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Storm Watcher
Lightning Never Strikes Twice?
Luke Riley is lost. His mother's recent death has set Luke and his family adrift. Even though his father, twin brothers, and their three Bloodhounds are search and rescue volunteers, they have been unable to rescue themselves and become a family again. The summer after sixth grade looms in Luke's mind as a long, lonely three months where the only thing he can look forward to is watching The Weather Channel. Luke is fascinated with the weather, but since his mother's death in a storm, he is also terrified. Even the promised 13th birthday present of a Bloodhound puppy fails to lift Luke's spirits. He would rather have a different breed - a petite Papillon, but his father insists he get a Bloodhound.
When Luke decides to get the Bloodhound from Willajean, a dog breeder who owns Storm Watcher Kennel, he works out a deal to help at her kennel in exchange for the expensive dog. Thrilled to have a summer with a purpose, Luke befriends Willajean's daughter, Megan and together they plan how Luke can get a Papillon puppy instead of a Bloodhound. But nothing seems to work as they struggle with stubborn fathers, summer storms, unhelpful siblings, and hidden guilt. Can one little white dog really save both families?
The book also includes an appendix of fun weather facts and quizzes!
Luke Riley is lost. His mother's recent death has set Luke and his family adrift. Even though his father, twin brothers, and their three Bloodhounds are search and rescue volunteers, they have been unable to rescue themselves and become a family again. The summer after sixth grade looms in Luke's mind as a long, lonely three months where the only thing he can look forward to is watching The Weather Channel. Luke is fascinated with the weather, but since his mother's death in a storm, he is also terrified. Even the promised 13th birthday present of a Bloodhound puppy fails to lift Luke's spirits. He would rather have a different breed - a petite Papillon, but his father insists he get a Bloodhound.
When Luke decides to get the Bloodhound from Willajean, a dog breeder who owns Storm Watcher Kennel, he works out a deal to help at her kennel in exchange for the expensive dog. Thrilled to have a summer with a purpose, Luke befriends Willajean's daughter, Megan and together they plan how Luke can get a Papillon puppy instead of a Bloodhound. But nothing seems to work as they struggle with stubborn fathers, summer storms, unhelpful siblings, and hidden guilt. Can one little white dog really save both families?
The book also includes an appendix of fun weather facts and quizzes!
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
16 people are currently reading
1717 people want to read
About the author
Maria V. Snyder
76 books17.4k followersWhen Maria V. Snyder was younger, she aspired to be a storm chaser in the American Midwest so she attended Pennsylvania State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology. Much to her chagrin, forecasting the weather wasn’t in her skill set so she spent a number of years as an environmental meteorologist, which is not exciting...at all. Bored at work and needing a creative outlet, she started writing fantasy and science fiction stories. Over twenty four novels and two short story collections later, Maria’s learned a thing or three about writing. She’s been on the New York Times bestseller list, won a dozen awards, and has earned her Masters of Arts degree in Writing from Seton Hill University, where she is now a faculty member.
Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named…Kitty (apparently naming cats isn’t in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they aren't being a distraction. Note: She mentions her cat before her family.
When she's not writing she's either playing pickleball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist.
Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.
Her favorite color is red. She loves dogs, but is allergic, instead she has a big black tom cat named…Kitty (apparently naming cats isn’t in her skill set either). Maria also has a husband and two children who are an inspiration for her writing when they aren't being a distraction. Note: She mentions her cat before her family.
When she's not writing she's either playing pickleball, traveling, or taking pictures. Being a writer, though is a ton of fun. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn how to ride a horse, study marital arts, learn how to pick a lock, take glass blowing classes and attend Astronomy Camp and call it research? Maria will be the first one to tell you it's not working as a meteorologist.
Readers are welcome to check out her website for book excerpts, free short stories, maps, blog, and her schedule at http://www.MariaVSnyder.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 22, 2016
This is a great short story about overcoming fear and having fun in the summer. It´s really cute. Maria V. Snyder is seriously the best author in my opinion. She could make a chicken soup recipe into a funny and interesting story.
October 16, 2013
This was my first book by Maria V. Snyder, though it was also a Middle Grade. It's a quick, short read about a boy terrified of storms and a passion for dogs.
After having lost his mother, Luke is still adjusting to having this big hole in his life. He gets a summer job at a dog kennel where they breed and train dogs. It's a perfect book for dog lovers. We get into dog training, especially tracker dogs, which I find kind of fascinating. But the best part of this novel for me was its characters. We have this boy who's so sweet. His emotions and blame for his mother's death broke my heart. I also loved the bond he has with his family. Even though they were in rough waters at the time, you could still tell they cared for each other in the moments where things mattered. We also meet a woman who fills the motherly figure a little bit. She becomes a rock for Luke to lean on. Someone - and somewhere - else he can turn to when he's feeling trapped.
Throughout this novel we see Luke find himself, find what he's good at and what he needs to overcome to get there. It's a journey to self discovery. For an MG novel I was not expecting this level of depth. Not to say MG novels are generally superficial, but it was a very realistic look at grief, self blame, and deep rooted fears.
With all that positive, why didn't I rate this any higher than 3? For one, due to the small number of pages I didn't get more than a brief foray - albeit a moving one - into these people's lives. I didn't not connect with them, but it did not get me completely invested. For another, I found it was fairly predictable. I could have told you how it would end in the first quarter and I would have had it nailed, more or less a few details. On the same note, I found the ending was a little too perfectly worked out. MG novels do tend to have more Happily Ever After endings, I guess.
I know this review is short, but so is the book. I really don't have much else to say about it. Overall it was a sweet read and dog lovers especially are sure to enjoy it.
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An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
After having lost his mother, Luke is still adjusting to having this big hole in his life. He gets a summer job at a dog kennel where they breed and train dogs. It's a perfect book for dog lovers. We get into dog training, especially tracker dogs, which I find kind of fascinating. But the best part of this novel for me was its characters. We have this boy who's so sweet. His emotions and blame for his mother's death broke my heart. I also loved the bond he has with his family. Even though they were in rough waters at the time, you could still tell they cared for each other in the moments where things mattered. We also meet a woman who fills the motherly figure a little bit. She becomes a rock for Luke to lean on. Someone - and somewhere - else he can turn to when he's feeling trapped.
