“Mount St. Helen’s 1980: Fiery Eruptions”
by Gare Thompson.
B.E.S Press, 2017, 240 pages, Grades 4-6.
Frequently, adults want children to read great literature. However, the children many times want to read a comforting or exciting story. As some students once told their friends at a grade school where I worked as a librarian: “Oh that is a book Dr. Nollen would recommend.” The obvious meaning was that the book is moving and character-building, while the students wanted something more relaxing.
While we want children to grow through reading solid books, we need to always remember the needs of children. After all, most adults have not checked out “Hamlet” lately. Gare Thompson has created an exciting series of positive books about great escapes. While not “great literature,” they will be very popular with middle grade students. The first book in the series, “Mount St. Helen’s 1980: Fiery Eruptions,” is a fine example of his writing.
The book begins with Alex dreaming about and sketching Mount St. Helen’s. The boy frequently hikes up the mountain and is awestruck by the beauty of the volcano and Spirit Lake, the spectacular watershed below the mountain. Something of a loner, Alex is drawn to the stunning vista of Mount St. Helen’s and hopes to use oils to paint the summit.
His close friend, Wendy, lives in nearby Portland, Oregon. She loves science and has become fixated on volcanos. Wendy is outgoing and doesn’t always think through situations as carefully as Alex. But they have a strong friendship and a love for the area.
On one of their numerous hikes up the mountain, they meet Michael, a retired history teacher, living on the side of Mount St. Helen’s. Alex, Wendy and Michael become friends and the older man relates many folklore stories about the area. But tremors shortly begin shaking the mountain and the children repeatedly ask Michael to evacuate. He refuses.
On May 18, 1980, Alex and Wendy journey as far as possible up the mountain. Wendy begins photographing Mount St. Helen’s while Alex continues with his drawings. They both see the sharp bulges pushing out from the top of the peak. Deciding to leave, they are knocked off their feet by a series of explosions. They look up and see a gigantic ash cloud moving towards them. Wendy knows that the lava flow will quickly follow. As they stumble down the destroyed terrain, balls of fire land near them. Now it is a matter of life and death. What do they do?
Do the children survive this colossal disaster? Do their clothes protect them from the burning ash and fireballs? Where does their courage come from? Could you face almost-certain death and survive?
What heroic actions do Alex and Wendy make? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this exciting novel, “Mount St. Helen’s 1980: Fiery Eruptions” by Gare Thompson.
I found this book refreshing because while being exciting, the author did not use cursing and swearing to spice up the text. As well, there were no political agendas so frequently found in many current books. This is an adventure story that will teach students about the geography of the Pacific Northwest and build the virtues of friendship and courage.
Thompson has done considerable research about the eruption of Mount St. Helen’s which will enrich student knowledge. This title and the other books in the series will be enjoyed by middle grade students.
