When an accident leaves her orphaned, Lizzie's life in the bustling city of London is over forever. And nothing she has ever experienced could prepare the young English girl for her new home a whole continent away on a dusty prairie farm. Although her aunt, uncle and cousins try to be kind, Lizzie can't help but resent her new place as an unimportant member of a family struggling to make do. No one has any time to make a fuss over her. And even though Lizzie is obviously unsuited to manual labor, she is still expected to do chores on the farm. Bitter and despondent, Lizzie knows that she will never - ever - fit in.
But one day a dust storm blows up unexpectedly. Alone in the house, Lizzie knows her aunt is out there, somewhere in the storm. Despite her own overwhelming fear, she knows what she must do. Set on the prairies during the Great Depression, Lizzie's Storm will enthrall any young reader ready for chapter books.
"Author Fitz-Gibbon and illustrator Wood deliver a fine story...There's a helpful glossary at book's end along with suggested readings relating to the Dust Bowl and Dirty Thirties. For readers looking for a fabulous, gripping read, or for kids seeking resources for a project, Lizzie's Storm won't disappoint."
- The Hamilton Spectator
"Readers see [Lizzie's internal struggles as she faces unfamiliar chores and expectations within this new family, and descriptive language allows them to visualize the events. Excitement and anticipation build when her aunt is injured in a blinding dust storm and it is up to Lizzie to rescue her. Frequent illustrations, many full page, add clarification to the mood and action in the text. Soft, muted colors suggest Lizzie's loneliness and desolate feeling as she tries to adapt to her new surroundings."
- School Library Journal
"...this illustrated story provides young readers with an accessible picture of prairie life in both Canada and the US in the 1930s - both the hardships and the less frequent joys ..."
- Children's Book News
Muriel Wood
is acclaimed for the accurate historical detail in her illustrations. She is the illustrator of Apples and Angel Ladders, Scared Sarah, The Olden Days Coat, Anne of Green Gables, and Old Bird. Muriel lives in Port Hope, Ontario.
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