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Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown
Ann E. Burg explores the deep class divides and social injustice behind one of America's greatest tragedies. * "Stunning, significant and sorrowful, Ann E. Burg's requiem melts history into prose... Highly recommended." -- School Library Journal , starred review "Chillingly effective." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1889 was a lively, working-class factory city. Above the soot-soaked streets, an elite fishing and hunting club, built on a pristine man-made lake, drew America's wealthiest business barons. Though repeatedly urged to fix the deteriorating dam that held the lake, the club members disregarded the warnings. And when heavy rains came, the dam collapsed and plunged the city into chaos. On that fateful day, six children found themselves caught in the wreckage. The chorus of their voices--all inspired by real people--create a gripping portrait of loss and healing. Plumbing themes of class, injustice, deprivation, and the environment, Ann E. Burg summons her prodigious heart and virtuosic poetry to turn one of the deadliest tragedies in our country's history into a transcendent and hopeful work of art.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2020
11 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
February 15, 2022
I really liked it and it had good storytelling.
January 20, 2022
I thought it was a pretty good book but I still like my side of the mountaine the best.But in the story there was a big flood and a lot of people died and at the end the town was getting rebuilt and the water was going away.This was a pretty good book I would recomend it.
February 1, 2021
There's a lot of context for my experience with this book that I want to capture forever, and I'm using my review to do that. The most important info, for those of you who are parents or teachers wondering if this is appropriate for your kiddos, is right here (you can ignore the rest):
Poetic, poignant historical fiction that will reside alongside Out of the Dust, Sold, The Watch That Ends the Night and A Northern Light in my mental bookshelf of local history favorites/best novels in verse. Recommend to any middle school-aged and older readers who are living in Western PA and to sensitive middle school (and possibly high school) students who love language, poetry, words. Content: Much like Karen Hesse's Witness, this tragic historic event is brought to life with the voices of several different characters, all with different hopes, dreams, and experiences. You end up loving all of them, so the reader really cares about what happens to the residents of Johnstown. After you get to know them, you suffer with them as the dam breaks, and you wonder about justice, the disparity between rich and poor, the immigrant experience and the American Dream, and the effects of man's progress on the environment. It may be a bit much for younger readers thematically, and the language is rich and sophisticated. While reading aloud, I had to fight down the lump in my throat or wait until my tears dried before carrying on. It's absolutely great material for a reading group/book club or parent/child shared reading experience.
Now for the personal stuff.
My husband grew up 45 minutes from Johnstown, PA, and we were there a few times for events. While we never had time to go to the flood museum, I always wanted to hear more and more about it and tried to picture the tragic event in my mind as we drove around. When our middle school library received this title, I knew I had to read it immediately. I imagined myself talking about it with my husband, since it's a topic he'd actually care about.
This weekend, he was unwell and unable to leave the bed. I suggested that I read to him, almost in jest, as he's not AT ALL a reader and sees no use for books, especially fiction. He agreed, which was the first miracle, and I sat in bed with him for hours and hours this weekend reading aloud, pausing and discussing and wondering. It's funny, because he said, "I don't like how you stop reading and talk." This is why we can't watch movies together, either. I told him that I'm just not capable of plowing through, especially with all of these perspectives/voices to keep track of. I asked him to choose for me to read aloud with long pauses of silence while I figure things out in my head, or have me vocalize my thoughts. Either way, I have to process. He chose to allow me to be vocal with my connections, wonderings, inferences, predictions, etc. and he jumped right in with me. He loved it. I mean, he kept asking me to start again after breaks and when we finished, he said, "Four stars!" ::swoon:: Cris Tovani and Stephanie Harvey, I think it's clear why my husband has been a non-reader his entire life. Some strategies just work.
This book is excellent in general, and I'll never forget it for the experience it provided in my life.
Poetic, poignant historical fiction that will reside alongside Out of the Dust, Sold, The Watch That Ends the Night and A Northern Light in my mental bookshelf of local history favorites/best novels in verse. Recommend to any middle school-aged and older readers who are living in Western PA and to sensitive middle school (and possibly high school) students who love language, poetry, words. Content: Much like Karen Hesse's Witness, this tragic historic event is brought to life with the voices of several different characters, all with different hopes, dreams, and experiences. You end up loving all of them, so the reader really cares about what happens to the residents of Johnstown. After you get to know them, you suffer with them as the dam breaks, and you wonder about justice, the disparity between rich and poor, the immigrant experience and the American Dream, and the effects of man's progress on the environment. It may be a bit much for younger readers thematically, and the language is rich and sophisticated. While reading aloud, I had to fight down the lump in my throat or wait until my tears dried before carrying on. It's absolutely great material for a reading group/book club or parent/child shared reading experience.
Now for the personal stuff.
My husband grew up 45 minutes from Johnstown, PA, and we were there a few times for events. While we never had time to go to the flood museum, I always wanted to hear more and more about it and tried to picture the tragic event in my mind as we drove around. When our middle school library received this title, I knew I had to read it immediately. I imagined myself talking about it with my husband, since it's a topic he'd actually care about.
This weekend, he was unwell and unable to leave the bed. I suggested that I read to him, almost in jest, as he's not AT ALL a reader and sees no use for books, especially fiction. He agreed, which was the first miracle, and I sat in bed with him for hours and hours this weekend reading aloud, pausing and discussing and wondering. It's funny, because he said, "I don't like how you stop reading and talk." This is why we can't watch movies together, either. I told him that I'm just not capable of plowing through, especially with all of these perspectives/voices to keep track of. I asked him to choose for me to read aloud with long pauses of silence while I figure things out in my head, or have me vocalize my thoughts. Either way, I have to process. He chose to allow me to be vocal with my connections, wonderings, inferences, predictions, etc. and he jumped right in with me. He loved it. I mean, he kept asking me to start again after breaks and when we finished, he said, "Four stars!" ::swoon:: Cris Tovani and Stephanie Harvey, I think it's clear why my husband has been a non-reader his entire life. Some strategies just work.
