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Tornado
Cam must battle extreme weather conditions to find his brother, as his already fragile family is being torn apart by secrets. When a distant storm knocks out the power at his high school, Cam and his friends head out for burgers. On their way back to pick up Cam's little brother, Peter, at the bus stop, they are caught up in the middle of a deadly tornado. Cam manages to survive and makes his way home only to discover that his house has been destroyed and his parents are locked in an argument that ends in a startling revelation. And Peter is still missing.
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 12, 2020
I recieved an early copy of this on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't know anything about Orca Soundings - the publisher- when I first picked up this book, but I think its pertinent information to the review. They write hi-lo books for teens, designed for struggling readers. Because of this, the book is short and punchy. Admittedly it was a bit jarring at first as the style wasn't something I was used to. It goes from 0 to 60 on a dime though, and then I was hooked. It reads exactly as advertised, the plot was gripping and I came to appreciate how fast moving it was. At just over a hundred pages, I flew through it, invested in Cam. It reminded me a lot of old disaster movies, constantly pushing forward through each new revelation, but still packing in the emotion. Some people might accuse it of being "simple", but it tells the story it set out to tell. Jennings did a good job at giving us enough information to get invested without wasting words. Admittedly, I cried.
Even as someone who is not the target audience for the book, it was an enjoyable evening read and I appreciated it for the style that it was once I got into it. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, light read that still takes you an emotional adventure.
I didn't know anything about Orca Soundings - the publisher- when I first picked up this book, but I think its pertinent information to the review. They write hi-lo books for teens, designed for struggling readers. Because of this, the book is short and punchy. Admittedly it was a bit jarring at first as the style wasn't something I was used to. It goes from 0 to 60 on a dime though, and then I was hooked. It reads exactly as advertised, the plot was gripping and I came to appreciate how fast moving it was. At just over a hundred pages, I flew through it, invested in Cam. It reminded me a lot of old disaster movies, constantly pushing forward through each new revelation, but still packing in the emotion. Some people might accuse it of being "simple", but it tells the story it set out to tell. Jennings did a good job at giving us enough information to get invested without wasting words. Admittedly, I cried.
Even as someone who is not the target audience for the book, it was an enjoyable evening read and I appreciated it for the style that it was once I got into it. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, light read that still takes you an emotional adventure.
November 3, 2020
A huge thank you for the ARC. I posted my review on goodreads abs librarything. After publication I’ll post on the retail sites.
My review...
The power to the high school suddenly goes out so the students are sent home early. We later learn the school is decimated by the tornado. 16-year-old Cam heads to a burger place with his friends.
He is keenly aware that he has to be back in time to get his 6-year-old brother, Peter, from the bus. But Cam never dreamed that a powerful tornado would touch down, making that impossible. The tornado flips the car he’s in, killing outright two passengers and leaving the third, Chrissy, seriously injured. Cam is in shock and pretty seriously injured himself. The only thing on his mind though, is getting through to get Peter, hoping it’s not too late. Cam gets a ride back to town with a truck driver. He soon learns that the bus dropped Peter off before the tornado struck, Cam finds his own home nearly destroyed. Knowing his father’s rage, Cam lies to him about where he’s been. Very quickly he’s caught in the lie and his furious dad lashes out angrily while his alcoholic mother seems unable to understand the full situation. Cam needing medical attention himself goes off on his own desperately searching for his little brother.
Presented in simple text, this is a fast-paced, suspenseful tale... perfect for reluctant readers. I’ve never experienced a tornado, but the after math described here is detailed and realistic,
This is a satisfying and quick read.
Full of action and brief enough to entice even the most unwilling readers.
I’d like to see a series here... earthquake, blizzard, meteorite , pandemic. Oh dear, forget the last one.
Josephine Sorrell
My review...
The power to the high school suddenly goes out so the students are sent home early. We later learn the school is decimated by the tornado. 16-year-old Cam heads to a burger place with his friends.
