The Children's Blizzard reads like nonfiction, but it is a fictionalized story of the impact of the historical event in 1888 on the Great Plains that shocked the citizens and took so many lives. Well researched and carefully told, Benjamin begins with character development and set up for the day of the blizzard. The blizzard came on suddenly, with nearly everyone ill prepared as the day started as an unseasonably warm one that was a welcome change from the bitter cold of Nevada. 

The second half of the book focuses on the aftermath, primarily on the teenage girls who were teachers and thus responsible for the safety of so many children when the blizzard came by surprise that treacherous day. The contrast in experiences between teachers who handled the emergency well and those who didn't is incredibly dramatic. Benjamin does an excellent job building tension here and then bringing us into the mental world of one of the teachers responsible for tragedy. 

I wouldn't call this a fun read, but I couldn't put it down. I walked away from this book with beautiful, dynamic characters living in my head and such appreciation for the modern era of weather forecasting.