Not if you are Alejo. He lives in Puerto Rico and has spent his whole life living right beside the shore. His padrino works at a luxurious resort and when forecasts of a tropical storm come their way, no one worries. They take their customary precautions and then turn it into a party. What no one realizes is that Tropical Storm Valerie will soon turn into Hurricane Valerie and then Megastorm Valerie. Alejo's padrino leaves the resort to go board up their home, leaving Alejo at the resort. As Alejo begins to realize the severity of the storm, he has to find a way to get home to warn his padrino. He "borrows" a weather channel van (even though he isn't even old enough to have a driver's license) and manages his way through the blinding wind and rain to get to his padrino. When he gets home no one is in sight and he finds a note from his padrino that he has gone to higher ground. As the water is rising will Alejo be able to get to safety? Now imagine that you live about 1,600 miles away in New Orleans, LA. Should you worry about this storm? Emily hears the reports on the television but the sun is out so there so why should she worry? She has bigger things to worry about, like the fact that her brother has been diagnosed with cancer and is quarantined in his room. Her dad is working about 40 miles out in the ocean on an oil rig and her mom is too tired to even know she exists. With her brother being so sick she has lost her best friend and she feels completely alone. She decides to have an adventure and send pictures back to her brother so she goes a place that she has always been too afraid to go - a small island surrounded by the park and the zoo. She wades through the murky water and befriends an injured goose and a shy turtle. When her phone goes dead, no one can get in touch with her and Megastorm Valerie is bearing down on Louisiana. Elliot, her brother, sneaks out to find her. Will Emily's dad make it back to help save his family? Will Elliot find Emily, and even if he does, will he live through the adventure? And with all of this going on, how will Alejo, Emily, and Elliot's lives intersect during Megastorm Valerie? Read this edge-of-your-seat 2019 book!!
I don't say "holy cow" about a book very often, but this is an exception! Holy Cow!! This book will grab your breath from the beginning and will hold it until the last page. Nick Courage weaves a tale of intense action, nail-bitting suspense, and twist and turns that will leave you reeling!! He is a masterful storyteller and the way twists and intertwines the lives of these kids is astonishing! Do not miss this one!!!!
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Imagine you live at the beach and a tropical storm is coming your way. Do you worry? Not if you are Alejo. He lives in Puerto Rico and has spent his whole life living right beside the shore. His padrino works at a luxurious resort and when forecasts of a tropical storm come their way, no one worries. They take their customary precautions and then turn it into a party. What no one realizes is that Tropical Storm Valerie will soon turn into Hurricane Valerie and then Megastorm Valerie. Alejo's padrino leaves the resort to go board up their home, leaving Alejo at the resort. As Alejo begins to realize the severity of the storm, he has to find a way to get home to warn his padrino. He "borrows" a weather channel van (even though he isn't even old enough to have a driver's license) and manages his way through the blinding wind and rain to get to his padrino. When he gets home no one is in sight and he finds a note from his padrino that he has gone to higher ground. As the water is rising will Alejo be able to get to safety? Now imagine that you live about 1,600 miles away in New Orleans, LA. Should you worry about this storm? Emily hears the reports on the television but the sun is out so there so why should she worry? She has bigger things to worry about, like the fact that her brother has been diagnosed with cancer and is quarantined in his room. Her dad is working about 40 miles out in the ocean on an oil rig and her mom is too tired to even know she exists. With her brother being so sick she has lost her best friend and she feels completely alone. She decides to have an adventure and send pictures back to her brother so she goes a place that she has always been too afraid to go - a small island surrounded by the park and the zoo. She wades through the murky water and befriends an injured goose and a shy turtle. When her phone goes dead, no one can get in touch with her and Megastorm Valerie is bearing down on Louisiana. Elliot, her brother, sneaks out to find her. Will Emily's dad make it back to help save his family? Will Elliot find Emily, and even if he does, will he live through the adventure? And with all of this going on, how will Alejo, Emily, and Elliot's lives intersect during Megastorm Valerie? Read this edge-of-your-seat 2019 book!!
I don't say "holy cow" about a book very often, but this is an exception! Holy Cow!! This book will grab your breath from the beginning and will hold it until the last page. Nick Courage weaves a tale of intense action, nail-bitting suspense, and twist and turns that will leave you reeling!! He is a masterful storyteller and the way twists and intertwines the lives of these kids is astonishing! Do not miss this one!!!!