He is keenly aware that he has to be back in time to get his 6-year-old brother, Peter, from the bus. But Cam never dreamed that a powerful tornado would touch down, making that impossible. The tornado flips the car he’s in, killing outright two passengers and leaving the third, Chrissy, seriously injured. Cam is in shock and pretty seriously injured himself. The only thing on his mind though, is getting through to get Peter, hoping it’s not too late. Cam gets a ride back to town with a truck driver. He soon learns that the bus dropped Peter off before the tornado struck, Cam finds his own home nearly destroyed. Knowing his father’s rage, Cam lies to him about where he’s been. Very quickly he’s caught in the lie and his furious dad lashes out angrily while his alcoholic mother seems unable to understand the full situation. Cam needing medical attention himself goes off on his own desperately searching for his little brother.
Presented in simple text, this is a fast-paced, suspenseful tale... perfect for reluctant readers. I’ve never experienced a tornado, but the after math described here is detailed and realistic,
This is a satisfying and quick read.
Full of action and brief enough to entice even the most unwilling readers.
I’d like to see a series here... earthquake, blizzard, meteorite , pandemic. Oh dear, forget the last one.
Josephine Sorrell
November 2, 2020
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Tornado in exchange for an honest review.
Tornado is part of Orca Sounding's line of high interest, low difficulty books targeted at teen readers who want to read books targeted at them but for whatever reason, need those stories at a slightly lower reading level.
Tornado is a survival story following our protagonist Cam after he and his friends decide to go get burgers after leaving school early only to get hit by a tornado. Because of the last minute burger trip, Cam was not home to pick up his 6 year old brother Peter from his bus stop and returns home to find Peter missing.
This was fast paced and holds your interest from beginning to end, my only issue was that Cam is written to be a very flawed character to the point of it being difficult to connect to him and his plights. I'm glad he wasn't made perfect, but since its so fast paced we never really get to spend time getting to know his strengths and it makes his weaknesses seem a lot worse.
Tornado is part of Orca Sounding's line of high interest, low difficulty books targeted at teen readers who want to read books targeted at them but for whatever reason, need those stories at a slightly lower reading level.
Tornado is a survival story following our protagonist Cam after he and his friends decide to go get burgers after leaving school early only to get hit by a tornado. Because of the last minute burger trip, Cam was not home to pick up his 6 year old brother Peter from his bus stop and returns home to find Peter missing.
This was fast paced and holds your interest from beginning to end, my only issue was that Cam is written to be a very flawed character to the point of it being difficult to connect to him and his plights. I'm glad he wasn't made perfect, but since its so fast paced we never really get to spend time getting to know his strengths and it makes his weaknesses seem a lot worse.
December 8, 2020
Living in an area that is prone to tornadoes I was very interested in this story. Children that live in tornado prone areas would probably benefit from reading this story. Reluctant readers, especially boys would enjoy this story because of the fast action. The story follows Cam and his family a little before the storm and then after the storm and how they handle the fall out from the storm. We never know how we will react to an emergency until we are put in that situation. Cam is off having fun with his friends with then tornado strikes. He was suppose to meet his brother at the bus stop but of course he can't make it. He loses a couple of his friends in the storm, but his immediate issue is finding his brother. Their house is gone and so is Peter. Cam's dad says some things to him that later he wishes he could take back. Will he find Peter and can this family be saved? Will Cam ever forgive himself for the loss of his friends?
November 15, 2020
Anyone that enjoys a good natural disaster or survival story would appreciate Tornado. My fourth graders love reading everything having to do with earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes. etc. and I would share this book with them if it wasn't for the more mature subplots. I like how fast paced this book was and I could picture the events playing out in a movie. I was surprised by the graphic content as the author did not shy away from the often violent and morbid details surrounding a disaster of this magnitude. This book reveals the lasting impact and affect a natural disaster has on individuals and a community. A quick and fast read for a reluctant teen reader.