Throughout this novel we see Luke find himself, find what he's good at and what he needs to overcome to get there. It's a journey to self discovery. For an MG novel I was not expecting this level of depth. Not to say MG novels are generally superficial, but it was a very realistic look at grief, self blame, and deep rooted fears.
With all that positive, why didn't I rate this any higher than 3? For one, due to the small number of pages I didn't get more than a brief foray - albeit a moving one - into these people's lives. I didn't not connect with them, but it did not get me completely invested. For another, I found it was fairly predictable. I could have told you how it would end in the first quarter and I would have had it nailed, more or less a few details. On the same note, I found the ending was a little too perfectly worked out. MG novels do tend to have more Happily Ever After endings, I guess.
I know this review is short, but so is the book. I really don't have much else to say about it. Overall it was a sweet read and dog lovers especially are sure to enjoy it.
--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
October 30, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and Weapenry Co-Op for giving me this book to review.
Storm Watcher is an enjoyable contemporary middle-grade book about overcoming fears and dealing with grief. This book is not like any of Maria’s other books and while it is not my favourite of hers, it still has her brilliant writing style.
Luke is such a sweet and sensitive kid but he is tougher than he first appears as he is determined and very clever. Like all of Maria’s books the relationships in this novel make the story and I especially liked Luke’s with Megan and Lightning.
While not my normal genre of book I still enjoyed Storm Watcher and would recommend it to people who like coming of age middle-grade books.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Storm Watcher is an enjoyable contemporary middle-grade book about overcoming fears and dealing with grief. This book is not like any of Maria’s other books and while it is not my favourite of hers, it still has her brilliant writing style.
Luke is such a sweet and sensitive kid but he is tougher than he first appears as he is determined and very clever. Like all of Maria’s books the relationships in this novel make the story and I especially liked Luke’s with Megan and Lightning.
While not my normal genre of book I still enjoyed Storm Watcher and would recommend it to people who like coming of age middle-grade books.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
October 12, 2016
Maria V. Snyder quickly became one of my favourite authors through her The Chronicles of Ixia series. It’s a wonderful fantasy series, one I’m rather addicted to, and awaiting the ninth book is driving me crazy. Thus, when I saw another of her books on NetGalley I decided I needed something to tide me over.
Storm Watcher is completely different to the series that made her famous. Storm Watcher is a middle grade contemporary read. It’s a decent read, and yet it isn’t quite the high of her young adult fantasy novels. For me, there just seemed to be something missing. It was lacking in the usual wow factor, being mediocre and failing to give us that something more.
The story comes with a lot of messages, many of which will be noticed by the younger reader. I believe being an older reader of this story has allowed me to see where things are lacking. For example, our main character has a fear of storms and his mother has recently died. It isn’t too hard to realise there is a connection between the two. I’ll give Snyder props for adding more than the one simple connection, yet it all felt too predictable from the start. It wasn’t merely in regards to the connection between the two; it was also in relation to the other aspects of the story. The way the character interactions developed. The way people felt towards each other. The way forgiveness would be earned. The way people would get what they wanted. It all seemed a little too predictable for my liking, feeling a bit like a carbon copy of many other books and mixed in with a slightly different dog story.
Moreover, the speed felt all over the place. Somehow, it was both too fast and too slow. I’m not quite sure how it managed this – and yet it did. The story progressed from one point in time to another, with the jumps seeming to appear out of nowhere. The story didn’t seem to move all that much though. Things were happening, but there wasn’t a lot. Thus, it was too fast and too slow all at the same time. I feel as though the story would have been much more enjoyable had the pacing been better. Furthermore, the ending seemed to come all at once. It was obvious where things would head towards the end of the story, and when it came about it was over extremely quickly.
Overall, it was a decent enough read. It is far from Snyder’s best, but it will be enjoyed by a specific group of readers. Unfortunately, I do not fall into the category of readers this was aimed at meaning I was more aware of the faults than I could have been.
As a final note, I’d like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this.
Storm Watcher is completely different to the series that made her famous. Storm Watcher is a middle grade contemporary read. It’s a decent read, and yet it isn’t quite the high of her young adult fantasy novels. For me, there just seemed to be something missing. It was lacking in the usual wow factor, being mediocre and failing to give us that something more.
The story comes with a lot of messages, many of which will be noticed by the younger reader. I believe being an older reader of this story has allowed me to see where things are lacking. For example, our main character has a fear of storms and his mother has recently died. It isn’t too hard to realise there is a connection between the two. I’ll give Snyder props for adding more than the one simple connection, yet it all felt too predictable from the start. It wasn’t merely in regards to the connection between the two; it was also in relation to the other aspects of the story. The way the character interactions developed. The way people felt towards each other. The way forgiveness would be earned. The way people would get what they wanted. It all seemed a little too predictable for my liking, feeling a bit like a carbon copy of many other books and mixed in with a slightly different dog story.
Moreover, the speed felt all over the place. Somehow, it was both too fast and too slow. I’m not quite sure how it managed this – and yet it did. The story progressed from one point in time to another, with the jumps seeming to appear out of nowhere. The story didn’t seem to move all that much though. Things were happening, but there wasn’t a lot. Thus, it was too fast and too slow all at the same time. I feel as though the story would have been much more enjoyable had the pacing been better. Furthermore, the ending seemed to come all at once. It was obvious where things would head towards the end of the story, and when it came about it was over extremely quickly.
Overall, it was a decent enough read. It is far from Snyder’s best, but it will be enjoyed by a specific group of readers. Unfortunately, I do not fall into the category of readers this was aimed at meaning I was more aware of the faults than I could have been.
As a final note, I’d like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this.
September 3, 2013
Storm Watcher is a poignant and compelling read which had me on the verge of tears more than once.