This book is excellent in general, and I'll never forget it for the experience it provided in my life.
October 8, 2020
This novel in verse brought history to life, as I could feel the pain, heartbreak, loss, and frustration of those who were caught up in the Johnstown, PA flood in 1889. So many lives lost, families broken, and destitute in this factory town. A must read!
July 17, 2021
I almost hate to use this metaphor, but I truly was swept away by this gorgeous historical novel in verse.
Told through multiple POVs of Johnstown residents Ann Burg takes us deep inside the events of this devastating event. But this is no historical recounting of facts, this is a gorgeous portrait of a town, its people, and what remains and survives in the face of tragedy. By turns heartbreaking and reifying, FLOODED, is an important and powerful tribute to life, loss, and the power of the human spirit. Highly recommend for upper MG readers and up!
Told through multiple POVs of Johnstown residents Ann Burg takes us deep inside the events of this devastating event. But this is no historical recounting of facts, this is a gorgeous portrait of a town, its people, and what remains and survives in the face of tragedy. By turns heartbreaking and reifying, FLOODED, is an important and powerful tribute to life, loss, and the power of the human spirit. Highly recommend for upper MG readers and up!
March 27, 2025
Interesting look into this horrific event in history.
July 12, 2020
Richie’s Picks: FLOODED: A REQUIEM FOR JOHNSTOWN by Ann E. Burg, Scholastic Press, October 2020, 352p., ISBN: 978-1-338-54069-7
“And in a moment they were swept before the deluge”
-- Jackson Browne (1974)
“After the flood, survivors suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempts to recover damages from the dam’s owners. Public indignation at that failure prompted the development in American law changing a fault-based regime to one of strict liability.”
-- from Wikipedia, “Johnstown Flood”
GEORGE HOFFMAN
“It’s not the seasonal floods
that worry me, he continues.
It’s that dam. That dam’s weak.
One of these days it’s going to burst.
James Quinn--you know Quinn
he owns the dry goods store
on Clinton--
Well, Quinn says that dam bursts,
won’t matter
where we move that couch.
Ever see that big,
beautiful lake in the mountain?
No, sir, I lie.
Any idea how much water’s
in that lake?
No, sir.
Tons. Millions of tons.
Ever see the South Fork Dam?
I shake my head.
Know how old it is?
No, sir.
Old. From before the war.
No way to remove surplus water either--
sluice pipes were sold
years ago.
Know what the breaches
are stuffed with?
No, sir, I don’t.
Hemlock and hay.
Stumps and straw.
Mud and manure.
Mr. Ryan wipes his forehead
with the back of his hand.
That dam’s one sagging slop.
It ever gives way.
Johnstown’ll be wiped off the map.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ryan nods for me to sit
while he carries a rocking chair
to a far corner of the room.
He’s still talking.
They’ve been warned--
Carnegie and his cohorts
Frick, Mellon, Elder,
all those fancy members
of the South Fork
Fishing and Hunting Club--
they’ve been warned for years.
They just don’t care.
Mark my words--
their self-serving folly
will destroy Johnstown!”
That poorly-maintained South Fork Dam failed on May 31, 1889. The resulting flood was responsible for the loss of over 2,200 lives and the destruction of Johnstown.
Back in 1889, Memorial Day was referred to as Decoration Day, in reference to the decoration of soldiers’ graves. The six teens who are the primary narrators of FLOODED are preparing both for summer and Decoration Day as the day of reckoning approaches. This Decoration Day is both memorable and rainy. The next day, as heavy rain continues, the dam collapses. George Hoffman, who narrates the above passage, did not survive.
In crafting FLOODED, author Ann E. Burg used her research about the flood to name the young characters for real people. She then created fictitious dialogue and thoughts to complement what was known. In doing so, she puts a human face on this long-ago tragedy, in which robber barons who failed to keep up their property got away with murder.
While the sort of futures these six teens contemplate are now shadows in the distant past, today’s readers will relate to the characters’ friendships, crushes, aspirations, and family relationships.
The story continues well beyond the actual flood. Talk about wishing you’d said something when you had the chance! We hear not only from the survivors, but also from the numbered corpses who express regrets--for instance, as to how they didn’t adequately praise and reassure one of the main characters. We also see how the wealthy owners of the club successfully employed legal tricks to avoid liability for the disaster.
We have learned something from the Johnstown tragedy. There are now standards for and monitoring of dams. Here in California, more than 180,000 people were evacuated in 2017 when the Oroville Dam’s spillways began to sustain damage in heavy rains.
Since 1998, when Karen Hesse won the Newbery Medal for OUT OF THE DUST, there have been some terrific pieces of historical fiction presented in prose poetry. FLOODED is one of them.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“And in a moment they were swept before the deluge”
-- Jackson Browne (1974)
“After the flood, survivors suffered a series of legal defeats in their attempts to recover damages from the dam’s owners. Public indignation at that failure prompted the development in American law changing a fault-based regime to one of strict liability.”
-- from Wikipedia, “Johnstown Flood”
GEORGE HOFFMAN
“It’s not the seasonal floods
that worry me, he continues.
It’s that dam. That dam’s weak.
One of these days it’s going to burst.
James Quinn--you know Quinn
he owns the dry goods store
on Clinton--
Well, Quinn says that dam bursts,
won’t matter
where we move that couch.
Ever see that big,
beautiful lake in the mountain?
No, sir, I lie.
Any idea how much water’s
in that lake?
No, sir.
Tons. Millions of tons.
Ever see the South Fork Dam?
I shake my head.
Know how old it is?
No, sir.
Old. From before the war.
No way to remove surplus water either--
sluice pipes were sold
years ago.
Know what the breaches
are stuffed with?
