This is a moving historical fiction novel in verse, so it goes very quickly, told from multiple points-of-view of survivors and victims -- the Little Conemaugh River, kids, young adults just starting out, older people -- of a tragic flood that all-but wiped the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania from the map in 1889.
And unlike some verse books, it's only 316 pages, so it reads super-fast and isn't physically intimidating to young readers.
A dam on the river, built so the extremely wealthy of the era -- the Carnegies, etc. -- could summer and frolick in an artificial lake high above the town was not properly maintained and burst after heavy rain.
The book tells the stories of many different characters, giving the reader a glimpse of what life was like in the heavily polluted factory town before the water washed it away.
It also gives a glimpse into how the rich who ultimately were responsible for the deaths of so many were never held accountable in court.
This is an excellent read in verse! Pull up a box of tissues and enjoy.