Follow me:
Blog - Blazer Tales - https://blazertales.com/
Facebook - Laurie’s Library Place - https://www.facebook.com/LauriesLibra...
Instagram - laurieslibrary - https://www.instagram.com/laurieslibr...
Twitter - @laurieevans27 https://twitter.com/laurieevans27?lan...
Goodreads - Laurie Purser - https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
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July 21, 2019
If you're looking for an exciting action/adventure novel to keep your child entertained this summer, look no further. STORM BLOWN is a survival story featuring several different people (kids and adults, although the tale is mostly told by kids) whose lives converge because of a devastating mega-storm. Their stories are chock-full of action, risk, and danger as they fight to live through the storm of the century. The kids are tough, brave, and loyal to each other and their families. They're admirable characters who are easy to root for. Overall, STORM BLOWN is a great read for both kids and adults. It's clean, exciting, action-packed, and interesting. Even reluctant readers will find this one to their liking.
May 21, 2019
Non-stop action told from a variety of perspectives (even animals!) in different locations during a Megastorm...highly recommended!
April 17, 2020
Middle grade action adventure about surviving the storm of the century with various perspectives including families, businesses, animals, and those on the front lines.
January 22, 2020
Perseverance can help you with everything including keeping your life.
July 17, 2021
Ridiculous premise. So many inconsistencies and unbelievable scenarios, not the least of which being a hurricane beginning with the letter V striking barely a week into hurricane season (June 11). You'd think someone "raised in New Orleans," as the author claims to have been, would have better knowledge. And the helicopter pilot, whose legs were broken when a huge oak landed on them, was later able to climb into his seat and land the helicopter (which a young girl and her father were able to take off in), using his feet to work pedals.
Also, I took offense to several mentions of New Orleans compared to states. The power outage in New Orleans spread rapidly to Alabama and South Carolina, for one. NOLA is not the be-all, end-all of the state of Louisiana.
Also, I took offense to several mentions of New Orleans compared to states. The power outage in New Orleans spread rapidly to Alabama and South Carolina, for one. NOLA is not the be-all, end-all of the state of Louisiana.
January 7, 2020
I really did enjoy this book until I got to the closing chapters. It was very action packed and kept you reading, however the goose, a character who is mentioned very often throughout the plot, disappears without any more reference to it near the end of the story. This left a strange loose end, and considering that he was removed from the novel with six chapters still remaining (chapters that could have been used to at least mention his disappearance) but instead the book was ended as if the goose had never even existed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2019
Dnf
Too wordy and descriptive for my reading taste. I liked the story.
Too wordy and descriptive for my reading taste. I liked the story.
July 19, 2019
This story really took my breath away...and reading the Author's Note at book's end, totally explains why. Aside from the author's writing talent (which is obvious to this reader), it seems they too have been in the path of these natural disasters... dreading its approach, hoping for the path to change, wishing to be missed and yet not wishing it on anyone else all at the same time. For me, it went hand in hand with being able to aptly describe not only what was happening, but the feelings behind it...and from multiple angles no less!
As heart-wrenching as it was, I adored following the story from the multiple sets of eyes we were given. With Alejo, we were able to see not only from a child's point of view, but from an islanders point of view...a distinct difference as they don't have the luxury of running to another state per se to escape the big bad weather phenomena. Emily allowed us a peek into the lives of those that live in areas built up because they are gorgeous and profitable, and yet will always ultimately belong to Mother Nature. Then we had Emily's brother Elliot, living a life sheltered thanks to his failing health, but unable to truly break free of those holds as he's still recovering his strength. Then there's the grandparents, parents, NCWC professionals, and a few random people woven into the story fabric...all utilized to round out the story because the way it's viewed, the way it's processed, the way it affects you, all depends on your perspective. Speaking of which...
There were three characters you DIDN'T expect to "hear" from, but I was most pleased to see included in the role of narrator...the animal cast. That's right. Now, we're not talking about singing pigs, or dancing monkeys, but rather a petrel (seabird), a turtle, and a goose. What? Did you forget that these natural disasters affect the wildlife too? Well, they certainly do...and while it may seem like escape would be hard for a turtle, but easy for a bird, think again. Honestly, I think this portion of the story was just as tear inducing as the rest, but I appreciated its inclusion nonetheless.
I highly recommend this book to the target audience and beyond. It gives a well rounded look at a truly terrifying situation with encouragement for how we can help prevent this type of fiction becoming reality. But, if I could ask the author one thing though, I know just what it would be. WHAT ABOUT THE GOOSE?