I came into this book thinking, hoping, it was a paranormal fantasy, perhaps about a boy who can channel the power of a storm. Storm Watcher is a heartwarming contemporary about a young boy who recently lost his mother, and then found himself without the support of his elder brothers and father as well. Every individual, every family, grieves in its own way, and this is the story of how that grief can affect the youngest and the most vulnerable.
No magic powers here, except perhaps the extraordinary strength of will Luke displays. There's a lot of darkness in his life, made of sadness and loss and guilt and blame, but the way Luke manages with it brought tears to my eyes. It absolutely killed me to see this young kid beset by so much, when the people who were meant to be helping him were too busy taking out their negativity on him.
My favourite aspect of the book are its characters, who are realistic, even the ones I hated, and I could see the motivations behind each and every one of them. Storm Watcher is a story about people, and the characters in the narrative represent humanity with its strengths and flaws. I love that they all make mistakes and snap-judgements, and don't always know how to apologise.
Maria V. Snyder's masterful writing has swept me away yet again, not that I should really be surprised! The characteristics that make her YA fantasy novels so well loved - the characters and their relationships, the worlds they live in, the struggles they overcome - are all present. I loved Storm Watcher, and recommend it to all her fans.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .
I came into this book thinking, hoping, it was a paranormal fantasy, perhaps about a boy who can channel the power of a storm. Storm Watcher is a heartwarming contemporary about a young boy who recently lost his mother, and then found himself without the support of his elder brothers and father as well. Every individual, every family, grieves in its own way, and this is the story of how that grief can affect the youngest and the most vulnerable.
No magic powers here, except perhaps the extraordinary strength of will Luke displays. There's a lot of darkness in his life, made of sadness and loss and guilt and blame, but the way Luke manages with it brought tears to my eyes. It absolutely killed me to see this young kid beset by so much, when the people who were meant to be helping him were too busy taking out their negativity on him.
My favourite aspect of the book are its characters, who are realistic, even the ones I hated, and I could see the motivations behind each and every one of them. Storm Watcher is a story about people, and the characters in the narrative represent humanity with its strengths and flaws. I love that they all make mistakes and snap-judgements, and don't always know how to apologise.
Maria V. Snyder's masterful writing has swept me away yet again, not that I should really be surprised! The characteristics that make her YA fantasy novels so well loved - the characters and their relationships, the worlds they live in, the struggles they overcome - are all present. I loved Storm Watcher, and recommend it to all her fans.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .
September 21, 2016
I fell in love with this authors fantasy books a few years ago so when I spotted this book aimed at younger readers I just couldn't resist. It's a story that anyone who has ever had a dog will understand but there's also a huge emotional pull here. Luke our young hero feels lost, out of place and so very sad when we first meet him. A recent tragedy has changed his life forever and there's a huge disconnect between him and his family. Yes they love each other but honestly these guys are absolutely pants when it comes to sharing feelings so too much goes unsaid.
So there's Luke dealing with loss and guilt and when his birthday rolls around he should be happy because hey his dad has said he can have his very own puppy but Luke remembers happier times and conversations about something that his dad will think is a barking mad idea! Yet Luke gets a chance to work towards his goal and along the way friendships form as two families face their own personal troubles. These are just ordinary people facing their own personal demons but written so well it's heartbreaking and just pulled this reader in. Poignant, emotional and yet joyful too as distance is obliterated and families come together. No matter how dark the day a little light can still be found.
I was gifted a copy if this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Four and a half from me
So there's Luke dealing with loss and guilt and when his birthday rolls around he should be happy because hey his dad has said he can have his very own puppy but Luke remembers happier times and conversations about something that his dad will think is a barking mad idea! Yet Luke gets a chance to work towards his goal and along the way friendships form as two families face their own personal troubles. These are just ordinary people facing their own personal demons but written so well it's heartbreaking and just pulled this reader in. Poignant, emotional and yet joyful too as distance is obliterated and families come together. No matter how dark the day a little light can still be found.
I was gifted a copy if this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Four and a half from me
May 15, 2015
rating: 3.25/5
review to come.
review to come.
Want to read
October 14, 2016How the hell did I miss the release of this one? I know it's MG but it's written by Maria Snyder so it has to be read!
December 15, 2013
As a HUGE Maria V. Snyder fan, I practically ran to get my copy of Storm Watcher. I have no problem with middle-grade books and, in fact, I find I enjoy them just as much as YA or adult novels.
The novel follows Luke, a middle-schooler who has lost his mom in a storm the previous year. Luke and his family's grief has created a tense situation at home between himself, his 2 brothers, and his father. It has also strained his relationships with his friends, leaving Luke alone and fending for himself quite often. Luke seems to be emotionally mature for his age even with his grief, but that could also be because his brothers reminded me of the Weasley twins from Harry Potter. Luke's pain and fear of storms was as heart wrenching as his happiness and natural ease with animals and his new friend Megan were heart warming.
Storm Watcher is a novel that anyone can relate to, middle grader or adult. The only problem I had with it was that I am so used to a paranormal element in Snyder's books that I found myself continuously looking for one even though I knew from the get-go that Storm Watcher is paranormal-free. That's my problem though, not a flaw in her story.
The novel follows Luke, a middle-schooler who has lost his mom in a storm the previous year. Luke and his family's grief has created a tense situation at home between himself, his 2 brothers, and his father. It has also strained his relationships with his friends, leaving Luke alone and fending for himself quite often. Luke seems to be emotionally mature for his age even with his grief, but that could also be because his brothers reminded me of the Weasley twins from Harry Potter. Luke's pain and fear of storms was as heart wrenching as his happiness and natural ease with animals and his new friend Megan were heart warming.
Storm Watcher is a novel that anyone can relate to, middle grader or adult. The only problem I had with it was that I am so used to a paranormal element in Snyder's books that I found myself continuously looking for one even though I knew from the get-go that Storm Watcher is paranormal-free. That's my problem though, not a flaw in her story.
April 16, 2014
This book doesn't merit five stars on my own personal scale...but let me explain.
