Oklahoma's Devastating May 2013 Tornado
From the Series Code Red
May 20, 2013, began as a normal day at Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma. Just before 3:00 p.m., a loud siren went off—a tornado was coming! Students and teachers raced to find shelter from the massive twister. The storm violently shook the school. Its powerful, swirling winds tore the roof off the building and caused some of the school’s walls to collapse. Would the students and teachers inside survive the storm’s fury? Oklahoma’s Devastating May 2013 Tornado is a heart-stopping account of the tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma, and nearby areas—from its origins as a thunderstorm to its transformation into a huge twister and, finally, to the people’s heroic efforts to rebuild after the destruction.
Captivating, first-person accounts of survivors, including a teacher who risked her life to save her students and a couple who helped rescue people trapped by the monster storm, bring this dramatic tale to life. Large, color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the true stories of bravery and heroism. Written in narrative format, this book is sure to draw readers in and hold them tight.
| Interest Level | Grade 2 - Grade 7 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 4 |
| Category | Nonfiction |
| Subject | History, Social Studies |
| Copyright | 2014 |
| Publisher | Bearport Publishing |
| Imprint | Bearport Books |
| Language | English |
| Publication Date | 2014-01-01 |
| Reading Counts! Level | 5.3 |
| Reading Counts! Quiz | Q63738 |
| Reading Counts! Points | 3.0 |
| BISACS | JNF051160 |
|---|---|
| Dewey | 363.34'9209766'38 |
| Graphics | Full-color photographs, Historical photographs |
| Lexile | 800 |
| Guided Reading Level | Q |
| ATOS Reading Level | 4.8 |
| Accelerated Reader® Quiz | 164586 |
| Accelerated Reader® Points | 0.5 |
Awards
- 2015 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Reviews
Oklahoma's Devastating Tornado
This history opens with first person accounts of surviving the tornado and employs this technique throughout. Summaries of survivors are included in a Profiles section and the book describes tornado science. The pleasing, full-color layout includes a map and timeline. The information offers a brief overview of safety protocols and rescue efforts. Slim content does not take away from the impact of the survivor stories. This title in the Code Red series is a good choice for extreme weather enthusiasts and provides the human touch for report writers. Students need to look elsewhere for more detailed descriptions of the how and why tornadoes develop. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. Recommended.
Oklahoma's Devastating Tornado
This history opens with first person accounts of surviving the tornado and employs this technique throughout. Summaries of survivors are included in a Profiles section and the book describes tornado science. The pleasing, full-color layout includes a map and timeline. The information offers a brief overview of safety protocols and rescue efforts. Slim content does not take away from the impact of the survivor stories. This title in the Code Red series is a good choice for extreme weather enthusiasts and provides the human touch for report writers. Students need to look elsewhere for more detailed descriptions of the how and why tornadoes develop. Bibliography. Glossary. Index. Recommended.
Oklahoma's Devastating Tornado
Residents of Moore, Oklahoma, vividly recall May 20, 2013. Just before 3:00 p.m., a monster E-5 tornado swept through the Oklahoma City suburb. When Plaza Towers Elementary School took a direct hit, teachers and students scrambled for safety. One student who, along with classmates and a teacher, survived in a school restroom recounts the sounds. Aronin then deviates to provide information on tornadoes: how they form, why Moore has more than its share, and why the Great Plains area is known as Tornado Alley. Returning to Moore, she identifies individual heroic acts and the myriad volunteers who rescued and cared for displaced humans and animals. The book’s format and eye-catching color photographs are inviting and will appeal to elementary students, and its quick turnaround-becoming a hallmark of the Code Red series-is impressive. Though much of this information is readily available online, this offering is vetted by a meteorologist.
