Lauren Tarshis has written many thrilling books, the most famous being her historical fiction series, I Survived. These past few years I have enjoyed reading Lauren's works, and the way she was able to portray the main character in these national disasters. So I was very excited when I got my hands on a copy of this book, Tornado Terror. I was interested to see how Lauren would tie a story and facts together. This is a nonfiction book, but Lauren had just the right combination of pure facts and narrative that would enthrall any reader. Inside book, both tornadoes featured, the Tri-State Tornado of 1925 and the Joplin Tornado of 2011 have a short story of a young person-just as she writes in the fiction series. The interesting thing about these stories, is that they are actually based on a real person and that person's experiences. It isn't a complete work of fiction narrative. But there was more than just stories. There were many pictures, and tidbits about "normal" life during that time period. There were also specific facts about both tornadoes, and tornadoes in general. I also enjoyed reading about what storm chasers are, and famous tornado scientists. I recommend this book for elementary and middle school, but it would also interest some younger highschoolers. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Lauren Tarshis has written many thrilling books, the most famous being her historical fiction series, I Survived. These past few years I have enjoyed reading Lauren's works, and the way she was able to portray the main character in these national disasters. So I was very excited when I got my hands on a copy of this book, Tornado Terror. I was interested to see how Lauren would tie a story and facts together. This is a nonfiction book, but Lauren had just the right combination of pure facts and narrative that would enthrall any reader. Inside book, both tornadoes featured, the Tri-State Tornado of 1925 and the Joplin Tornado of 2011 have a short story of a young person-just as she writes in the fiction series. The interesting thing about these stories, is that they are actually based on a real person and that person's experiences. It isn't a complete work of fiction narrative. But there was more than just stories. There were many pictures, and tidbits about "normal" life during that time period. There were also specific facts about both tornadoes, and tornadoes in general. I also enjoyed reading about what storm chasers are, and famous tornado scientists. I recommend this book for elementary and middle school, but it would also interest some younger highschoolers. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Shortly after getting through the Hobbit movies and book, I moved on to Lord of the–movies then books. The first in a series of three, Fellowship of the Ring tops off its predecessor, The Hobbit. All Middle Earth is in dire danger when Sauron returns, searching desperately for the One Ring–the shiny trinket which Bilbo now has. But Bilbo seeks to move on and leave the Shire, so it is passed on to his adopted cousin, Frodo. Frodo soon finds himself hunted mercilessly by Ringwraiths, orcs, and Gollum, and struggles with the growing temptation to slip the ring on. I loved The Fellowship of the Ring because the descriptions popped with life and Middle Earth felt all the more alive than the Hobbit. Although the plot drags in some places, it is well-worth the read.