I am a middle school teacher. Because my school likes "transboundary work," I was given a group of fourth graders who read FAR above grade level to work with. This is the second book we read together. Our trimester was broken up by lots of snow days and delayed openings, so we made lots of connections to the weather. The kids loved learning about the different breeds of dog, and how tracking dogs are trained fascinated them. They loved Luke's weather journal and they all made their own as we researched the weather stuff in the book.
and because of the snow days we had to read three chapters in one hour to complete Stormwatchers by the end of the trimester. That's a long haul for 4th graders. BUT THEY HUNG ON EVERY WORD. They excitedly stopped me to make predictions. They remembered tiny details about motivation from chapters earlier and used them relevantly in discussing characters' actions. They screamed in delight at several points.
So that's why Five Stars. My 4th Grade Advanced Reading Group adored it! And thought I wouldn't give it five, I enjoyed the heck out of too!
I am a middle school teacher. Because my school likes "transboundary work," I was given a group of fourth graders who read FAR above grade level to work with. This is the second book we read together. Our trimester was broken up by lots of snow days and delayed openings, so we made lots of connections to the weather. The kids loved learning about the different breeds of dog, and how tracking dogs are trained fascinated them. They loved Luke's weather journal and they all made their own as we researched the weather stuff in the book.
and because of the snow days we had to read three chapters in one hour to complete Stormwatchers by the end of the trimester. That's a long haul for 4th graders. BUT THEY HUNG ON EVERY WORD. They excitedly stopped me to make predictions. They remembered tiny details about motivation from chapters earlier and used them relevantly in discussing characters' actions. They screamed in delight at several points.
So that's why Five Stars. My 4th Grade Advanced Reading Group adored it! And thought I wouldn't give it five, I enjoyed the heck out of too!
September 24, 2013
Generally, I prefer my middle grade novels to be about genius children and, even better, set in a fantasy world. Many contemporary or action novels about average children bore me and leave me cold. As such, I was nervous to read Maria V. Snyder’s Storm Watcher. While I loved her fantasy offerings, I wasn’t sure if this one could be nearly as enjoyable. However, Snyder has done well, and the moppets in Storm Watcher are likable and the puppies are the best.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
August 23, 2013
Okay, I cried...
November 7, 2020
I have been a fan of Maria V Snyder's for years, having read the Poison Study series, I had never heard of this short novel before, but my mum received a signed copy and was awesome enough to lend it to me. Being busy at work, it's sat on my shelf for at least a month, but I finally got some down time today so I picked it up. At only 184 pages I knew it wouldn't take me more than a couple of hours, so was perfect to dip into.
Luke has recently lost his mum and his whole life has changed, his brothers constantly pick on him, his dad is always busy and his friends don't know how to act around him, fearing a long summer ahead of him on his own, he's not holding out much hope for anything. Then he makes a deal with Willajean, a local dog breeder, if he works on her farm with her 30+ dogs for the summer, he can have a puppy of his own for free. Suddenly the summer is looking more interesting, especially when he meets her daughter - Megan. The pair strike up a friendship and Luke is learning a lot about dogs and about himself. I actually really liked that Snyder kept the pair as friends, there isn't the complication of a romance mixed into the story, just friends being there for each other.
Luke is obsessed with the weather and has a fear of storms, it's something that he has always been afraid of, a fear which only got worse after his mum was killed in a car accident caused by a lightning strike. There is a lot about weather in this book, and Snyder's past as a meteorologist clearly shines through, it wasn't too heavy or in your face though, just neatly weaved within the story.
The characters are all very believable and you see them grow and develop over the story, I have always found Snyder to be an excellent creator of realistic characters. I think my favourite was Megan, she had more to her than originally meets the eye.
My only criticism of this book was that the ending felt quite abrupt, I honestly think that this book could have done with another 50-100 pages to fully wrap it up. I wanted more from the all and to know what came next.
It's quite a simple story, it's aimed at middle grade - 9-14, so there are obviously limitations to the story and writing, but even so there is enough content there to create interest and there are plenty of messages and things to take away from the story.
I would recommend this as a nice simple easy read that will sweep you away for a couple of hours, but it's definitely not on the same level as her other work.
Luke has recently lost his mum and his whole life has changed, his brothers constantly pick on him, his dad is always busy and his friends don't know how to act around him, fearing a long summer ahead of him on his own, he's not holding out much hope for anything. Then he makes a deal with Willajean, a local dog breeder, if he works on her farm with her 30+ dogs for the summer, he can have a puppy of his own for free. Suddenly the summer is looking more interesting, especially when he meets her daughter - Megan. The pair strike up a friendship and Luke is learning a lot about dogs and about himself. I actually really liked that Snyder kept the pair as friends, there isn't the complication of a romance mixed into the story, just friends being there for each other.
Luke is obsessed with the weather and has a fear of storms, it's something that he has always been afraid of, a fear which only got worse after his mum was killed in a car accident caused by a lightning strike. There is a lot about weather in this book, and Snyder's past as a meteorologist clearly shines through, it wasn't too heavy or in your face though, just neatly weaved within the story.
The characters are all very believable and you see them grow and develop over the story, I have always found Snyder to be an excellent creator of realistic characters. I think my favourite was Megan, she had more to her than originally meets the eye.
My only criticism of this book was that the ending felt quite abrupt, I honestly think that this book could have done with another 50-100 pages to fully wrap it up. I wanted more from the all and to know what came next.
It's quite a simple story, it's aimed at middle grade - 9-14, so there are obviously limitations to the story and writing, but even so there is enough content there to create interest and there are plenty of messages and things to take away from the story.
I would recommend this as a nice simple easy read that will sweep you away for a couple of hours, but it's definitely not on the same level as her other work.
June 9, 2021
This story begins when Luke Riley is almost thirteen. He's a few days away from his thirteenth birthday. His mother has recently died when her car was struck by lightning and she lost control of it and ran into a tree.
Luke's dad and his older twin brothers are all dealing with their loss differently. His brothers are constantly picking on him and his dad spends all his time doing his work as an electrician or working Search and Rescue with his bloodhound. Luke's brothers also have bloodhounds and are training them for search and rescue too. His dad wants to have him a bloodhound for his birthday, but Luke wants to have a papillon instead. He's seen them tracking too.
