Historical Fiction
I Survived! The Joplin
Tornado, 2011
Lauren Tarshis
Illustrated by: Scott
Dawson
On May 22, 2011, “the sky
exploded like a bomb.” The story begins with a third person summary of what
occurred the minute the storm hit in Joplin, Missouri. Grabbing the audience with
fabulously descriptive word choice and suspense. In the next chapter, we go
back in time to the day before the tornado. Dexter is like any other middle
school age boy. He feels like an outsider and misses his best friend Dylan, who
is in sports. Dex also worries about his brother, Jeremy, who is a Navy SEAL away
on a mission. A distracted Dex is riding his bike and nearly gets hit by a car.
The driver happens to be one of Dex’s father’s college pals and a storm chaser,
Dr. Gage. Dex has always wanted to see a tornado and convinces his parents to
let him chase a storm with Dr. Gage. The next day Dex goes out with Dr. Gage
while his parents (teachers) attend graduation. While driving, Dex learns about
super cells and ways that storm chasers are looking to find information about
tornadoes to help save lives. The storm catches up on them quickly and they are
hit hard. Luckily a fence holds their vehicle, but Dr. Gage is badly injured
and Dex uses First Aid to save him. Dex finds his home is demolished but his
family is safe. Jeremy makes contact and sends his SEAL pin to show how proud
he is of Dex. The community comes together to rebuild and Dylan and Dex rebuild
their friendship. This story is told in real terms with the harsh realities
described with similes and metaphors to help the reader connect with the events
and characters. The plot is engaging to all ages, as I myself didn’t put the
book down.
BIBLIO: 2015, Scholastic, Ages 8 to 12, $3.74.
REVIEWED BY: Jennifer Debo
Format: chapter book
ISBN: 9780545658485
If you are looking for additional resources to accompany this story, or references for your students...
I recommend the following video clip and a non-fiction book to help support students’ understanding of this story. Connections can be made to your science curriculum as well. With the video the students can get a real-life look at the before and after from such a horrific storm and how incredible it is to have survived such a thing. The non-fiction book will provide students with factual information about how we believe these storms are formed as well as other first-hand accounts of what it is like to live through a tornado.
If you are looking for additional resources to accompany this story, or references for your students...
I recommend the following video clip and a non-fiction book to help support students’ understanding of this story. Connections can be made to your science curriculum as well. With the video the students can get a real-life look at the before and after from such a horrific storm and how incredible it is to have survived such a thing. The non-fiction book will provide students with factual information about how we believe these storms are formed as well as other first-hand accounts of what it is like to live through a tornado.
Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTKfdEIXD18 –This video clip shows
the devastating before and after photos as well as a gas station similar to the
one illustrated in the I Survived book.
Hunt, D. (2011, June 18).
Joplin tornado before & after. Retrieved February 07, 2018, from
 This book includes how storms are formed, true stories
from those who have lived through tornadoes, as well as historical facts
about these storms. |
Fradin, J.B., &
Fradin, D.B. (2011). Tornado!: the story behind these twisting, turning,
spinning,
and spiraling storms. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.
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