The Children's Blizzard | 
pickThe story of a prairie snowstorm that killed hundreds of newly arrived settlers on the American frontier in 1888. NF that reads like a novel. Nice mix of personal accounts, politics, and science. Weather nerds like myself should enjoy it . Obviously, so much progress has been made in meteorological science in the last 120 years, and for this, i am grateful. What a tragedy. 4 ❄️.
pickFinally knocked it off my #TBR! Laskin's account is hugely compelling for the most part - it slowed for me in the sections devoted to some pretty detailed meteorology. But on the whole, it's a harrowing account of a tragic, unforseen event in the midst of what was already a fairly grueling and bleak existence for so many. I appreciated the nods to Laura Ingalls Wilder without letting her stories, so well-known to me, overtake any of the narrative.
I've been really wanting to read these as companion pieces, and January seemed like the time to do it! Though the two books are not about the same events (Laura's "Hard Winter" was 1881, while the Children's Blizzard came seven years later), they seemed like great books to read in tandem. Also curious to know if there are any other "Little House" kids who LOVE The Long Winter as an adult? No? Just me...? #CurrentlyReading
@BookwormAHN Ashley! I can barely fit it all in one picture! Thank you so much. I love it all. The socks are perfect. Coffee, tea, chocolate, all my favorite things! Gingerbread cookie KitKats I‘ve never heard of and sound amazing. The books are great picks! I always love a journal. Happy New Year to you! 🥳🎉📚#WinterWonderlandSwap
I picked up this book with no idea what it was about. Turns out it's a historical account of an incredibly deadly blizzard that happened where I currently live. 😅 Honestly appropriate given the insane weather we've had.
I hope every one is staying toasty & reading lots of good books!!
pick• TBR since April 14, 2020
#StoryGraph: nonfiction historical history informative sad slow-paced
336 pages | first published 2004
The Schoolhouse Blizzard, also known as the Schoolchildren's Blizzard, School Children's Blizzard, or Children's Blizzard, hit the U.S. plains states on January 12, 1888. The blizzard came unexpectedly on a relatively warm day, and many people were caught unaware, including children in one-room schoolhouses.
Copper Harbor, MI is the teeniest town- with an incredibly lovely and well-stacked bookstore! I love a surprise indie bookstore discovery, and this one fit the bill. Definitely take the time to visit Grandpa's Barn if you're out on the Keweenaw. #BookHaul #MittenLitten #PureMichigan
pickThe nonfiction accounts of the 1888 weather event that killed many children so horribly. Science, the evolution of weather as science, was explained. The history of emigration from the Scandinavian nations was given. Even Greeley, the leader of the failed North Pole expedition, was researched. Heartbreaking stories. I really do want to read the fiction too. #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks #Nonfiction2022 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa #Booked2022
pickI picked up for my nonfiction Nebraska read & it is one harrowing tale! A blizzard hits the US hard in Jan. 1888 and hundreds of people freeze to death when trapped in the storm. The writing is very similar to Erik Larson‘s Isaac‘s Storm and those who love the detailed weather forecasts will not be disappointed. The loss of life is heartbreaking, as is each family‘s story. Highly recommended for those who love historic nonfiction.
pickI‘ve lived in Nebraska my entire life so I‘ve always known about the 1888 blizzard (there‘s even a mural about it in the capitol) but hearing the whole story is so much more heartbreaking and rage-inducing.
Thousands of people, mostly children, died in a freak blizzard across the northern plains in Jan 1888. The budding national weather service didn‘t seem to care to warn people until the cold threatened cash crops in the south.
pickHistorical telling of the great blizzard of 1888. History of weather forecasts, the people who came to America who wanted to settle in the Great Plains, the scientific facts of freezing and the body. First part is family backgrounds but once they settle, you learn about the hardships to survive. Didn‘t know that happened!
pickSad story of one of the worst blizzards to hit ND/the Midwest in history. Jan. 12th, 1888: On a day that started out warm & sunny after days of gray & brutal cold, children went to one room school houses w/o hats and mittens, pioneers ventured further outside with such nice weather. The storm barreled in during early afternoon without warning and overtook everything. Hundreds were stranded & trapped. Of those who died, many were children.
The first big storm of this winter. Hunkered down with homemade chicken gnocchi soup and listening to a book set in my area 131 years ago. Thankful for all my comforts and modern day meteorologists.
This non-fiction book is a compelling read. Highly recommend.
Another disaster title that I think is fantastic is “The Worst Hard Time.”
#keeplitsyalive #disasters
1. I‘m in between books at the moment and very open to suggestions!
2. Doesn‘t matter in the least - and I always have an #audiobook going, too.
3. everything by Jane Austen
#weekendreads
@rachelsbrittain
pickI almost gave this a so-so. Almost. The first 100 pages were very slow building. But, the tragic events that unfold on January 12, 1888 read almost like fiction...but it‘s not. So much went wrong during this blizzard, and so many children were trapped in it. I wanted to cry in parts. Definitely worth reading!
Nearly 6 hours into #25infive
I only managed 16 minutes of reading yesterday, but have high hopes for a lot of reading this weekend. Snuggled up with #Zeke to continue this book. #catsoflitsy #25infive
Gro Rollag is a woman after my own heart - and I‘m sure we can all relate!
This is due at the library in a few days...better start it tonight!
The Blizzard Of 1888 brought devastation and loss. Laskin recounts the deaths of 100 children, caught in the blizzard. I have this checked out from the library and plan to read it soonish. #WinterKills #WinterWonderland
The books I got from the bookstore yesterday. Everyone was expecting a giant stack but I tend to just buy what I know I might not find at the library easily. I didn‘t love the first Joan Anderson book I read but am willing to give her another whirl.
pickI live in Ohio, so I know snow. But this—damn. 1888. Great Plains. January 12 starts of mildly, so much so that kids are thrilled to be walking to school without coats. The weather all of a sudden takes a drastic turn and the blizzard from hell erupts. Wind and snow so strong you can‘t see a thing. Dubbed the Children‘s Blizzard because so many kids perished on their way home from school, it wreaked havoc on the immigrant population. Tragic.
"According to family lore, she was not the most conscientious housekeeper because she preferred reading to housework."
Girl, I can relate!!!
#bookquote #lovetoread #booksandcoffee
This book would be fantastic if I was more interested in weather patterns. I may or may not have skipped some pages that didn't have anything to do with the first hand experiences of the blizzard. 🙈
This is our backyard now, and it‘s still coming down. My office didn‘t close 🤦🏻♀️ but I chose to work from home. So I don‘t really have a snow day, but I get to work in a sweatshirt so that‘s something. 😀
so-soThe blizzard of January 12, 1888 is almost a backdrop to the story of the beginnings of the U.S. weather service (part of the Signal Corps at this point) than a story of the blizzard. While it was compelling at times, some chapters got bogged down in jargon-filled weather forecasting descriptions. Some judicious editing might have helped keep it moving.
Picking a favorite is difficult, but this is my currently most-used mug. And yes, my husband has the Mr. cardinal. #favoritemugwithbooks #decinbooks17 @bookisglee
Started this today while waiting for youngest child to arrive. So far, it‘s making me cold. 😉
Day 25 #riotgrams #truestories. True stories of the storm that devastated the Great Plains on January 12,1888. It remains one of the worst storms to ever hit the region, killing hundreds of people, mostly children, and thousands of livestock. Within decades 70% of the pioneers would leave the plains, defeated by the harsh climate and the lasting emotional impact of the storm. One of the best non fiction books I've read.
Oh these daily deals! I don't even know how many unread books I have on my Kindle by now.
Picked this up at my local library tonight. Ice storm expected here this weekend, thought it was appropriate.......then I saw the date of this event when I got home!
I don't care what my app says, it's snowing and blowing and oh so cold. Getting ready to leave work and make yet another stop at the store. I think tonight calls for pizza bread!
pickThis book really worked to tell the whole story, beginning with the impacted settlers before they immigrated to tha Dakota Territory, Nebraska, and Minnesota, to explain how the weather systems produced the devastating blizzard, and the level of forecasting and information distribution available at the time, and wrapping up with the longer term impacts and realizations. It was very comprehensive and engaging.
"A peculiar 'hush' prevailed over everything. In the next minute the sky was completely overcast by a heavy black cloud... with such violence...."
Oh man. Picked this non-fiction up on the recommendation of my YA librarian, who's using it as one of the suggested books for a high school program. "More than a hundred children lay dead" on the prairie really gets your attention. 1888 was a bad year.