Luke's dad has arranged for him to work at a local kennel which breeds both bloodhounds and papillons so that he can afford the puppy. His dad thinks he's getting a bloodhound but Luke is determined to get a papillon instead. He gets to know Megan at the kennel. She is the same age as he is and is also a dog lover. She's determined to train her German shepherd as a search and rescue dog.
Luke has a weather phobia and an obsession with the Weather Channel. He has always been afraid of storms and his mother's death has only cemented his fears. His dad lets him call in sick if the weather is stormy but believes Luke will outgrow his phobia. Luckily, his middle school guidance counselor refers him to the high school guidance counselor who helps him deal his phobia and his grief and guilt at the loss of his mother.
Things come to a head when Megan goes missing during a storm and his papillon named Lightning is able to track her down when his father and his dog are searching in the wrong direction.
This was a great story about dealing with loss. It had all sorts of interesting facts both about the weather and about dog training.
Luke's dad and his older twin brothers are all dealing with their loss differently. His brothers are constantly picking on him and his dad spends all his time doing his work as an electrician or working Search and Rescue with his bloodhound. Luke's brothers also have bloodhounds and are training them for search and rescue too. His dad wants to have him a bloodhound for his birthday, but Luke wants to have a papillon instead. He's seen them tracking too.
Luke's dad has arranged for him to work at a local kennel which breeds both bloodhounds and papillons so that he can afford the puppy. His dad thinks he's getting a bloodhound but Luke is determined to get a papillon instead. He gets to know Megan at the kennel. She is the same age as he is and is also a dog lover. She's determined to train her German shepherd as a search and rescue dog.
Luke has a weather phobia and an obsession with the Weather Channel. He has always been afraid of storms and his mother's death has only cemented his fears. His dad lets him call in sick if the weather is stormy but believes Luke will outgrow his phobia. Luckily, his middle school guidance counselor refers him to the high school guidance counselor who helps him deal his phobia and his grief and guilt at the loss of his mother.
Things come to a head when Megan goes missing during a storm and his papillon named Lightning is able to track her down when his father and his dog are searching in the wrong direction.
This was a great story about dealing with loss. It had all sorts of interesting facts both about the weather and about dog training.
October 11, 2016
This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Is it possible for a book to be both too fast and too slow? This is what the story feels like in Maria V. Snyder’s contemporary children’s book Storm Watcher. It is the summer holidays and twelve year old Luke is working at the Storm Watcher Kennel, helping to take care of and train the many dogs living there. For his thirteenth birthday his father has promised him a bloodhound puppy, but what Luke really wants is a fluffy white Papillon – a dog that his father and brothers believe is useless and girly.
An important aspect of the story is Luke’s debilitating fear of storms. Although he has always been frightened of thunder and lightening, his mother’s recent death during a storm has greatly heightened his fears. Despite this phobia, Luke has enough knowledge and interest to act as an amateur meteorologist.
It takes a long time to get into the storyline. To begin with there is so much going on – dog breeding and training, starting to work with Willajean and her daughter Megan, feelings of guilt about mother’s death, fear of storms – making it difficult to determine which parts are essential to the plot, and more importantly, figure out the plot in the first place. Three months rapidly fly by, which in a short novel does not leave much room for an exciting climax, yet nothing major occurs.
Perhaps only the adult reader will detect the dullness Storm Watcher exudes, whereas when seen through a child’s eyes the story may be more exciting. Snyder has included a few interesting concepts such as over coming fear, dealing with grief and standing up for yourself. All these ideas are important for young people to understand and utilize in their own lives. The topic of meteorology, on the other hand, is not something children need to know, however it may interest them and provide the opportunity to learn something new. The author used to be a meteorologist before she turned to the world of literature, therefore has been able to provide a vast amount of knowledge about storms and weather, including a lengthy list of facts at the back of the book.
Maria V. Snyder’s young adult novels are well known throughout online communities, therefore Storm Watcher, although written for a younger target audience, had a standard to live up to. Unfortunately the result was disappointing, slow and a struggle to read. The book contains interesting ideas; however these could be expanded on to create a more engaging, full-length novel.
Is it possible for a book to be both too fast and too slow? This is what the story feels like in Maria V. Snyder’s contemporary children’s book Storm Watcher. It is the summer holidays and twelve year old Luke is working at the Storm Watcher Kennel, helping to take care of and train the many dogs living there. For his thirteenth birthday his father has promised him a bloodhound puppy, but what Luke really wants is a fluffy white Papillon – a dog that his father and brothers believe is useless and girly.
An important aspect of the story is Luke’s debilitating fear of storms. Although he has always been frightened of thunder and lightening, his mother’s recent death during a storm has greatly heightened his fears. Despite this phobia, Luke has enough knowledge and interest to act as an amateur meteorologist.
It takes a long time to get into the storyline. To begin with there is so much going on – dog breeding and training, starting to work with Willajean and her daughter Megan, feelings of guilt about mother’s death, fear of storms – making it difficult to determine which parts are essential to the plot, and more importantly, figure out the plot in the first place. Three months rapidly fly by, which in a short novel does not leave much room for an exciting climax, yet nothing major occurs.
Perhaps only the adult reader will detect the dullness Storm Watcher exudes, whereas when seen through a child’s eyes the story may be more exciting. Snyder has included a few interesting concepts such as over coming fear, dealing with grief and standing up for yourself. All these ideas are important for young people to understand and utilize in their own lives. The topic of meteorology, on the other hand, is not something children need to know, however it may interest them and provide the opportunity to learn something new. The author used to be a meteorologist before she turned to the world of literature, therefore has been able to provide a vast amount of knowledge about storms and weather, including a lengthy list of facts at the back of the book.
Maria V. Snyder’s young adult novels are well known throughout online communities, therefore Storm Watcher, although written for a younger target audience, had a standard to live up to. Unfortunately the result was disappointing, slow and a struggle to read. The book contains interesting ideas; however these could be expanded on to create a more engaging, full-length novel.
