The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin

 

The blizzard is still talked about.  It occurred January 12, 1888, and by the next morning, over 400 people had died.  It came out of nowhere; the morning had been warm with settlers opening windows and hanging laundry outside.  But by noon, a blizzard of unheard of proportions moved in.  Within minutes, you could not see three feet in front of you nor find a path that had been plain to see minutes before.  Farmers died on the trip from the barn to the house and cattle and horses froze where they stood in the fields.

We see the effects of the blizzard through the lives of three girls, Raina and Gerda Olsen and Anette, a young servant girl.  Raina and Gerda were both teachers, fifty miles apart and their decisions set them apart.  Raina released her pupils to go home but kept them together and shepherded them to safety, with the exception of the boy who ran off with Anette early and one little girl too fragile to survive the trip.  Gerda, who had planned an illict afternoon with her boyfriend, released her students to make their own way home and they all died on the trip.  Anette had run off early, terrified that her boss would punish her if she wasn't home on time.  Her friend went with her, and while Anette survived, he did not.  Raina was considered a heroine while Gerda was considered a murderer and shunned and scorned.

The book then relates what happened after the storm when the papers related the horrible tragedy.  People sent money and gifts to Anette and Raina, enough to insure that they would be able to attend college and make their way.  Anette had lost a hand to frostbite and was the recipient of many gifts from those touched by her story.  

Melanie Benjamin specializes in historical fiction and often biographies of those who came before us.  Her retelling of the blizzard and the hardships suffered trying to get home is fact based and full of tragedy.  The character of Raina is based on that of Minnie Freeman, who saved her thirteen pupils in the blizzard.   The second half of the book, telling what happened afterwards is less strong but still interesting.  This book is recommended for readers of historical and women's fiction.