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Books in A Disaster! Book series

  • September 11 Then and Now

    Peter Benoit

    Paperback (C. Press/F. Watts Trade, Sept. 1, 2011)
    Discover the events of September 11th, 2001.A True Book: Natural Disasters series investigates the events leading up to a disaster, explores the causes, and ponders how the events changed, or could alter, history. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.
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  • Last Days of the Concorde: The Crash of Flight 4590 and the End of Supersonic Passenger Travel

    Samme Chittum

    Hardcover (Smithsonian Books, Sept. 25, 2018)
    The gripping true tale of a devastating plane crash, the investigation into its causes, and the race to prevent similar disasters in the future.On July 25, 2000, a Concorde, the world's fastest passenger plane, was taking off from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris when it suddenly burst into flames. An airliner capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound, the Concorde had completed 25 years of successful flights, whisking wealthy passengers--from diplomats to rock stars to corporate titans--between continents on brief and glamorous flights. Yet on this fateful day, the chartered Concorde jet, en route to America, crashed and killed all 109 passengers and crew onboard and four people on the ground. Urgent questions immediately arose as investigators scrambled to discover what had gone wrong. What caused the fire? Could it have been prevented? And, most urgently, was the Concorde safe to fly? Last Days of the Concorde addresses these issues and many more, offering a fascinating insider's look at the dramatic disaster, the hunt for clues, and the systemic overhauls that followed the crash.
  • Southern Storm: The Tragedy of Flight 242

    Samme Chittum

    Hardcover (Smithsonian Books, April 3, 2018)
    The gripping true tale of a devastating plane crash, the investigation into its causes, and the race to prevent similar disasters in the future.On the afternoon of April 4, 1977, Georgia housewife Sadie Burkhalter Hurst looked out her front door to see a frantic stranger running toward her, his clothes ablaze, and behind him the mangled fuselage of a passenger plane that had just crashed in her yard. The plane, a Southern Airways DC-9-31, had been carrying eighty-one passengers and four crew members en route to Atlanta when it entered a massive thunderstorm cell that turned into a dangerous cocktail of rain, hail, and lightning. Forced down onto a highway, the plane cut a swath of devastation through the small town of New Hope, breaking apart and killing bystanders on the ground before coming to rest in Hurst's front yard. Ultimately, only twenty-two people would survive the crash of Flight 242, and urgent questions immediately arose. What caused the pilots to fly into the storm instead of away from it? Could the crash have been prevented? Southern Storm addresses these issues and many more, offering a fascinating insider's look at this dramatic disaster and the systemic overhauls that followed it.
  • Disaster Diaries: Zombies!

    R. McGeddon, Jamie Littler

    Hardcover (Imprint, May 24, 2016)
    During a zombie apocalypse, the important thing is to not panic.Actually, that’s not true. Definitely panic.These things are going to try to eat your face off! Sam and Arty are looking forward to summer vacation so much that they barely notice when their bumbling science teacher causes an explosion of purple goo that drenches their classmate, Simon. They’re sure Simon will be fine―he looks a little gray, but things like this happen all the time in the town of Sitting Duck.But Simon is not fine―and totally loses his head when he becomes a zombie! Soon the town is crawling with rabid zombies looking for braaaaaains! The adults are busy panicking and screaming, so it’s up to Sam (the leader) Arty (the brains), and their friend Emmie (the rebel) to take charge. If they can’t find a cure, it will be a disaster!Disaster Diaries: Zombies! is perfect for young readers, reluctant or otherwise, with a wacky sense of humor. The first in this hilarious middle grade series from author R. McGeddon will prepare you for your own zombie infestation, with handy tips like how to spot zombies. (Hint: their faces are falling off).An Imprint Book
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  • Disaster Diaries: Robots!

    R. McGeddon

    Hardcover (Imprint, May 23, 2017)
    You know how it is―you’ve built yourself a nice, artificially intelligent robot, and you’re feeling pretty good about yourself… Until it suddenly tries to destroy everyone!Sam, Arty and Emmie get more than they bargained for when Arty creates CHARLES for the school science fair. CHARLES is meant to be a helpful, chore-completing robot, but when he malfunctions, he proves to be a maniacal droid bent on destruction―all in the name of ‘tidying up’ the town of Sitting Duck for good. When CHARLES raises his robot army―complete with pesky hairdryers and dangerous refrigerators―Sam, Arty and Emmie must take on their own creation to save the town once more! Filled with funny illustrations and nifty tips on how to handle a robot gone rogue, Disaster Diaries: Robots! is the ultimate survival guide for when the machines take over (and they will, people, they will). An Imprint Book
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  • The 1959 Yellowstone Earthquake