No, sir, I don’t.
Hemlock and hay.
Stumps and straw.
Mud and manure.
Mr. Ryan wipes his forehead
with the back of his hand.
That dam’s one sagging slop.
It ever gives way.
Johnstown’ll be wiped off the map.
Yes, sir.
Mr. Ryan nods for me to sit
while he carries a rocking chair
to a far corner of the room.
He’s still talking.
They’ve been warned--
Carnegie and his cohorts
Frick, Mellon, Elder,
all those fancy members
of the South Fork
Fishing and Hunting Club--
they’ve been warned for years.
They just don’t care.
Mark my words--
their self-serving folly
will destroy Johnstown!”
That poorly-maintained South Fork Dam failed on May 31, 1889. The resulting flood was responsible for the loss of over 2,200 lives and the destruction of Johnstown.
Back in 1889, Memorial Day was referred to as Decoration Day, in reference to the decoration of soldiers’ graves. The six teens who are the primary narrators of FLOODED are preparing both for summer and Decoration Day as the day of reckoning approaches. This Decoration Day is both memorable and rainy. The next day, as heavy rain continues, the dam collapses. George Hoffman, who narrates the above passage, did not survive.
In crafting FLOODED, author Ann E. Burg used her research about the flood to name the young characters for real people. She then created fictitious dialogue and thoughts to complement what was known. In doing so, she puts a human face on this long-ago tragedy, in which robber barons who failed to keep up their property got away with murder.
While the sort of futures these six teens contemplate are now shadows in the distant past, today’s readers will relate to the characters’ friendships, crushes, aspirations, and family relationships.
The story continues well beyond the actual flood. Talk about wishing you’d said something when you had the chance! We hear not only from the survivors, but also from the numbered corpses who express regrets--for instance, as to how they didn’t adequately praise and reassure one of the main characters. We also see how the wealthy owners of the club successfully employed legal tricks to avoid liability for the disaster.
We have learned something from the Johnstown tragedy. There are now standards for and monitoring of dams. Here in California, more than 180,000 people were evacuated in 2017 when the Oroville Dam’s spillways began to sustain damage in heavy rains.
Since 1998, when Karen Hesse won the Newbery Medal for OUT OF THE DUST, there have been some terrific pieces of historical fiction presented in prose poetry. FLOODED is one of them.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
April 24, 2021
This novel in verse takes the reader on journey through Johnstown in the days leading up to the flood, the events of that fateful day and the devastating after affects of this horrific tragedy. It was told through the multiple perspectives of various townspeople, some who survived the flood and some who did not.
Johnstown was a working class mill town in Pennsylvania. Most of the townspeople worked in the mill. High above the town in the mountains, a man-made lake was the playground for the wealthiest citizens of that time. Men like Andrew Carnegie vacationed there. The dam built to create the lake was old and the townspeople always worried about it breaking.
The novel begins a few days before Decoration day in 1889. The town is coming together to honor their veterans. A big parade is planned and there is much preparation and much anticipation for the day. This gives the reader the opportunity to get to know the different townspeople and experience what life was like before the flood washed it all away.
When a torrential downpour occurs, the dam can no longer hold all the water and it breaks. 20 million tons of water rush down into Johnstown destroying everything in it's path. Some people are lucky and manage to get to safety. Others are not so lucky. All totaled 2,200 people died in the flood. Many were never identified. An interesting thing that the author did was to include poems written by people that were killed in the flood. They were identified by a letter and numbers only and printed in a lighter ink.
The last part of the book talks of the devastating effects of the flood, of the lives and homes lost. But it also tells of the generosity of fellow Americans, who rush to send in food and supplies. Clara Barton and the Red Cross come to town, building temporary houses and distributing more food and supplies to help the people get back of their feet. Was this an act of God or the result of the negligence of the wealthy?
This novel in verse brought history to life! I was completely sucked in to the story. I had heard of the flood, but I wasn't familiar with what actually happened. This book transported me back in time. I felt like I was there with them. A must read!
Johnstown was a working class mill town in Pennsylvania. Most of the townspeople worked in the mill. High above the town in the mountains, a man-made lake was the playground for the wealthiest citizens of that time. Men like Andrew Carnegie vacationed there. The dam built to create the lake was old and the townspeople always worried about it breaking.
The novel begins a few days before Decoration day in 1889. The town is coming together to honor their veterans. A big parade is planned and there is much preparation and much anticipation for the day. This gives the reader the opportunity to get to know the different townspeople and experience what life was like before the flood washed it all away.
When a torrential downpour occurs, the dam can no longer hold all the water and it breaks. 20 million tons of water rush down into Johnstown destroying everything in it's path. Some people are lucky and manage to get to safety. Others are not so lucky. All totaled 2,200 people died in the flood. Many were never identified. An interesting thing that the author did was to include poems written by people that were killed in the flood. They were identified by a letter and numbers only and printed in a lighter ink.
The last part of the book talks of the devastating effects of the flood, of the lives and homes lost. But it also tells of the generosity of fellow Americans, who rush to send in food and supplies. Clara Barton and the Red Cross come to town, building temporary houses and distributing more food and supplies to help the people get back of their feet. Was this an act of God or the result of the negligence of the wealthy?
This novel in verse brought history to life! I was completely sucked in to the story. I had heard of the flood, but I wasn't familiar with what actually happened. This book transported me back in time. I felt like I was there with them. A must read!
September 27, 2020
@Kidlitexchange
Thank you to @scholasticinc for sharing an advance copy of Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg with the #Kidlitexchange network. This historical fiction novel in verse will be published October 6, 2020. All opinions are my own.
For years the people of Johnstown feared that the dam was weakening and wouldn't hold. They pleaded with the wealthy businessmen who owned the private club at the lake (and thereby the dam) to reinforce it, but their "improvements" to the lake only worsened the dam's condition. Then the rains came and Johnstown was wiped off the map. This novel in verse is based on the true events of May 31, 1889 when the South Fork Dam collapsed. Each of the narrators is based on a real person who lived in Johnstown at the time. The story details the days leading up to the dam breaking, the day it flooded, and the events that occurred in the days, weeks, and years after the flood.
This is a beautifully written book that pulls the reader in. Burg does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and creating a community. I was able to picture the small town of Johnstown and I connected with each of the narratives and became invested in their lives and stories. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of the Johnstown Flood. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the theme of perspective and how it changes from person to person. To start, I had only ever heard of Carnegie and Mellon in positive activities. They were wealthy self-made entrepreneurs who went on to build libraries and donate money. The people of Johnstown though had a very different perspective of these two men. Additionally, the perspective of what money can bring you changed throughout the story for several of the characters. This book is also about the power of humanity and resilience. Though so many were lost in the disaster, the town came together, with help from around the country and world, to rebuild. I very much enjoyed this book and it's lyrical style and will be looking to add a copy to my classroom library.
Thank you to @scholasticinc for sharing an advance copy of Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg with the #Kidlitexchange network. This historical fiction novel in verse will be published October 6, 2020. All opinions are my own.
For years the people of Johnstown feared that the dam was weakening and wouldn't hold. They pleaded with the wealthy businessmen who owned the private club at the lake (and thereby the dam) to reinforce it, but their "improvements" to the lake only worsened the dam's condition. Then the rains came and Johnstown was wiped off the map. This novel in verse is based on the true events of May 31, 1889 when the South Fork Dam collapsed. Each of the narrators is based on a real person who lived in Johnstown at the time. The story details the days leading up to the dam breaking, the day it flooded, and the events that occurred in the days, weeks, and years after the flood.
This is a beautifully written book that pulls the reader in. Burg does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and creating a community. I was able to picture the small town of Johnstown and I connected with each of the narratives and became invested in their lives and stories. Prior to reading this book, I had never heard of the Johnstown Flood. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the theme of perspective and how it changes from person to person. To start, I had only ever heard of Carnegie and Mellon in positive activities. They were wealthy self-made entrepreneurs who went on to build libraries and donate money. The people of Johnstown though had a very different perspective of these two men. Additionally, the perspective of what money can bring you changed throughout the story for several of the characters. This book is also about the power of humanity and resilience. Though so many were lost in the disaster, the town came together, with help from around the country and world, to rebuild. I very much enjoyed this book and it's lyrical style and will be looking to add a copy to my classroom library.
September 28, 2020
This is historical fiction at its finest. Through the voices of six young people, the devastating flood of May 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania is brought to life. Achingly personal tales of hope, struggle, loss and grief describe what was the largest loss of civilian life at the time – over 2,200 people died. Burg based the voices on actual survivors, while fictionalizing their experience. Readers learn about the poverty of the working class community which was situated in a valley below an elite club for fishing and hunting. The club was on the shore of a lake with an old, deteriorating dam, which the Johnstown residents had pleaded to have repaired. Spring rains caused the dam to collapse. Issues of class, the environment and injustice come to bear, as the ultra rich barons of industry who owned the club abrogated responsibility for the disaster. Although they gave millions to help the city rebuild, the loss of life was incalculable.
The voices belong to six people, from toddler age through teenage. The entries are interspersed and interrelated, and lend a deeply personal viewpoint to the disaster. Equally effecting are the entries at the end by the unnamed dead, immigrants, homeless, working class people struggling to live the American dream. An author’s note at the end adds historical context. A deeply moving look at a forgotten tragedy from history.
The voices belong to six people, from toddler age through teenage. The entries are interspersed and interrelated, and lend a deeply personal viewpoint to the disaster. Equally effecting are the entries at the end by the unnamed dead, immigrants, homeless, working class people struggling to live the American dream. An author’s note at the end adds historical context. A deeply moving look at a forgotten tragedy from history.
July 16, 2025
Oh my!
One of the most beautiful books I’ve read all year. Heartbreaking. I was not aware of the historical account of the Johnstown flood. This book did a beautiful job of weaving in real people and their stories in short chapters of prose.
So many achingly lovely lines, it was hard to keep track.
“Miss Dowling told him it was never too early to start collecting words.”
“How is it vanished things weigh so heavy?”
“Wealth buys power but not cannot buy peace.”
One of the most beautiful books I’ve read all year. Heartbreaking. I was not aware of the historical account of the Johnstown flood. This book did a beautiful job of weaving in real people and their stories in short chapters of prose.
So many achingly lovely lines, it was hard to keep track.
“Miss Dowling told him it was never too early to start collecting words.”
“How is it vanished things weigh so heavy?”
“Wealth buys power but not cannot buy peace.”
April 5, 2021
In first-person free verse, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, residents comment on their lives and dreams before and after the catastrophic flood of 1889. The full cast audiobook is especially powerful.
January 27, 2022
OS 21-22…moving!
September 21, 2020
“You’re good with words. You care about people. Everybody has a story. Writing is a way of honoring them. “ This novel in verse is the story of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of 1889. Ann E. Burg tells this tragic story of a man-made disaster from many different perspectives, including survivors, victims and even the lake itself. Flooded is a sad, tragic, story that reminds us that society’s actions have consequences and even the unnamed or forgotten lived lives worth remembering.
July 8, 2021
A beautiful tribute - written truly with voice - to a quiet, historical tragedy.
December 1, 2021
“Every person has a story,
Maggie said.
But how many voices
are never heard?”
Johnstown, PA is a small town at the base of the South Fork Dam. The people are hard-working, most with little money to spare. Many of the men work at the Cambria Iron Mill. Within this town, there are many people with dreams and ideas for a better life. There's Joe Dixon, who bought his own newspaper stand to be his own boss, though his father wanted him to work in the mill.
“Believe in yourself, Joe.
Believe in a better future
and be willing to fight for it.”
Conversely, there's George Hoffman who wants to get a job at the mill to help earn money for the family, though his parents want more for him than mill work. There's spirited, head-strong Gertrude Quinn whose pa owns the store in town and Daniel Fagan, who believes “The Sky belongs to us all.” Then there's Daniel's sister, Monica Fagan, who wants to travel the world before she settles down to marry. She sees the inequality of women, even at her young age. “Why do boys own the world?” And finally there's William James, the budding poet who writes the poem for Decoration Day.
“Pretty words won’t weave a blanket
but somehow they still keep us warm.”
Above the town is the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club where wealthy and powerful men like Andrew Carnegie, Charles J. Clarke, and Andrew Mellon (among others) spend the summer with their families. Their leisure is in stark contrast to the town below, where some of the kids take the time to spy on "the lake people."
“I wonder why
some folks spend their summer
by a cool, crisp lake
while others stay home
scrubbing soot from their bones.”
There has been some structural damage done to the dam in order to make the fishing and hunting club more accessible to its members and every spring, people in the town wonder if this is going to be the year that the dam finally breaks. So when the unthinkable happens and the dam does break, many voices, young and old, are silenced forever in the aftermath. And those who are accountable for the tragedy, hide behind their money and their connections in order to escape punishment.
“Wealth gives a man power
but steals his soul.”
Such a powerful read based on actual events. According to an author's note, Nancy Little and Ann Jenkins brought lawsuits against the club, but wealth and power subverted the justice system.
Maggie said.
But how many voices
are never heard?”
Johnstown, PA is a small town at the base of the South Fork Dam. The people are hard-working, most with little money to spare. Many of the men work at the Cambria Iron Mill. Within this town, there are many people with dreams and ideas for a better life. There's Joe Dixon, who bought his own newspaper stand to be his own boss, though his father wanted him to work in the mill.
“Believe in yourself, Joe.
Believe in a better future
and be willing to fight for it.”
Conversely, there's George Hoffman who wants to get a job at the mill to help earn money for the family, though his parents want more for him than mill work. There's spirited, head-strong Gertrude Quinn whose pa owns the store in town and Daniel Fagan, who believes “The Sky belongs to us all.” Then there's Daniel's sister, Monica Fagan, who wants to travel the world before she settles down to marry. She sees the inequality of women, even at her young age. “Why do boys own the world?” And finally there's William James, the budding poet who writes the poem for Decoration Day.
“Pretty words won’t weave a blanket
but somehow they still keep us warm.”
Above the town is the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club where wealthy and powerful men like Andrew Carnegie, Charles J. Clarke, and Andrew Mellon (among others) spend the summer with their families. Their leisure is in stark contrast to the town below, where some of the kids take the time to spy on "the lake people."
“I wonder why
some folks spend their summer
by a cool, crisp lake
while others stay home
scrubbing soot from their bones.”
There has been some structural damage done to the dam in order to make the fishing and hunting club more accessible to its members and every spring, people in the town wonder if this is going to be the year that the dam finally breaks. So when the unthinkable happens and the dam does break, many voices, young and old, are silenced forever in the aftermath. And those who are accountable for the tragedy, hide behind their money and their connections in order to escape punishment.
“Wealth gives a man power
but steals his soul.”
Such a powerful read based on actual events. According to an author's note, Nancy Little and Ann Jenkins brought lawsuits against the club, but wealth and power subverted the justice system.
November 15, 2020
I love Ann E Burg's work, and this novel in verse brings attention to a little known event (at least to me and my students) of the flooding in Johnstown that resulted in the death of so many of its residents. I read a similar book about Johnstown (also a novel in verse) several years ago which piqued my curiosity and led me to some online investigating about this tragedy. This is a fast read, informative and well written. The only thing some readers may struggle with is the number of characters they will try to keep track of.
June 17, 2020
Amazing historical fiction written in verse that examines the privilege of wealth, the endurance of loss and healing. This book reminds us “that society’s actions have consequences and that even the unnamed or long forgotten lived lives worth remembering. I hope I have honored them all”. (Burg, 335)
July 23, 2022
This reminds me of reading the two great nonfiction books Rising Water: The Story of the Thai Cave Rescue and All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team in particular because you know what happened and you know the resolution, yet the suspenseful build up and the articulate storytelling draw you in as if you have amnesia and know nothing about the experience, riding the waves of anger, frustration, nervousness, etc.
This is the case with Burg's eloquent use of verse to tell this historical fiction tale of the Johnstown flood on May 31, 1889. Using multiple narrators the way Light It Up does with the police shooting, the story uses a variety to push the story forward at an almost breakneck speed. And everyone's excited about Decoration Day (original holiday celebration that can be studied and pays homage to the true meaning especially with the experiences of the veteran dad) whether it's the graveside recitation of a lovely poem or getting ready for the parade.
And then just days later, the flood wipes out more than 2,200 including 99 entire families when the collapsed dam sends twenty million tons of water from the manmade Lake Conemaugh down into Johnstown. The way Burg switches the narrators especially once you learn what people like G-130 in their grayed font color means as well as the italicized personification of the floodwater/damn. It's iconic the way Kent State does too by bringing the story to light. I also didn't know about the connections with famous men with money like Andrew Carnegie and the two women who went to trial for the disaster to fight for their rights.
"The Chambersburg paper / advertises that a / complete, accurate / and well-illustrated history / of the Johnstown Flood / including / thrilling experiences, / pathetic incidents, / deeds of heroism, unparalleled suffering, / devastation, death, / sympathy / and contributions / has already gone to press. / Who in Johnstown / would pay / one dollar and fifty centers / to remember / what we relive / whenever we / close our eyes?"
This is the case with Burg's eloquent use of verse to tell this historical fiction tale of the Johnstown flood on May 31, 1889. Using multiple narrators the way Light It Up does with the police shooting, the story uses a variety to push the story forward at an almost breakneck speed. And everyone's excited about Decoration Day (original holiday celebration that can be studied and pays homage to the true meaning especially with the experiences of the veteran dad) whether it's the graveside recitation of a lovely poem or getting ready for the parade.
And then just days later, the flood wipes out more than 2,200 including 99 entire families when the collapsed dam sends twenty million tons of water from the manmade Lake Conemaugh down into Johnstown. The way Burg switches the narrators especially once you learn what people like G-130 in their grayed font color means as well as the italicized personification of the floodwater/damn. It's iconic the way Kent State does too by bringing the story to light. I also didn't know about the connections with famous men with money like Andrew Carnegie and the two women who went to trial for the disaster to fight for their rights.
"The Chambersburg paper / advertises that a / complete, accurate / and well-illustrated history / of the Johnstown Flood / including / thrilling experiences, / pathetic incidents, / deeds of heroism, unparalleled suffering, / devastation, death, / sympathy / and contributions / has already gone to press. / Who in Johnstown / would pay / one dollar and fifty centers / to remember / what we relive / whenever we / close our eyes?"
March 10, 2021
It is 1889, and the residents of Johnstown, Pennsylvania are preparing to honor those that served and those that lost their lives fighting for the Union in the Civil War. As Decoration Day approaches, six young people’s experiences reveal the nuances of life in this small, steel town. Despite its size, these voices illuminate the complexities of class divisions in America, especially as the fancy fishing and hunting club up the mountain takes every measure to keep the regular townsfolk out. The club counts as members some of the country’s wealthiest men and powerful steel barons, but it has also neglected the dam that creates its peaceful lake. It has compromised the dam’s safety for personal benefit, repeatedly ignoring calls for the dam’s repair despite the fact Johnstown is situated directly below its wall. While whispers and rumors of the dam’s imminent collapse circulate throughout the Johnstown community, no one actually believed it would break. Until it did. A torrential rainstorm swelled nearby creeks and rivers, and soon the dam’s wall failed, sending a deadly wave of water, trees, and debris rushing toward the community below. When the voices of the survivors and of the dead take stock of the dam’s catastrophic failure and the devastation it left in its wake, the blame falls squarely on the negligence of the club and its rich members. Yet, power and money work hand-in-hand to continue to drown out calls for justice.
Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann Burg is a unique retelling of the true-life tragedy that unfolded in Johnstown, PA. Told in verse from the perspectives of various Johnstown young people, all who assume the White Default, the novel explores the minutiae of everyday life while also situating it within the larger societal context of the time period. Adopting various perspectives, all of which are inspired by real people and include the river itself, provides a comprehensive narrative about the infamous tragedy. The ending may not leave readers with a sense of closure, but it does feel appropriate. It underscores the injustice the townspeople endured. In the end, readers will be left with myriad questions about the 1889 Johnstown flood, making the novel a perfect vehicle for probing deeper into not only the event itself but also the Industrial Era and Gilded Age of America’s past. This is also a strength. Its form and genre are unique and so too is the novel’s setting, which offers middle grade readers an opportunity to examine an oft-neglected period of history.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Scholastic Press, for an eARC of this book.
Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann Burg is a unique retelling of the true-life tragedy that unfolded in Johnstown, PA. Told in verse from the perspectives of various Johnstown young people, all who assume the White Default, the novel explores the minutiae of everyday life while also situating it within the larger societal context of the time period. Adopting various perspectives, all of which are inspired by real people and include the river itself, provides a comprehensive narrative about the infamous tragedy. The ending may not leave readers with a sense of closure, but it does feel appropriate. It underscores the injustice the townspeople endured. In the end, readers will be left with myriad questions about the 1889 Johnstown flood, making the novel a perfect vehicle for probing deeper into not only the event itself but also the Industrial Era and Gilded Age of America’s past. This is also a strength. Its form and genre are unique and so too is the novel’s setting, which offers middle grade readers an opportunity to examine an oft-neglected period of history.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Scholastic Press, for an eARC of this book.
November 22, 2021
Flooded is a novel of first-person, free-verse poems told in three parts. In part one, readers meet some residents of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1889 (mostly children and young adults) who describe their daily lives, their friends and families, their dreams and fears. In part two, the dam above Johnstown breaks, and these, and other, residents describe the horrors of the disaster. In part three, the survivors, the dead, their loved ones, those who arrived to help the survivors and find the victims, and those responsible for the disaster, all narrate. Winding through these poems, the river tells its own story in beautifully lyrical poetry.
This is an amazing novel. Burg’s poetry is gorgeous and bleak, moving and frozen. In the beginning, she gets readers to care about every one of the many narrators. Readers know the dam will break, and people will die, but the readers don’t know who will survive. The suspense and its answers bite like the cold floodwaters. Burg’s historical notes explain which characters were real, as well as the story’s intersection of imagination and history. Scholastic states the novel is for third to seventh grades, but I recommend it for middle to high school students. Flooded isn’t inappropriate for younger readers but they may struggle following the many, and sometimes unusual, narrators. Older readers will better understand the narrators, the lost dreams, and the trial, as well as make connections to life, labor and politics today. Highly recommended.
This is an amazing novel. Burg’s poetry is gorgeous and bleak, moving and frozen. In the beginning, she gets readers to care about every one of the many narrators. Readers know the dam will break, and people will die, but the readers don’t know who will survive. The suspense and its answers bite like the cold floodwaters. Burg’s historical notes explain which characters were real, as well as the story’s intersection of imagination and history. Scholastic states the novel is for third to seventh grades, but I recommend it for middle to high school students. Flooded isn’t inappropriate for younger readers but they may struggle following the many, and sometimes unusual, narrators. Older readers will better understand the narrators, the lost dreams, and the trial, as well as make connections to life, labor and politics today. Highly recommended.
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November 29, 2020Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy in my wonderful NCTE/ALAN box of books.
Author Ann E. Burg combines fact and fiction in this historical novel in verse. On May 31, 1889, the community of Johnstown, PA, was destroyed. More than two thousand souls perished including 396 children.
Rich and famous men, members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, spent time in their fancy lodge atop the mountain above Johnstown. For years they had been warned that the neglected dam creating their cherished fishing lake was likely to fail during any heavy, prolonged rain. Members like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Mellon, Charles J. Clarke, Cyrus Elder, and others ignored the warning, and when heavy rains began on Decoration Day 1889, the dam collapsed. Attempts in court to hold the men responsible failed, leaving survivors lost and bitter.
In FLOODED six young people share their stories of the days leading up to the tragedy and those who survived share stories of the aftermath. The names of those who tell the story are not the names of the famous and wealthy who caused the disaster. Rather they are the working class who struggled to care for their families often foregoing their own hopes and dreams. Author Ann E. Burg's spare, yet powerful words, paint a vivid picture that will keep this tragedy alive for those who may not even know it took place.
Author Ann E. Burg combines fact and fiction in this historical novel in verse. On May 31, 1889, the community of Johnstown, PA, was destroyed. More than two thousand souls perished including 396 children.
Rich and famous men, members of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, spent time in their fancy lodge atop the mountain above Johnstown. For years they had been warned that the neglected dam creating their cherished fishing lake was likely to fail during any heavy, prolonged rain. Members like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, Andrew Mellon, Charles J. Clarke, Cyrus Elder, and others ignored the warning, and when heavy rains began on Decoration Day 1889, the dam collapsed. Attempts in court to hold the men responsible failed, leaving survivors lost and bitter.
In FLOODED six young people share their stories of the days leading up to the tragedy and those who survived share stories of the aftermath. The names of those who tell the story are not the names of the famous and wealthy who caused the disaster. Rather they are the working class who struggled to care for their families often foregoing their own hopes and dreams. Author Ann E. Burg's spare, yet powerful words, paint a vivid picture that will keep this tragedy alive for those who may not even know it took place.
April 8, 2022
This is a moving historical fiction novel in verse, so it goes very quickly, told from multiple points-of-view of survivors and victims -- the Little Conemaugh River, kids, young adults just starting out, older people -- captured in a tragic flood that all-but wiped the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania from the map in 1889.
And unlike some verse books, it's only 316 pages, so it reads super-fast and isn't physically intimidating to young readers.
A dam on the river, built so the extremely wealthy of the era -- the Carnegies, etc. -- could summer and frolik in an artificial lake high above the town was not properly maintained and burst after heavy rain.
The book tells the stories of many different characters, giving the reader a glimpse of what life was like in the heavily polluted factory town before the water washed it away.
It also gives a glimpse into how the rich who ultimately were responsible for the deaths of so many were never held accountable in court.
This is an excellent read in verse! Pull up a box of tissues and enjoy.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
And unlike some verse books, it's only 316 pages, so it reads super-fast and isn't physically intimidating to young readers.
A dam on the river, built so the extremely wealthy of the era -- the Carnegies, etc. -- could summer and frolik in an artificial lake high above the town was not properly maintained and burst after heavy rain.
The book tells the stories of many different characters, giving the reader a glimpse of what life was like in the heavily polluted factory town before the water washed it away.
It also gives a glimpse into how the rich who ultimately were responsible for the deaths of so many were never held accountable in court.
This is an excellent read in verse! Pull up a box of tissues and enjoy.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
January 29, 2022
Plot summary: The town of Johnson is divided in two: the rich, carefree folks above the dam, and the poor, hardworking townspeople below. Everyone knows the dam between them is not what it used to be, and some even expect it to fail one day, but most try to live their lives as normal. And then the rain comes.
Personal reaction: I loved this book. It was beautiful poetry, and the characters were well developed despite the different style. The story itself was moving, and even more so knowing that it was something that really happened.
Critical insight: This story is wonderful because it honors what has happened in a beautiful way, and I think people need to read more books like that. It didn't overly dramatize things, nor did it sugarcoat the tragedy. It was all very real, and very powerful.
Suggested audience: Anyone old enough to grasp the story in verse should read this. Maybe 10-12+
Personal reaction: I loved this book. It was beautiful poetry, and the characters were well developed despite the different style. The story itself was moving, and even more so knowing that it was something that really happened.
Critical insight: This story is wonderful because it honors what has happened in a beautiful way, and I think people need to read more books like that. It didn't overly dramatize things, nor did it sugarcoat the tragedy. It was all very real, and very powerful.
Suggested audience: Anyone old enough to grasp the story in verse should read this. Maybe 10-12+
August 4, 2022
I wanted to like this book more, but I think the format and focus on literary elements distracts readers from the book's topic - the Johnstown flood. It's a book in free verse, which can be a powerful format, however I don't think it worked well for this topic. It leaves the reader filling in too many gaps in the story, while also trying to recall and piece together all the characters, each telling their own stories every few verses. And I was confused by the lettered and numbered 'characters' and thought there'd been a publication error, especially as those pages had lighter text ink. It wasn't until the end of the book that it was revealed that those characters were the dead, the 'A' standing for adult and 'C' for child, and the number being their age. Of course, in hindsight it was a clever literary idea, but I think the book focused far too much on the literary form and not enough on the story it was supposed to convey, ultimately leaving readers frustrated and wanting more.
September 16, 2022
I don’t read much #historicalfiction but I’ve noticed this past year as I’ve dipped my toes into the genre I am surprisingly satisfied. Flooded is a written account of the tragedy that the community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania suffered in 1889. This story is #writteninverse and many points of view are shared. In the beginning of this book we witness many lives from children, adults, rich and poor. Most importantly we see what’s important to each, how they spend there days and what they dream about.
“I wonder why
Some folks spend their summer
By a cool, crisp lake
While others stay home
Scrubbing soot from their bones”
Then on May 31, 1889 the South Fork Dam collapsed. Twenty million tons of water covered Johnstown that day and more then 2,200 people died. With loved ones gone and houses washed away we watch as each character try’s to pick up the pieces of there lives.
I appreciated the authors note at the back of the book. The author took great care in writing this story.
“I wonder why
Some folks spend their summer
By a cool, crisp lake
While others stay home
Scrubbing soot from their bones”
Then on May 31, 1889 the South Fork Dam collapsed. Twenty million tons of water covered Johnstown that day and more then 2,200 people died. With loved ones gone and houses washed away we watch as each character try’s to pick up the pieces of there lives.
I appreciated the authors note at the back of the book. The author took great care in writing this story.
February 20, 2023
This book is a powerful piece of middle-grade historical fiction written in verse. This was the first of Burg’s books that I’ve read that uses multiple POVs. I did get a little bogged down during the first half of the book trying to keep my narrators straight, but once I let go of that and started focusing on the story, I was able to enjoy the narrative. The author was intentional in her selection of narrators, and I found each portion compelling and inspiring. I have a special place in my librarian’s heart for novels in verse that pair powerful words with poignant form, and this book does exactly that through shapes and text color (though I would also like to enjoy this book in audio form).
This is a middle-grade book, but it deals with grief, greed, and tragedy in a very powerful way. It’s a novel in verse, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy read. This is a book that could easily be taught and shared with students in elementary, middle, and high schools. Grades 3+
This is a middle-grade book, but it deals with grief, greed, and tragedy in a very powerful way. It’s a novel in verse, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy read. This is a book that could easily be taught and shared with students in elementary, middle, and high schools. Grades 3+
August 29, 2023
This is a J novel in verse about the Johnston, Pennsylvania flood of 1889. I have always heard of this flood, but really didn’t know the details. I thought it was a”normal” flood, too much rain and runoff will make waterways flood.
However, there was a dam involved in this one built by the wealthy businessman of Pittsburgh like Frick, Carnegie, and others. The dam made a lake upstream from the town of Johnstown. Free verse I feel allows one to feel the emotion of a situation much better than prose and this title begins by describing various residents of the town and eventually the aftermath of the flood on Memorial Day in 1889. Each poem is titled by a character’s name and every character has several poems. Interestingly after the flood one begins to see the poems titled with a C and a number which translates to Corpse number. A realistic read even though it is historical fiction. Plan to read some nonfiction titles about the Johnstown flood.
However, there was a dam involved in this one built by the wealthy businessman of Pittsburgh like Frick, Carnegie, and others. The dam made a lake upstream from the town of Johnstown. Free verse I feel allows one to feel the emotion of a situation much better than prose and this title begins by describing various residents of the town and eventually the aftermath of the flood on Memorial Day in 1889. Each poem is titled by a character’s name and every character has several poems. Interestingly after the flood one begins to see the poems titled with a C and a number which translates to Corpse number. A realistic read even though it is historical fiction. Plan to read some nonfiction titles about the Johnstown flood.
October 8, 2020
@kidlitexchange Partner: Flooded: Requiem for Johnstown by Ann E. Burg. Available NOW through @scholasticinc.
*****
I had only vaguely heard of Johnstown and knew that something had happened, which is crazy because that something was one of the deadliest events in US history (only shortly behind 9/11 and the Galveston hurricane). Located in a floodplain in Pennsylvania, Johnstown was a vibrant village until the abandoned dam—compromised by developers—collapsed, crushing the town under 20 million tons of water. The force was so strong it ripped houses in half.
Flooded, a novel told in beautiful verse, introduces many real people of the town and brings them to life—a shopkeeper’s daughter, a newsstand boy getting ready to marry, three young best friends. The flood rips apart their lives and powerfully displays the force of nature and the danger of careless development.
Flooded is available NOW and is a great resource for learning about this monumental disaster in history. Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy—all opinions are my own.
#kidlit #kidlitexchange #middlegrade #book #books #bookreview #bookstagram #booksofig #booksofinstagram #flooded #johnstownflood #juvenilenonfiction
*****
I had only vaguely heard of Johnstown and knew that something had happened, which is crazy because that something was one of the deadliest events in US history (only shortly behind 9/11 and the Galveston hurricane). Located in a floodplain in Pennsylvania, Johnstown was a vibrant village until the abandoned dam—compromised by developers—collapsed, crushing the town under 20 million tons of water. The force was so strong it ripped houses in half.
Flooded, a novel told in beautiful verse, introduces many real people of the town and brings them to life—a shopkeeper’s daughter, a newsstand boy getting ready to marry, three young best friends. The flood rips apart their lives and powerfully displays the force of nature and the danger of careless development.
Flooded is available NOW and is a great resource for learning about this monumental disaster in history. Thank you @kidlitexchange for the review copy—all opinions are my own.
#kidlit #kidlitexchange #middlegrade #book #books #bookreview #bookstagram #booksofig #booksofinstagram #flooded #johnstownflood #juvenilenonfiction
January 10, 2023
Oooooh this was good. A friend recommended it to me years ago, but I never got it until my oldest son and I got into the “Men Who Built America” series. When the Johnstown Flood was in an episode of that, I said-I need to finally read that book! I finished it and now passed it on to my oldest two boys. We aren’t far from Johnstown and plan to make a trip there this summer, so I told them to read it to get a feel for what we will be exploring. I love books in verse, & this one didn’t disappoint. I had trouble keeping some of the characters straight at first, but it wasn’t bad once I got a little farther in. You get some good true info along with her creative “fleshing out” of their stories. The way she writes part of it from the unmarked graves was chilling. Highly recommend!
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