Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Square Fish (2014), Edition: Reprint, 160 pages
Description
Recounts the story from World War I in which two towns were leveled and almost two thousand people killed following the collision of two warships in Halifax Harbour and a blizzard that dumped over a foot of snow in the area.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Crazymamie
This was well done. I had not heard about this disaster before Julia chose an article about it as a feature for her Clickbait! last year, which was the 100th anniversary of the explosion. She mentioned this book in her post, so I requested it from the library, and I'm glad I did. Walker writes for
Walker does an excellent job of filling in the blanks - she starts before the explosion, giving us a background of the town and its inhabitants, then leads us up to and through the events. It's an amazing story, and part of what got to me was that there were so many survivors left with lifetime mysteries about what happened to their loved ones. Homes were destroyed, bodies were burned too badly to be recognized and identified, many babies that survived but had been separated from their families were difficult to identify.
The depth of the devastation meant that survivors needing medical attention were sent wherever there was room for them, making it hard for loved ones to reunite with them. Heartbreaking. It's an amazing story, and Walker does a very good job of disseminating the available information into a thoughtful narrative. Highly recommended, but keep in mind that it was written for a younger audience.
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the middleschool crowd, I am guessing, but it does not lesson the impact of this story. In fact, it makes it the perfect introduction to the incident. She includes lots of maps, photos, and diagrams, making it easy to follow the action and to identify with the victims. What happened is that through a series of miscommunications and bad decision making, two ships collided in the Narrows section of the Halifax Harbour on December 6, 1917. Because we were in the midst of WWI, one of the ships was loaded with munitions but not identified as such because that would be like painting a target on the side of it. The other ship was loaded with relief supplies. Because no one in the town knew about the dangerous cargo, the townspeople ran towards the ship wreck, not away from it. One fact that stuck with me is that "it was the largest manmade explosion that had ever occurred. It remained so until August 6, 1945, when the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, during WWII." Staggering. The explosion caused a shockwave and a tsunami, resulting in further death and devastation. As if that were not enough chaos, the very next day there was a blizzard. Walker does an excellent job of filling in the blanks - she starts before the explosion, giving us a background of the town and its inhabitants, then leads us up to and through the events. It's an amazing story, and part of what got to me was that there were so many survivors left with lifetime mysteries about what happened to their loved ones. Homes were destroyed, bodies were burned too badly to be recognized and identified, many babies that survived but had been separated from their families were difficult to identify.
The depth of the devastation meant that survivors needing medical attention were sent wherever there was room for them, making it hard for loved ones to reunite with them. Heartbreaking. It's an amazing story, and Walker does a very good job of disseminating the available information into a thoughtful narrative. Highly recommended, but keep in mind that it was written for a younger audience.
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LibraryThing member Copperskye
On Dec. 6, 1917, thousands of miles and an ocean away from the WWI front, an explosion flattened a harbor city and killed nearly 2,000 people.
Halifax, Nova Scotia was a busy, important port during WWI when two ships bound for that conflict, one carrying relief supplies and the other loaded with
Blizzard of Glass was a fascinating, non-fiction account of a tragic event many people, perhaps Canadians excluded, may know little about
Halifax, Nova Scotia was a busy, important port during WWI when two ships bound for that conflict, one carrying relief supplies and the other loaded with
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TNT and benzene, collided in the harbor, setting off a horrific explosion. Walker tells of the ships, the collision and subsequent explosion, and the relief and recovery efforts. The narrative also follows five families who were living in Halifax that day. She uses a variety of source documents, including historical photos and maps which help to give the narrative a breathtaking, you-are-there feel. Although written as a YA book, aside from sometimes explaining words an adult might not need to have explained (i.e. the word alliance as in European Alliance), it doesn’t necessarily read like one. It can be just as informative for adults as it is for young adults.Blizzard of Glass was a fascinating, non-fiction account of a tragic event many people, perhaps Canadians excluded, may know little about
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LibraryThing member phebj
This book is very well done but you are periodically reminded that it’s a YA book because the author defines a lot of terms an adult would know. Other than that, I found it a very engaging telling of this historical event with lots of pictures and a couple of maps to illustrate what happened
The explosion was caused by the collision of two ships in Halifax Harbour on December 6, 1917, one of which was loaded with benzene and TNT and bound for the front lines of WWI in Europe. It was the biggest man-made explosion prior to the detonation of the atomic bomb in 1945 and not only caused all the windows of the buildings to become a “blizzard of glass” but flattened most of the two towns on either side of the harbour, poured down a black rain onto the survivors, and created a tsunami. As if that weren’t enough, two back to back blizzards delayed the arrival of help.