February 22, 2014
Maria V. Snyder is one of my favorite and highly recommended authors, so when I heard about Storm Watcher, I was excited to see what her first middle grade fiction would be like. Storm Watcher is about Luke Riley, who feels responsible for his mother's death, who was killed in a storm while driving to pick him up because of his fear of bad weather. Luke's father is one of the best search and rescue teams, with their oldest bloodhound dog. When Luke decides he would rather have a different kind of dog, his father is upset. Both of his brothers have bloodhounds as does his father.
Luke lies and says he will take a bloodhound for his birthday and ends up working on a dog kennel to help afford one of the best. Secretly, he still plans on getting a petite Papillion, but cannot seem to approach his father on the topic. Thanks to his time at the kennel, he becomes fast friends with a girl his age – Megan, who has a passion for dogs and hopes to be one of the best search and rescue teams when she grows up.
Luke is full of secrets, as all budding teenagers are, but the worst secret is his guilt that he was the reason his mother died. His father shuts down every time her name is said, or memories are shared. His own brothers are close to each other, but have no time or kind words for Luke. To Luke, this just confirms his fears that his whole family blames him for their mother's accident.
Storm Watcher is a book about growing up, facing fears and what forgiveness really means. I love the mix of weather within the book, as Maria's other series deal with manipulation of the elements. Although her books are usually fantasy, I found it refreshing to read a contemporary story about a boy who needs to find and forgive himself. I felt really moved throughout the story and came close to tears several times. Megan is a vibrant character who really helps Luke to step out of his shell and forget his worries. She has her own troubles and concerns, but I love how kick butt she was as a character.
Overall, Storm Watcher was everything I wanted it to be. There was a lot of conflict, great character building and some touching moments that really broke my heart. If you're a dog lover, you are sure to enjoy this as well.
Check out The Book Monsters for more reviews.
Luke lies and says he will take a bloodhound for his birthday and ends up working on a dog kennel to help afford one of the best. Secretly, he still plans on getting a petite Papillion, but cannot seem to approach his father on the topic. Thanks to his time at the kennel, he becomes fast friends with a girl his age – Megan, who has a passion for dogs and hopes to be one of the best search and rescue teams when she grows up.
Luke is full of secrets, as all budding teenagers are, but the worst secret is his guilt that he was the reason his mother died. His father shuts down every time her name is said, or memories are shared. His own brothers are close to each other, but have no time or kind words for Luke. To Luke, this just confirms his fears that his whole family blames him for their mother's accident.
Storm Watcher is a book about growing up, facing fears and what forgiveness really means. I love the mix of weather within the book, as Maria's other series deal with manipulation of the elements. Although her books are usually fantasy, I found it refreshing to read a contemporary story about a boy who needs to find and forgive himself. I felt really moved throughout the story and came close to tears several times. Megan is a vibrant character who really helps Luke to step out of his shell and forget his worries. She has her own troubles and concerns, but I love how kick butt she was as a character.
Overall, Storm Watcher was everything I wanted it to be. There was a lot of conflict, great character building and some touching moments that really broke my heart. If you're a dog lover, you are sure to enjoy this as well.
Check out The Book Monsters for more reviews.
September 9, 2016
Playing Jokers Blog: all sutis of genres and bookish news
When I reached Ms. Snyder in the autographing line, I gushed, “I loved the Study series! I’m excited for this book!” Her eyes paused over me for a moment longer than what was necessarily comfortable or expected and she said, “This book is nothing like the Study series.” I was taken a little aback and mumbled an, “Oh, okay! Well I’m looking forward to it.” She signed the book and I quickly walked away, a little ashamed and red in the face.
I couldn’t get that memory out of my mind when I picked up Storm Watcher to begin reading. But it really didn’t take long to understand the merit behind what she had said. Storm Watcher is not the Study series. I haven’t read her other books, but I would assume that it varies from them as well. Storm Watcher is a middle grade contemporary story about a boy dealing with loss and finding love where he had grown to accept its loss.
Storm Watcher is written in that simple and yet artful style that first made me love the Study series. Luke has lost his mother and is grappling with the loss. He is terrified of storms in a family of search and rescue dog trainers. He wants a Papillion instead of another Bloodhound in his family.
I’m a twenty-something year old woman and I loved the book despite it being meant for 9-14 year old. The weather symbols to describe different things and what was happening were really artful. It really shows what an experienced writer Ms. Snyder is. It also made a lot more sense once I read Ms. Snyder’s new bio about being a meteorologist—you can totally see the connection with the details. It was an intelligent read that did not speak down to the reader. The drama was real; it was something that I was instantly relatable despite never having been in a similar situation.
I would definitely recommend this book for children, and really anyone who can appreciate a middle grade book. I would also recommend having a dog to cuddle with while enjoying the story. It really makes you pine for one.
Playing Jokers | all suits of genres and bookish news
When I reached Ms. Snyder in the autographing line, I gushed, “I loved the Study series! I’m excited for this book!” Her eyes paused over me for a moment longer than what was necessarily comfortable or expected and she said, “This book is nothing like the Study series.” I was taken a little aback and mumbled an, “Oh, okay! Well I’m looking forward to it.” She signed the book and I quickly walked away, a little ashamed and red in the face.
I couldn’t get that memory out of my mind when I picked up Storm Watcher to begin reading. But it really didn’t take long to understand the merit behind what she had said. Storm Watcher is not the Study series. I haven’t read her other books, but I would assume that it varies from them as well. Storm Watcher is a middle grade contemporary story about a boy dealing with loss and finding love where he had grown to accept its loss.
Storm Watcher is written in that simple and yet artful style that first made me love the Study series. Luke has lost his mother and is grappling with the loss. He is terrified of storms in a family of search and rescue dog trainers. He wants a Papillion instead of another Bloodhound in his family.
