Plot: Uncle Tim, one of the family's oldest survivors, often reflects on the intense blizzard of 1896 and the strange stories that arose from it. Such stories include a farmer loosing his white barn in the snow, a prospector's sudden night vision, and a failed but successful feast. While the stories contain a solid, home-grown feel, they lead to the "author's" own blizzard story. His story of the blizzard lacks snow, but includes the assault of a fierce bearskin rug.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Folktales
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
Similar Titles: American Tall Tales, The Tales of Uncle Remus
Personal Thoughts: Often, readers view historical fiction as a fairly new phenomena. However, it dates back to the stories of Romulus and Remus in ancient Rome. The novel reminds readers of the agelessness of historical fiction through its slightly larger-than-life stories of the everyman in a large blizzard. A good complement to a collection of tall tales or American folklore.
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