City of the Dead: Galveston Hurricane, 1900

Gr 5–8—On September 8th, 1900, Galveston, Texas, was hit with one of the worst natural disasters in history as a hurricane roared through the city and nearly swept it right off the map. An estimated 8000 people were killed and property damage is estimated at almost $100 billion (adjusted 2005 USD). This novel centers on Daisy Thorne, a resident of the ill-fated Lucas Terrace; Dr. Sam Young, an amateur meteorologist; and Albert Campbell, an orphan from St. Mary's Orphanage, and follows their efforts to survive the disaster and what they witnessed and endured while doing so. Anderson does an excellent job of telling the story and weaving actual events into his fictionalized account. Readers will understand the epic nature of this storm and feel genuine pathos for these people and what they went through. Small black-and-white reproductions show the aftermath of the storm. This is a highly accessible entry point for kids trying to understand and put meaning to some of the recent natural disasters that have struck our country as well as a vivid account of one of our nation's worst.—Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TX