**ARC received for review; opinions are my own
As heart-wrenching as it was, I adored following the story from the multiple sets of eyes we were given. With Alejo, we were able to see not only from a child's point of view, but from an islanders point of view...a distinct difference as they don't have the luxury of running to another state per se to escape the big bad weather phenomena. Emily allowed us a peek into the lives of those that live in areas built up because they are gorgeous and profitable, and yet will always ultimately belong to Mother Nature. Then we had Emily's brother Elliot, living a life sheltered thanks to his failing health, but unable to truly break free of those holds as he's still recovering his strength. Then there's the grandparents, parents, NCWC professionals, and a few random people woven into the story fabric...all utilized to round out the story because the way it's viewed, the way it's processed, the way it affects you, all depends on your perspective. Speaking of which...
There were three characters you DIDN'T expect to "hear" from, but I was most pleased to see included in the role of narrator...the animal cast. That's right. Now, we're not talking about singing pigs, or dancing monkeys, but rather a petrel (seabird), a turtle, and a goose. What? Did you forget that these natural disasters affect the wildlife too? Well, they certainly do...and while it may seem like escape would be hard for a turtle, but easy for a bird, think again. Honestly, I think this portion of the story was just as tear inducing as the rest, but I appreciated its inclusion nonetheless.
I highly recommend this book to the target audience and beyond. It gives a well rounded look at a truly terrifying situation with encouragement for how we can help prevent this type of fiction becoming reality. But, if I could ask the author one thing though, I know just what it would be. WHAT ABOUT THE GOOSE?
**ARC received for review; opinions are my own
March 22, 2021
I grew up in Florida and lived through a few hurricanes, the worst of which, Elena, bounced off our coast three times, eroding millions of tons of sand beaches and wrecking coastal communities, before heading out into the Gulf to later hit Biloxi, Mississippi.
I saw first-hand the damage Andrew did, cutting a swath across the Everglades and Homestead like an enormous lawnmower, and years later the towers of debris still hadn't been hauled away.
And my father recently weathered Irma and more significantly, the weeks without electricity afterward, swearing he'd never do that again.
So we're no stranger to hurricane stories, here.
This book starts with Alejo's perspective on tropical storm Valerie as it swamps and quickly overtakes Puerto Rico. He's abandoned in the hotel where his grandfather works, and a determined TV cameraman rescues him from his crumbling, seaside home.
Alejo's wrist is broken, but he and the cameraman are headed to the US, to safety. They think.
Valerie is hot on their heels, gaining strength and speed as she goes.
Emily picks the world's worst time to runaway. Her mom won't let her visit her brother, who's recuperating from a surgery and some sort of illness that's never fully explained. All she knows is, she can't be in his room because he must never get sick again. So she runs away to hide on a bird sanctuary island, of all places, off the coast of New Orleans.
Right before Valerie hits.
But Alejo and the cameraman spot Emily's brother, coming to her aid, as they land in New Orleans. And her father, working an oil rig out in the Gulf, evacuates at the last minute and hopes to drive home to find Emily and her brother before the storm hits.
Working together, with help from a NOAA psychologist, can they survive Valerie?
And then there's a little sand piper, a bird that gets caught in the storm, tossed ever higher and higher, until he can't breathe. Will he ever get out?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
I saw first-hand the damage Andrew did, cutting a swath across the Everglades and Homestead like an enormous lawnmower, and years later the towers of debris still hadn't been hauled away.
And my father recently weathered Irma and more significantly, the weeks without electricity afterward, swearing he'd never do that again.
So we're no stranger to hurricane stories, here.
This book starts with Alejo's perspective on tropical storm Valerie as it swamps and quickly overtakes Puerto Rico. He's abandoned in the hotel where his grandfather works, and a determined TV cameraman rescues him from his crumbling, seaside home.
Alejo's wrist is broken, but he and the cameraman are headed to the US, to safety. They think.
Valerie is hot on their heels, gaining strength and speed as she goes.
Emily picks the world's worst time to runaway. Her mom won't let her visit her brother, who's recuperating from a surgery and some sort of illness that's never fully explained. All she knows is, she can't be in his room because he must never get sick again. So she runs away to hide on a bird sanctuary island, of all places, off the coast of New Orleans.
Right before Valerie hits.
But Alejo and the cameraman spot Emily's brother, coming to her aid, as they land in New Orleans. And her father, working an oil rig out in the Gulf, evacuates at the last minute and hopes to drive home to find Emily and her brother before the storm hits.
Working together, with help from a NOAA psychologist, can they survive Valerie?
And then there's a little sand piper, a bird that gets caught in the storm, tossed ever higher and higher, until he can't breathe. Will he ever get out?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
August 13, 2019
Storm Blown by Nick Courage
So much cuteness in a thrilling book about being caught in a hurricane! Did the adorable animals outnumber the compelling, true-to-life characters? I’ve been in the eye of the storm and can attest to the veracity of the creepy, realistic details the author employs to bring the book to life. Why are people optimistic in the face of such overwhelming threats? Over and over, we see people try to shelter in place when they have evacuation orders. This book doesn’t just explain how that happens; we feel it in our bones--decisions that at the time make sense, but lead to worse choices down the timeline.
Petrel, goose, turtle – we see what happens to wildlife during a hurricane. Padrino Nando cautioned to watch the birds flee before storms arrive. A good lesson--we should all take heed. Seeing the same events through different eyes gave us a 3-D view of the build-up, then a realistic depiction through the finale.
This is a book that will be studied in schools because it is important. From the acknowledgements, “hurricane seasons are only getting longer and more unpredictable as our weather systems react to human-induced climate change.” Good show, not tell. Highly recommended.
So much cuteness in a thrilling book about being caught in a hurricane! Did the adorable animals outnumber the compelling, true-to-life characters? I’ve been in the eye of the storm and can attest to the veracity of the creepy, realistic details the author employs to bring the book to life. Why are people optimistic in the face of such overwhelming threats? Over and over, we see people try to shelter in place when they have evacuation orders. This book doesn’t just explain how that happens; we feel it in our bones--decisions that at the time make sense, but lead to worse choices down the timeline.
Petrel, goose, turtle – we see what happens to wildlife during a hurricane. Padrino Nando cautioned to watch the birds flee before storms arrive. A good lesson--we should all take heed. Seeing the same events through different eyes gave us a 3-D view of the build-up, then a realistic depiction through the finale.
This is a book that will be studied in schools because it is important. From the acknowledgements, “hurricane seasons are only getting longer and more unpredictable as our weather systems react to human-induced climate change.” Good show, not tell. Highly recommended.
June 1, 2019
For fans of survival stories and the conflict of person v. nature, this is an action-packed read. Megastorm Valerie is making its way across the ocean and onto land, from the island of San Juan all the way to the city of New Orleans. I really enjoyed that this story was told from multiple perspectives. It was interesting to consider the motivations behind each of their actions, and how these actions led them to the heart of a hurricane. The deadly storm adds a palpable feeling of fear and suspense to the story, which kept me turning pages. In the end, the characters converge in a final struggle for survival. At this point the power of the storm becomes so strong, it outshadows everything else, including the characters, their development, and their relationships with each other. Survival becomes the only conflict resolved, and I was left unsatisfied by the ending.
May 30, 2020
This was definitely an action-packed adventure that made you feel like you were there in the middle of a hurricane. There were multiple points-of-view, which may have been too many, but the main characters were Alejo from San Juan and Emily from New Orleans. I was curious how their paths would eventually cross and was pleased that it seemed realistic when they did. Sometimes I felt like we didn't need the perspective of Emily's father or Joy from the research center or the petrel or the turtle. I just wanted to get back to Alejo and Emily. But, then again, it was interesting to see how each of them handled the approaching storm and survived being caught up in it. So, in the end, I made peace with the multiple narrators, and I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers!
August 6, 2019
The cover on this book was enticing enough to draw me into reading it for a possible kid's reference. So glad I delved into it. The writing was so good and flowed well. The action is fast-paced and keeps the reader turning pages. There are some emotional issues in this story as well that helped connect the characters to the plot. In the end, it was satisfying to see the different viewpoints weave together in a group effort to survive. My only disappointment was that I would have liked to know more about the characters after their safe escape from the storm. Other than that, it was a great read that I think kids will really get into.
July 1, 2020
A major hurricane and 2 kids, one in Puerto Rico and one in New Orleans are the makings of a great adventure story. These areas have both devastated by recent hurricanes. These connections had the potential for the author to add details and facts to build interest and reader's knowledge about Puerto Rico and New Orleans and their history. But that never happened.
