Blizzard!: A Survive! Story (Jake Maddox Sports Stories)

by Jake Maddox, Sean Tiffany (Illustrator)

They were supposed to be attending a volunteer dinner in their honor, but instead, Owen and Gray have been stranded in the middle of a raging blizzard. Once the storm subsides, the boys decide to try to find their way back to civilization. But with no food or water, freezing temperatures, and no help in sight, both boys begin to lose hope. Can they make it safely home, or will the frozen elements become too much for them to handle?

Genres: Young Adult, Adventure

65 pages, Library Binding

First published October 19, 2008

About the author

Who is Jake Maddox? Athlete, author, world-traveler–or all three? He has surfed in Hawaii, scuba-dived in Australia, and climbed the mountains of Peru and Alaska. His books range from the most popular team sports to outdoor activities to survival adventures and even to auto racing. His exploits have inspired numerous writers to walk in his footsteps–literally! Each of his stories is stamped with teamwork, fair play, and a strong sense of self-worth and discipline. Always a team-player, Maddox realizes it takes more than one man (or woman) to create a book good enough for a young reader. He hopes the lessons learned on the court, field, or arena and the champion sprinter pace of his books can motivate kids to become better athletes and lifelong readers.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This high interest/low reading level book features teenage boys surviving a blizzard. The story is a mere 65 pages with large font and plenty of white space and black and white illustrations. This is followed by a glossary, discussion questions, information about historical blizzards, survival tips, writing prompts and internet sites.
Aimed at struggling older readers, the book can also be enjoyed by upper elementary ages students who like survival stories.
Reading level: O, A.R. 3.1

[Ilse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lol Im tutoring so we had to read this.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read for children. Quite enjoyable.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my childhood favorites (maybe part of the reason I’m obsessed with horror stories set in snowy places).

[Hugh Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

This book review is about Blizzard a scientific fiction book written by Jake Maddox. In this story; two boys, Owen and Gray, both were heading to the airport so they could go to the Extreme Community Service Awards Dinner for America’s Teen Heros. This dinner was occurring in Burlington, Vermont. This dinner was for the teens that had done a lot of community service. Community service is things people do to help the people around them.

After Owen and Gray landed in Burlington, Vermont. They both got the same taxi. It was taking them to the awards dinner. On their way to the dinner a blizzard came. The car was buried under the snow. The driver, Jerry, got out of the car and went to get help. Owen and Gray stayed in the car. After a few hours the car turned off. When the car had turned off they got out and got their suitcases. They opened the car door and got back in. They ate some of the snacks and took the rest with them. They put their extra clothes on. Then they got out of the car to go be sure Jerry was ok. When they got out the ground was covered in snow. They wandered around for hours. Then they realized it was getting dark so they needed to find a shelter. They found a cliff overhang. They put pine straw on the ground to keep the ground from freezing them. They also made a wall of sticks that fell during the night. The next morning they went exploring again. They found an open clearing. Gray walked around the snow to make a big “HELP”. They they found a dry spot under a pine tree. They waited there until a helicopter came by. When the helicopter came by they stopped and picked up Gray and Owen. They were taken to the hospital to recover from the cold.

My personal favorite parts of this book are when Owen and Gray have to use their knowledge of the outdoors to build a shelter and successfully make it through the night out in the woods when no one knows where they are. Also I like how Owen was encouraging Gray to push through the cold at the beginning of the story and how Gray returned the favor by encouraging Owen to push through the cold. This book reminds me of a series of books called “Stranded”. In “Stranded”, a group of children are stranded on an island and have to survive. Just like Owen and Gray had to survive in the cold outside.

This book was amazing. I recommend it to everyone who wants to read an adventurous story. I give this book a 5/5.

[Marta-Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

On their way to a community service awards dinner, sixteen-year-olds Owen and Gray become stranded on the side of a Vermont highway in the middle of a massive blizzard. The boys venture out in search of safety and find themselves lost in the bitter storm without food and water. In order to survive they must work together using little knowledge of proper survival tactics which helps produce realistic distress and actions. The black and white illustrations are reminiscent of manga and appear every few pages, enhancing various scenes described in the text. A glossary, survival tips, and brief information about major blizzards that have occurred in the United States conclude the book. The book makes a great selection for struggling readers due to its short paragraphs and additional white space surrounding the text. Recommended for ages 9 thru 14.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just read this book called Blizzard by Jake Maddox. There are these two kids called Owen and Gray they are the main characters. Owen and Gray are supposed to be at an awards dinner. But instead of being at the awards dinner they got stranded in this blizzard. They were making a wall in a cave to block the wind and snow from them while both boys were tired the cold tempratures kept them awake. They were asleep as the sticks make a crack and wake them up and it falls. Both of them fall back to sleep when they woke up in the morning they looked around and saw an opening where they went to find help. This book is very good if u like mystery and short books.

[Berkeley Poder · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Owen and Gray were going to attending a volunteer dinner in honor ,but instead they get stuck inside of tax driver's tax car.They stuck in the middle of the road with the snow building high and the window down they were stuck inside a tax with the engine running trying to keep Owen and Gray warm instead of freezing inside of a tax.When the engine ran out of gas.They ran out of the tax to try and see were Jerry was. They were stuck in the middle of no were.Will Owen and Gray be safe or will they by stuck in the middle of a lot of snow.



Blizzard is by:Ricardo

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love that Jake Maddox books are the perfect reading level for those in-between readers. The sports books hooked the kids and now thy live these survival stories like they're the next iPod. But for a book called "Blizzard!," I felt absolutely nothing during the entire length of this book. Having a lower reading level doesn't mean the book can't be deep and gripping.
2.5 stars, with a bit of a bump up because my reluctant readers can't get enough of these books.

[Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a good book.That two kids get trapted in a blizzard and have to survive.

[Kelsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book felt like you were there in the blizzard with them.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great survival story for younger readers! Jake Maddox books are winners every time.

[Berkeley Poder · Rating 5 out of 5]

They were supposed to be attending a volunteer dinner in their honer ,but insted , Owen Gray have been stranded in the middle of a raging blizzard . once the storm by mario

[Texas State Poder · Rating 4 out of 5]

once there were tow boys named cavin and owin and they are trying to find civilization ut it is like a challenge because they have no food or watter also thay are in freeing tempther

[Paige Y. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent example of a hi-low book.