It’s ultimately a story of survival however about how the two towns affected were able to rebuild and the survivors to go on with their lives.
A quick read recommended for those interested in history and/or disasters.
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which I always appreciate.The explosion was caused by the collision of two ships in Halifax Harbour on December 6, 1917, one of which was loaded with benzene and TNT and bound for the front lines of WWI in Europe. It was the biggest man-made explosion prior to the detonation of the atomic bomb in 1945 and not only caused all the windows of the buildings to become a “blizzard of glass” but flattened most of the two towns on either side of the harbour, poured down a black rain onto the survivors, and created a tsunami. As if that weren’t enough, two back to back blizzards delayed the arrival of help.
It’s ultimately a story of survival however about how the two towns affected were able to rebuild and the survivors to go on with their lives.
A quick read recommended for those interested in history and/or disasters.
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LibraryThing member smheatherly2
Very interesting, quick read nonfiction book about a little known explosion in Halifax, Nova Scotia during WWI. Great pictures and the inclusion of following families throughout and after the destruction help to bring to life who devastating the explosion was to the city.
LibraryThing member hailelib
When I saw this mentioned on LT it sounded really interesting and it was. Blizzard of Glass is a piece of history that I had never heard of and is not well known outside of the region in which it happened. Even though aid came from all over to help the victims, this disaster dropped out of the
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consciousness of most of North America as other disasters occurred. Ms. Walker presents an engrossing account of the place, the people, and the causes of the accident that led to a massive explosion that totally destroyed large areas of Halifax and Dartmouth. The aftermath is also fully covered and the text is supplemented with many photographs.. Definitely recommended for everyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member tahayes
It is so difficult to find engaging, informative books for youth about Canadian history, but Sally M. Walker has managed to create just that! Few Canadians know about the Halifax Explosion of 1917, with thousands of Haligonians killed or maimed, and massive loss of homes and businesses. Walker's
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retelling of this event is well-researched, with many personal recollections and individual stories included in the text. Historic photographs add to the authenticity and poignancy of the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
A fascinating chronicle of the catastrophe and its human toll.
LibraryThing member KilmerMSLibrary
On December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax Harbor. With one ship loaded with munitions and one with medical supplies, the resulting blast flattened two towns and killed nearly 2,000 people. With a blizzard hitting the very next day, relief efforts were almost paralyzed. This book contains
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many illustrations, firsthand accounts, and other primary sources from this unbelievable tragedy Show Less
LibraryThing member LibraryCin
On Dec 6, 1917, there was an explosion in the Halifax Harbour. Around 2000 people were killed and many more injured.
This book is aimed toward younger readers, but I found it a good introduction. There are also plenty of archival photos included. The author decided to tell the stories of a few
I did know of the explosion, but this is the first I’ve read about it, to really get more info/details on it. I already have other books on my tbr about the topic, as well. I thought this book was very well done. (Hate to say I “really liked” a book about a disaster, though I’m sure I have before!)
This book is aimed toward younger readers, but I found it a good introduction. There are also plenty of archival photos included. The author decided to tell the stories of a few
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specific families – to follow what happened to the people in those families, what they were doing at the time, etc. I do think this makes the book more “relatable”. I did know of the explosion, but this is the first I’ve read about it, to really get more info/details on it. I already have other books on my tbr about the topic, as well. I thought this book was very well done. (Hate to say I “really liked” a book about a disaster, though I’m sure I have before!)
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LibraryThing member electrascaife
A nonfiction book on the 1917 Halifax explosion, geared toward middle grade.
An interesting account of the event, and although I would have liked a bit more detail, I think it is perfectly done for its intended audience.
An interesting account of the event, and although I would have liked a bit more detail, I think it is perfectly done for its intended audience.
Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2014)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
Parents' Choice Book Award (2012)
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction (Nominee — 2013)
Notable Children's Book (2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
160 p.; 7.92 inches
ISBN
9781250040084