"As a hurricane gathered in the Caribbean, blue skies covered Galveston, Texas. Scientists knew a storm was coming. But none of them were able to prepare Galveston for the force of the hurricane that hit on September 8, 1900. The water from the storm surge pulled houses off their foundations, and the winds toppled telephone poles and trees like toothpicks. And amid the chaos, Galveston's residents did all they could to rescue one another. From the meteorologists tracking the storm, to the ordinary people who displayed extraordinary bravery... from the inequitable effects of the disaster, to the science of hurricanes and weather: Acclaimed Sibert Honor author Deborah Hopkinson brings voices from history to life in this fast-paced, wide-ranging narrative of the deadliest hurricane in American history"-- Provided by publisher.

"True stories in focus"--Cover.

Prologue -- Before You Go On -- People in This Book -- Path of Confusion -- Friday: A Change in Direction -- Saturday Morning -- The Cline Brothers: Like a Lighthouse on a Rock -- The Kitten and the Baby -- Voices from the Storm -- The Cline Brothers: Drifting Out to Sea -- Voices of Survivors -- Too Many Bodies -- Epilogue Hurricanes: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow -- The Great Galveston Hurricane Facts & Figures -- More for Young Weather Scientists -- Glossary -- Test Your Knowledge -- Hurricane Word Unscramble -- More Hurricane Activities -- Sample Oral History Questions -- Timetable of Major U.S. Hurricanes -- NOAA National Hurricane Center -- List of Costliest -- Explore More Internet Resources and Lesson Plans -- Selected Bibliography -- Source Notes -- Photo Credits -- Index -- About the Author.