As historical fiction, this was an enjoyable retelling of what became known as the Children’s Blizzard of 1888, which swept across the Dakota Territory and left at least 235 people dead, most of them schoolchildren trying to get home after school.
This book centers around four main characters who find their lives permanently changed by the blizzard: Raina and Gerda Olsen (sisters and schoolteachers,) Annette Pedersen (a young girl sold by her mother to another family to be their servant,) and Gavin Woodson (a newspaper reporter trying to find redemption after convincing so many families to settle in the Dakota Territory by writing exaggerated articles about how wonderful and easy life was there.) The blizzard hits as schools across the Territory are dismissed, and we find Raina taking a heroic role in saving her thirteen pupils, Gerda is accused of murder after every child in her school freezes to death, Annette survives against all odds (although missing a hand,) and Gavin tries to find redemption for the responsibility he feels to the settlers.
I thought that this book does a good job telling the stories of this handful of characters and incorporating different aspects of the real stories. For example, we are told at the end of the book that Raina is loosely based on Minnie Freeman, while Gerda’s storyline seems to be a combination of Lois Royce and Etta Shattuck (two real-life teachers who also weren’t able to save their pupils.)
I really liked the parts of this book that were told from the settlers’ perspectives. Some characters were, of course, stronger than others. I thought Raina’s character was well written, as was Annette’s. I can’t imagine what it would have been like to have been a 16-year-old school teacher with students between the ages of six and 15 looking to you for direction in a literal life-and-death situation. And Annette’s character was very sympathetic, especially as she was so mistreated by the people who were supposed to protect her. Gerda’s reaction to the outcome of that day was also sad — she might have technically survived, but one could argue that she never really lived again.
The jump to the Gavin Woodson part of the story was a bit clunky. I understand that he was needed to add some ethical dimension to the story and to help Raina and Annette after the blizzard, but I was really enjoying learning more about the three girls and those around them that the transition between the sections didn’t seem very smooth.
And, as an aside about another character, there was Anna – the woman who Annette “worked” for. She was such a complex character in a way – settling in the Dakota Territory definitely broke her – and then how her story ended – I’m not giving it away, but there was a single line about her buried toward the end, and it definitely made me do a doubletake.
If you’d like more information on the children’s blizzard, I read the nonfiction book of the same title by David Laskin years ago, and I highly recommend it, as well.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Delacorte Press in exchange for my honest review. It did not influence my opinion.