I’m a twenty-something year old woman and I loved the book despite it being meant for 9-14 year old. The weather symbols to describe different things and what was happening were really artful. It really shows what an experienced writer Ms. Snyder is. It also made a lot more sense once I read Ms. Snyder’s new bio about being a meteorologist—you can totally see the connection with the details. It was an intelligent read that did not speak down to the reader. The drama was real; it was something that I was instantly relatable despite never having been in a similar situation.
I would definitely recommend this book for children, and really anyone who can appreciate a middle grade book. I would also recommend having a dog to cuddle with while enjoying the story. It really makes you pine for one.
Playing Jokers | all suits of genres and bookish news
September 13, 2016
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the synopsis. I knew it was written by one of my favorite writers, Maria V. Snyder. (If you haven’t checked out her Healer series, my personal favorite, then you should run out and grab them now!) I knew it was middle grade, and it was about dogs and the weather. It turned out to be so much more.
Having just lost his mother, Luke and his brothers live with their father who is a famous Search and Rescue leader. There’s a lot of family dynamics that are brewing just under the surface. Whether that’s Luke struggling with his own guilt and demons, or his interactions with his bullying brothers, or even his thin relationship with his father, the is a lot of emotion going on in this book. Luke blames himself for his mother’s death and is sure that his family blames him too. That’s certainly a lot to place on a young kid, who has no friends and a large anxiety towards thunderstorms.
But Snyder handles gentle Luke’s character gracefully, allowing his insecurities and flaws to shine through. The family’s grief is dark cloud, floating in and out of the atmosphere of the tale, making the family and their challenges very real to me. I wanted to slap awake Dad and tell his brothers to shut up. And that’s the beauty of the story. It resonated with me because the characters are so real, their motivations so clearly sprung from their loss.
The secondary characters are fun and full of life. The story brought me in and held me there, my heart cracking slowly for Luke and warming for the dogs. I am a dog person. Yes, I have rabbits. But I am a dog person. Snyder brings all of the sweet dogs to the forefront, loyal heroes who add yet another layer of warmth to this world.
I really enjoyed Storm Watcher, reading it in two nights as soon as I got home from work. It’s a satisfying book about family, love and grief.
Rating 8 Cookie Worthy
Having just lost his mother, Luke and his brothers live with their father who is a famous Search and Rescue leader. There’s a lot of family dynamics that are brewing just under the surface. Whether that’s Luke struggling with his own guilt and demons, or his interactions with his bullying brothers, or even his thin relationship with his father, the is a lot of emotion going on in this book. Luke blames himself for his mother’s death and is sure that his family blames him too. That’s certainly a lot to place on a young kid, who has no friends and a large anxiety towards thunderstorms.
But Snyder handles gentle Luke’s character gracefully, allowing his insecurities and flaws to shine through. The family’s grief is dark cloud, floating in and out of the atmosphere of the tale, making the family and their challenges very real to me. I wanted to slap awake Dad and tell his brothers to shut up. And that’s the beauty of the story. It resonated with me because the characters are so real, their motivations so clearly sprung from their loss.
The secondary characters are fun and full of life. The story brought me in and held me there, my heart cracking slowly for Luke and warming for the dogs. I am a dog person. Yes, I have rabbits. But I am a dog person. Snyder brings all of the sweet dogs to the forefront, loyal heroes who add yet another layer of warmth to this world.
I really enjoyed Storm Watcher, reading it in two nights as soon as I got home from work. It’s a satisfying book about family, love and grief.
Rating 8 Cookie Worthy
March 12, 2015
Reviewed on behalf of Readers' Favorite
Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder is a coming-of-age young adult novel. While at a tracking competition, Luke Riley meets Willajean, a dog trainer and breeder. Luke’s father, a famous search and rescuer, wants Luke to have a bloodhound pup, like his brothers. Willajean agrees to let Luke work for her to pay for the puppy. However, Luke has his heart set on a Papillion. His mother said it would be the perfect dog for Luke, but since she passed away in a storm, Luke doesn’t have her to back him up. On top of all this, Luke lives with the fear of storms. Can he come to terms with his fears and overcome the thing that terrifies him most when it counts?
I was so very pleased to review this book by Miss Snyder. I enjoyed her Study series immensely so it was nice to read something a little different. It was nice to see a young, male main character as well because there are so few books out there with suitable role models for young boys. I loved the parts with the dogs and learning about search and rescue training. It was neat to see the author put into words her knowledge as a meteorologist. Learning about his fear helped Luke to fight past it and relieve himself of the blame from his mother’s death. Overall, this is an amazing read for adult or youth. Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder will show you that all things are possible if you’re willing to make the effort.
Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder is a coming-of-age young adult novel. While at a tracking competition, Luke Riley meets Willajean, a dog trainer and breeder. Luke’s father, a famous search and rescuer, wants Luke to have a bloodhound pup, like his brothers. Willajean agrees to let Luke work for her to pay for the puppy. However, Luke has his heart set on a Papillion. His mother said it would be the perfect dog for Luke, but since she passed away in a storm, Luke doesn’t have her to back him up. On top of all this, Luke lives with the fear of storms. Can he come to terms with his fears and overcome the thing that terrifies him most when it counts?
I was so very pleased to review this book by Miss Snyder. I enjoyed her Study series immensely so it was nice to read something a little different. It was nice to see a young, male main character as well because there are so few books out there with suitable role models for young boys. I loved the parts with the dogs and learning about search and rescue training. It was neat to see the author put into words her knowledge as a meteorologist. Learning about his fear helped Luke to fight past it and relieve himself of the blame from his mother’s death. Overall, this is an amazing read for adult or youth. Storm Watcher by Maria V. Snyder will show you that all things are possible if you’re willing to make the effort.
December 27, 2013
Full disclosure: the author is a friend of mine!
One of the best Christmas presents I get each year is one of Maria V. Snyder's books (Her daughter is my flute student--it's all about who you know!) This year, it was Storm Watcher.
Storm Watcher is about an 8th grade boy named Luke who lost his mother in a tragic accident involving severe weather. His father and older twin brothers have grown distant from Luke since the death, and Luke believes it's his fault. He gets a job working in a kennel and training search and rescue dogs to try to reconnect with his own feelings and with his own family.