November 23, 2020
Lots of potential for a good disaster story with a human edge told from a young perspective. It just didn't deliver. I loved the premise, but the story lagged and the dialog was stiff and unnatural. The characters didn't resonate and I really wanted them to. Its an original idea, but it fell short.
November 9, 2020
Wow this book was a really sad read.. Alot of sad stuff happened in this book it was a short read but i really enjoyed how much of a thriller this book was its so sad at how life changes when tragedy strikes someone.
Thank you net galley for this arc
Thank you net galley for this arc
September 12, 2021
I enjoyed this short young adults story. It was quite a bit of emotional. It was about how a 16 year-old boy that deals with the aftermath of a tornado.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
February 5, 2022
Exciting, engaging, exhilarating! You will feel every page , as though you are experiencing The Tornado. Well written, by this experienced writer! The Tornado, by Sharon Jennings, published by Red Deere Press.
August 17, 2024
Quick read for tornado season
Decently written for a short story. A few word choices felt awkward. All in all, not a bad quick thriller.
I did enjoy it enough that I started it at the library, then purchased it on Kindle.
Decently written for a short story. A few word choices felt awkward. All in all, not a bad quick thriller.
I did enjoy it enough that I started it at the library, then purchased it on Kindle.
April 15, 2021
For some reason, this book just didn’t do it for me. I do realize that I am decades older than the target in age group so maybe that is why. But I will recommend it to several reluctant readers.
May 5, 2021
Good short story but not developed enough to be a novel.
May 17, 2025
This one was much darker than the other ones I've read in the series, but it was actually pretty good.
June 25, 2025
A quick book, but I was hooked from the start.
January 19, 2021
What an intense narrative from author Sharon Jennings! From start to finish, the reader is caught up in the story with the same intensity that the tornado twists and slams into the town... an accessible story for even the struggling reader!
Highly recommended 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highly recommended 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
January 10, 2026
Tornado by Sharon Jennings hit me harder than I expected. Even though it’s a short book, it pulls you straight into Cam’s fear, guilt, and determination as he searches for his missing little brother after the tornado. What moved me most was how real Cam’s emotions felt — that awful sense of wishing you could undo one small decision, and the way responsibility suddenly lands on your shoulders when life falls apart.
The storm destroys the town, but it also exposes the cracks in Cam’s family, and watching him navigate both kinds of wreckage made the story feel raw and human. Jennings writes simply, but the feelings linger. In the end, Tornado isn’t just about surviving a disaster; it’s about love, courage, and the moment a kid is forced to grow up too fast.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this story. I am giving it 3 stars on Goodreads.
The storm destroys the town, but it also exposes the cracks in Cam’s family, and watching him navigate both kinds of wreckage made the story feel raw and human. Jennings writes simply, but the feelings linger. In the end, Tornado isn’t just about surviving a disaster; it’s about love, courage, and the moment a kid is forced to grow up too fast.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this story. I am giving it 3 stars on Goodreads.
October 22, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick, action packed read about what happens when a tornado destroys a small town. I loved the movie Twister when I was a kid, weird I know. I was hoping this would remind me of that, but it didn't live up to my hopes.
The story starts and you are almost instantly thrown into the action. I feel like I didn't have time to get to know any characters or develop feelings for them. I didn't really care what happened to them.
Clocking in at just 112 pages, Tornado was a super quick read if you want something to read in one sitting!
This was a quick, action packed read about what happens when a tornado destroys a small town. I loved the movie Twister when I was a kid, weird I know. I was hoping this would remind me of that, but it didn't live up to my hopes.
The story starts and you are almost instantly thrown into the action. I feel like I didn't have time to get to know any characters or develop feelings for them. I didn't really care what happened to them.
Clocking in at just 112 pages, Tornado was a super quick read if you want something to read in one sitting!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews