At the library: Revisiting ‘Night of the Twisters’

I recently had a conversation with my grandson, who is a 5th grade student in the Bettendorf Community School District. We were discussing the next book he was reading and reporting on for his class. I was pleasantly surprised when he told me it was Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman. I was happy to find the book still on our shelves and checked it out to read with him. It was published in 1984, and received the Iowa Children's Choice Award in 1989, and made into a movie in 1996. The book is a fictionalized account of the seven tornadoes that went through Grand Island, Nebraska, in 1980.

When my oldest daughter was in elementary school, she got the opportunity to meet Ivy Ruckman. Junior high librarian, Joy Batterson organized the event. At that time, she had written a popular new book, Melba the Brain. We waited in line to have the author sign our copy and had the opportunity to visit with her. She told us she lived in Utah and had written Night of the Twisters in Vernal, Utah, where my in-laws lived at the time. Small world.

I appreciate the wonderful books with older publications that still check out from our library along with the newest books we add to our collection. This book brought back some good memories of when it was first published, and having my own kids check it out from the library. They all remember reading it. I had no problem imagining this story happening today and think my grandson will as well. It is a great book with wonderful lessons of survival, bravery, resiliency, and love.

Another book worth mentioning, is the War With Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith. It was published in 1984, and has been turned into a major motion picture currently showing at theatres. I believe I saw the sign on the marquee at our beautiful State Theatre. The copy on our shelves is a gift from the 1985-1986 6th grade class at Lincoln School.

Our front window is filling up with pumpkins, and we are still taking entries. Festival of the Pumpkins 2020.