I really enjoyed this and read it very quickly (it's geared toward middle grade readers). The details about the storms and search and rescue were very interesting, and there are some fun additional facts at the back of the book. What touched me most is when Luke has a realization about his mother regarding how she would spend money she was saving for herself on himself and his brothers instead (she called it her 'teapot' money). It reminded me as a parent that we sacrifice so much for our kids and think they don't know or appreciate it, when actually, they just might.
While this is very different from Maria's other books, I really enjoyed it. I think her fans will not be disappointed, and hopefully, she will find some new ones also!
One of the best Christmas presents I get each year is one of Maria V. Snyder's books (Her daughter is my flute student--it's all about who you know!) This year, it was Storm Watcher.
Storm Watcher is about an 8th grade boy named Luke who lost his mother in a tragic accident involving severe weather. His father and older twin brothers have grown distant from Luke since the death, and Luke believes it's his fault. He gets a job working in a kennel and training search and rescue dogs to try to reconnect with his own feelings and with his own family.
I really enjoyed this and read it very quickly (it's geared toward middle grade readers). The details about the storms and search and rescue were very interesting, and there are some fun additional facts at the back of the book. What touched me most is when Luke has a realization about his mother regarding how she would spend money she was saving for herself on himself and his brothers instead (she called it her 'teapot' money). It reminded me as a parent that we sacrifice so much for our kids and think they don't know or appreciate it, when actually, they just might.
While this is very different from Maria's other books, I really enjoyed it. I think her fans will not be disappointed, and hopefully, she will find some new ones also!
March 3, 2014
This is a book I want to share with my grandsons! It's well written and has lots of fascinating ideas about weather patterns (author Maria Snyder has a BS in meteorology) and just as many about training rescue dogs (don't know why the author knows so much about training dogs). Much different than Snyder's Young Adult fantasy books, Storm Watcher deals with a young boy's relationship with his father and brothers after their mother dies driving to pick him up in response to his fear of storms. For his thirteenth birthday, Luke wants a papillon pup but his dad wants him to get a bloodhound like everyone else in the family. He's pathologically afraid of storms but his dad thinks it is a stage he will grow out of. He's sure his brothers and his dad blame him for the death of their mom, and he actually blames himself as well. Where is the line between lies and standing up for yourself, between trying to reason with your dad and obeying him, between hiding your fears or dealing realistically with them? Nice story with interesting details about dogs and stormy weather and growing up.
January 4, 2014
This book was just...amazing. I'm really not into dogs or weather in general, but the author really came through on this one. I felt as thought she had solidly researched this story and was able to convey that through the story without the dreaded info-dumping that some authors seem to favor. This is definitely one I'll have to add to my collection!
September 20, 2014
Even though this is a middle grade book, I thoroughly enjoyed every page, as did my 12 year old. A great read and I learned a thing or two about lightening. I highly recommend this stand alone novel about an 8th grade boy and his fear of storms, that intensifies when his mother dies after being struck by lightening.
March 25, 2014
I can't wait to give this book to one of my students. He is a weather nut and I think he will enjoy the engaging story along with all of the references to weather. What a great way to weave science with fiction.
August 29, 2013
I can see this becoming a classic! Whilst it is nothing like her other works, it reminded me of days spend in my English class analyzing every little detail. I loved it!
Classic!
Classic!
April 4, 2014
This is a good book for preteens and teens to read. It helps them to understand that they can over come their fears.
May 2, 2014
A quick read and a good one. I love Maria Snyder and her writing. I great story about hope and overcoming your fears.
June 30, 2014
Realistic boy fiction that intertwines meteorology and rescue dog training. An excellent coming of age story that is well written without getting bogged down in details.
June 8, 2024
Well that book was devastating. I expected some emotions, but this book had me bawling on multiple occasions.
There wasn’t as much meteorology in here as I thought there would be going in. Lots of references to watching the weather channel, and a few lightning and thunder facts speckled in, but that was about it. There is an educational section at the end detailing different storms and weather and the conditions required, how they operate etc, but it’s not peppered throughout the book. It’s more about training rescue dogs and unresolved trauma.
There’s a lot of issues in here being dealt with, but it shows you, not tells you about them. And I think that makes all the difference.
It’s a Bridge to Teribithia inspired sort of book, but he finds solace at the dog breeders’ farm with his new friend, and nobody dies at the end.
There wasn’t as much meteorology in here as I thought there would be going in. Lots of references to watching the weather channel, and a few lightning and thunder facts speckled in, but that was about it. There is an educational section at the end detailing different storms and weather and the conditions required, how they operate etc, but it’s not peppered throughout the book. It’s more about training rescue dogs and unresolved trauma.
There’s a lot of issues in here being dealt with, but it shows you, not tells you about them. And I think that makes all the difference.
It’s a Bridge to Teribithia inspired sort of book, but he finds solace at the dog breeders’ farm with his new friend, and nobody dies at the end.
May 15, 2023
Maria is my top author, and I loved, loved this book!
It's different from what I usually read and from the other books of hers that I've read.
But this real-world story has left me not only learning about weather events (thanks Maria), but had me trapped to the book, feeling for these characters, these people...
Facing fears, friendship, family issues that get resolved, and death. All relevant to our lives, in one way or another.
Oh. And Dogs!
Thanks for teaching me how to say Papillion too 🤣🤣
Took less than two days to read, cover to cover (Luke's weather guide at the end was a great addition). And it flew by, with a few breaks - you know, my job and all...
Just trust me, and read it...
It's different from what I usually read and from the other books of hers that I've read.
But this real-world story has left me not only learning about weather events (thanks Maria), but had me trapped to the book, feeling for these characters, these people...
Facing fears, friendship, family issues that get resolved, and death. All relevant to our lives, in one way or another.
Oh. And Dogs!
Thanks for teaching me how to say Papillion too 🤣🤣
Took less than two days to read, cover to cover (Luke's weather guide at the end was a great addition). And it flew by, with a few breaks - you know, my job and all...
Just trust me, and read it...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews