My first look at the cover made me assume this was fiction– a story of two boys desperately trying to escape the devastation brought on by the Mount St. Helens volcano in 1980. Their tale is included but MOUNTAIN OF FIRE is a non-fiction account of the stories brought forth by citizens, scientists, politicians. and experts in the behavior of volcanoes… and quite a good one.
The 43 chapters lead us through the months before Mount St. Helens erupted. It was a guessing game as to when and if it would ever occur. But on on May 18, 1980, the disaster left 57 dead and many others barely escaping. Their stories are gripping to read.
A helpful map of key places and the location of individuals talked about within the pages are included. The author does an excellent job in the narrative detailing the emotions of that time period. This includes the blame game in the days following the eruption and calling out politician’s reactions.
The forty plus years that have passed have brought more understanding and technology in helping predict future occurrences and the lessons learned. The ending chapters cover this much needed information. Don’t miss the QR code link where you can view pictures of the people included in the story along with images of the eruption and aftermath.
A great addition to the non-fiction shelves. MOUNTAIN OF FIRE is perfect for middle graders interested in learning about disasters and science.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rebecca E. F. Barone is an engineer who has worked on a diverse array of projects: injury analysis for the National Football League, knee mechanics during car crashes, development of gait biometrics, and engine calibration of hybrid cars. Realizing her love for books in addition to numbers, she now describes the world with words rather than equations. Her first book, Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica, is now available and has received four starred reviews. Her second book, Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code, about the Enigma cipher of WWII, launched October 25, 2022 to four starred reviews. Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens, her third book, will be published Spring, 2024.
For more about Rebecca and her other books, be sure to visit her author website.
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It’s almost time for another Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. Won’t you join us? It’s here I share highlights from other individuals blogging about middle grade books. Many of the posts will have reviews, interviews, and tips on writing. Take a look at PAST MMGM POSTS.
It’s easy to get a spot in the lineup. All you have to do is email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and don’t forget to say what you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.