The story does grab you quickly as you recognize that the kids involved do not know enough to stay safe. But the story becomes more and more unbelievable as it continues. I still think I would recommend it to kids that love a high adventure tale.
The story does grab you quickly as you recognize that the kids involved do not know enough to stay safe. But the story becomes more and more unbelievable as it continues. I still think I would recommend it to kids that love a high adventure tale.
October 24, 2020
Hold on to your seat as you read this rip-roaring adventure set in Puerto Rico and New Orleans during la tormenta del siglo (the storm of the century). Fictional hurricane Valerie quickly escalates to a "BDD" -- Billion-Dollar Disaster while Alejo tries to find his uncle in San Juan and Emily pouts because her mother ignores her while caring for her ill brother in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Emily's father is trying to get home from the Gulf of Mexico oil rig where he works for weeks at a time and the National Climatic Research Center staff are furiously trying to track the storm. All these stories converge in a climatic way as the megastorm slams into the U.S.
Read
April 2, 2020Hurricane Valerie is sweeping through the southern United States, leaving devastation in its wake. Storm Blown follows several people as they try to determine the best course of action to take as they struggle to survive.
This book moves at a quick pace and has plenty of action. I really liked that Storm Blown didn’t just show how hurricanes affect people, but it also looked at things from the perspective of animals, too. This book is a great read-alike for kids who love adventure stories and fans of the I Survived series.
Recommended by librarian Heather
This book moves at a quick pace and has plenty of action. I really liked that Storm Blown didn’t just show how hurricanes affect people, but it also looked at things from the perspective of animals, too. This book is a great read-alike for kids who love adventure stories and fans of the I Survived series.
Recommended by librarian Heather
July 14, 2019
I really loved this book, and I think the kids in my life, especially those between the ages of 9 and 12, will love it too. There are several young characters kids will be able to relate to, along with an exciting adventure story. This would work as a book for a child to read for pleasure, as well as one an adult could read with a child, with so many educational opportunities- weather systems, geography, etc.
A huge shout out to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
A huge shout out to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
July 16, 2019
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I cried at the end, which I don't usually do with Middle Grade. The writing is fabulous, I love the kid, adult, and animal characters. It made me feel like I was learning about hurricanes and other scary weather events, but in a fun way. Excited for my kids (son is 10, girl is 12 and I think they both would like it) to read it, and I hope this author goes on tour and can speak at their school. Recommended!
November 8, 2019
I'm not too sure what I thought of this one. I didn't care for the characters. I felt that they acted poorly and put many people in danger because of their actions. I liked how it told a few different stories all about the same megastorm. I thought the parts about the animals were interesting, but took a little away from the story. There was a lot of action towards the end, which made up for some of the less action parts.
CA
CA
January 5, 2020
Well written, fast paced, this suspenseful novel will have kids getting closer and closer to the edge of their seats. A real nailbiter, it shows kids what people are up against if they get caught in the eye of a megastorm! With an informative author's note on hurricanes, megastorms in particular, and how even kids can help in the aftermath, I highly recommend this for a mixed gender book club. If parents participate, all the better!
September 13, 2025
THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS
so if you remember on the back of the book it says she has to deal with a hurt goose a turtle her hurt brother and a new mystery kid
Well at the end of the book while they are on the helicopter they have the mystery kid ( I can’t remember his name) her brother, mom, dad ,cameraman, pilot , and turtle… BUT THE GOOSE WAS LEFT TO DIE! ( I DID NOT almost cry okay) but other than that it was a good book
so if you remember on the back of the book it says she has to deal with a hurt goose a turtle her hurt brother and a new mystery kid
Well at the end of the book while they are on the helicopter they have the mystery kid ( I can’t remember his name) her brother, mom, dad ,cameraman, pilot , and turtle… BUT THE GOOSE WAS LEFT TO DIE! ( I DID NOT almost cry okay) but other than that it was a good book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2019
Author Nick Courage has written a wildly adventurous novel that is perfect for middle-graders. I can see upper elementary readers enjoying this heart-pounding book, too. The story is told in alternating points of view that kept me turning those pages. The science behind the storm is woven in with perfection. Storm Blown will keep any reader on the edge of the seat! I hope this review is helpful.
September 5, 2019
A great tale of survival in a major hurricane. The prose is super readable and well-paced. It's sophisticated enough for adult readers to enjoy but accessible enough for kids, which is an impressive line to walk. I particularly liked how the book portrays the perspectives of animals. They are not anthropomorphized, but you'll still root for them like human characters.
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