    Larry E. Morris, Lee Whittlesey

    Paperback (The History Press, July 4, 2016)
    At 11:37 p.m. on August 17, 1959, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake rocked Montana's Yellowstone country. In an instant, an entire mountainside fractured and thundered down onto the sites of unsuspecting campers. The mammoth avalanche generated hurricane-force winds ahead of it that ripped clothing from backs and heaved tidal waves in both directions of the Madison River Canyon. More than two hundred vacationers trapped in the canyon feared the dam upstream would burst. As debris and flooding overwhelmed the river, injured victims frantically searched the darkness for friends and family. Acclaimed historian Larry Morris tells the gripping minute-by-minute saga of the survivors who endured the interminable night, the first responders who risked their lives and the families who waited days and weeks for word of their missing loved ones.
  • The Hindenburg Disaster

    Peter Benoit

    Paperback (Children's Press, March 1, 2011)
    Discover the events of the Hindenburg Disaster.This book describes the crash of the Hindenburg airship in 1937, relaying the history of international airship flight and the events leading to the disaster, and explains what measures have been taken to make airship travel safer.
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  • Disaster Diaries: Aliens!

    R. McGeddon, Jamie Littler

    Hardcover (Imprint, May 24, 2016)
    So Aliens have invaded your planet? Bummer. You could pretend you can't see them and hope they go away. Or wear camouflage, pretend they can't see you and hope they go away! Sam, Arty and Emmie have just barely survived a recent zombie infestation when their sleepy little town of Sitting Duck finds itself the victim of an alien invasion!But unlike what you often see on television, the aliens are very small and very cute. How dangerous can they be?SPOILER ALERT: they're very dangerous. And when they disintegrate the mayor with their ray guns, it’s a complete disaster. It’s up to Sam, Arty and Emmie to save the day! Again. Let the total domination of the planet begin!This series from author R. McGeddon is a must for young readers who plan on surviving the highly probable alien invasion that should be happening somewhat soon-ish. Disaster Diaries: Aliens! offers helpful tips to survive this encounter. (Hint: Pretend you can’t see the alien and hope it goes away). In fact, your very life may depend on experiencing the laugh-out-loud hijinks and catastrophic escapades that can only be found in the town of Sitting Duck. An Imprint Book
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  • The Titanic Disaster

    Peter Benoit

    Paperback (Children's Press, March 1, 2011)
    Explore the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic, a luxury liner claimed to be "unsinkable" that was destroyed after colliding with an iceberg, killing over one thousand passengers onboard.A True Book: Natural Disasters series investigates the events leading up to a disaster, explores the causes, and ponders how the events changed, or could alter, history. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.
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  • The BP Oil Spill

    Peter Benoit

    Paperback (Children's Press, March 1, 2011)
    Discover the events surrounding the 2010 British Petroleum/Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.A True Book: Natural Disasters series investigates the events leading up to a disaster, explores the causes, and ponders how the events changed, or could alter, history. This series includes an age appropriate (grades 3-5) introduction to curriculum-relevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study.
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  • The Strand Theatre Fire: The 1941 Brockton Tragedy and the Fallen Thirteen

    James E. Benson & Nicole B. Casper, Kenneth F. Galligan Brockton Fire Chief Retired

    Paperback (The History Press, March 6, 2017)
    On March 10, 1941, at 12:38 a.m., the Brockton Fire Department responded to Fire Alarm Box 1311, which was pulled for a fire at the Strand Theatre. Fire Alarm dispatched the deputy chief, three engine companies, a ladder company and Squad A. Within six minutes, a second alarm was struck. Less than one hour after the first alarm, the roof of the Strand collapsed, and what appeared to be a routine fire turned into a disaster that killed thirteen firefighters and injured more than twenty others. The disaster marks one of the largest losses of life to firefighters from a burning building collapse in the United States. Jim Benson and Nicole Casper chronicle this devastating tragedy and celebrate the community's heroes and resilience in the face of adversity.
  • Disaster Diaries: Brainwashed!

    R. McGeddon

    Hardcover (Imprint, Nov. 8, 2016)
    Sitting Duck is good. Questions are bad. Obedience is good. This book is GOOD. (Do you feel brainwashed yet?)Sitting Duck is the kind of town where the mayor was vaporized by aliens, so there is a vacancy. Ravenous zombie hordes and swarms of power-hungry aliens are just some of the disasters that the town has faced, so this new mayor had better be good. Now a new evil genius has arisen―and he’s running for mayor! Thanks to his homemade brainwashing device, he just might win the election and then move on to world domination. Are Sam, Arty, and Emmie brave enough to save the day? Or will they totally lose their minds?Filled with funny illustrations and laugh-out-loud hijinks, Disaster Diaries: Brainwashed! will entertain young readers―or else! Plus it offers nifty tips and tricks on how to spot a hypno-trance or break into a secret base. An Imprint Book
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