Kitz s work at the museum led her to write the 1989 book shattered city. This handsome book helps us see this centuryold catastrophe as never before. Just minutes before, things had been normal in halifax and dartmouth. Id heard about the explosion of 1917 and thought id try and learn more before i arrived.
A mazing story for kids 710 about the halifax explosion,a fictional story, but based on real characters who lived through the explosion written by motherdaughter team author laura kingillustrator hannah aubrecht of halifax public school teachers, based on stories handed down through the years by. The halifax explosion remembrance book was originally developed in 2002 as a commemorative project sponsored by the halifax foundation and its chair, the late edmund morris, a former city mayor, to mark the 85th anniversary of the halifax explosion. Its a well written book that blends a straight historical narrative with the personal story of a handful of. Her first major book was about the ferry that connects halifax and dartmouth. The government has recognized it as a commemorative site and established a museum here. Children of the halifax explosion by janet kitz goodreads. Halifax explosion book of remembrance the remembrance book contains a list of the 1,951 people identified as having perished as a direct result of the 1917 explosion. The story of the 1917 halifax explosion and the boston christmas tree. An anchor, weighing 1140 pounds landed some 2 miles away at armdale. The explosion would revolutionize pediatric medicine. The resulting blast flattened two towns, halifax and dartmouth, and killed nearly 2,000.
The halifax explosion remembrance book was originally developed in 2002 as a commemorative project sponsored by the halifax foundation and its chair, the. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism. A beautifully created 48page picture book, it is available through the shop laurie tab as well as good bookstores across nova scotia. Awardwinning author julie lawson tells a riveting story of the halifax explosion and its aftermath, exploring the concepts of guilt, blame and. Records show that twentyfour children and three staff members died, but some reports said twentyone children and an unspecified number of.
Mac donald but it is often through historical fiction that writers and readers are able to experience both the facts of an event and the emotions of the people involved. Sep, 2017 the aftermath of the 1917 halifax ship explosion is shown in a file photo. This is a fascinating book about a terrible disaster which is not widely known about. A fresh generation of children s books is finding the grace notes in halifax s worst moment, a massive explosion that. This is a an incredible book telling about the survival of a small group. As i read on, i was reassured that, if the child finished the book, they would be rewarded with lots of good news and even some humour. Bacons the great halifax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. A tale of tragedy, heroism and helping hands across the border. This little book is great for a straightforward overview of the facts and.
That accident sparked a fire and an apocalyptic explosion that was the largest manmade blast prior to the 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb on hiroshima. Halifax a fresh generation of childrens books is finding the grace notes in halifaxs worst moment a massive explosion that levelled much of the city 100 years ago but inspired acts of. One ship was loaded top to bottom with munitions and the other held relief supplies, both intended for wartorn europe. Such a disaster today would generate a worldwide storm of video coverage, but the actual photographic record is sparse. Canadas greatest world war i victory explosion in halifax harbour.
May 29, 2014 a fire broke out aboard the mont blanc, and as the flames licked skyward, thousands of halifax residents came out in the crisp, latefall air to watch the spectacle. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc collided with the. Robert oppenheimer, who studied the halifax explosion closely when developing the atomic bomb, with historys only realworld case study demonstrating the lethal power of. The great halifax explosion national bestseller the riveting, ticktock account of the largest manmade explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb, and the equally astonishing tales of survival and heroism that emerged from the ashes, from acclaimed new york times bestselling author john u. What i hadnt appreciated was that it was a history book for kids. A fresh generation of children s books is finding the grace notes in halifax s worst moment, a massive explosion that levelled much of the city 100 years ago but inspired acts of kindness that still resonate. When i first encountered the halifax explosion, i knew immediately it was a ticktock of a story just waiting to become a book. Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax. All seven lived in richmond, the northern part of halifax close to the spot where imo collided with mont blanc. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroism by john u. Woozles 1533 birmingham street sells a number of halifax explosion themed books for young and advanced readers alike. This brandnew childrens book was written and illustrated by laurie swim to accompany the monumental community art quilt project commemorating the 100th. One was carrying a full load of wartime explosives. The halifax explosion of 1917 was the largest manmade explosion before hiroshima.
Halifax explosion book of remembrance halifax explosion. I first heard about the boat explosion in halifax harbor on my trip to nova scotia last year. While my maternal grandfather and two of his brothers were fighting in the trenches of europe, their father, my great grandfather, and a brotherinlaw, were working as stevedores on the halifax waterfront. The halifax explosion and the road to recovery by janet kitz, and the recent curse of the narrows. Historical fiction of the halifax explosion the reader.
New world publishing your atlantic canadian publisher. Dec 06, 2017 as the explosion was occurring, mary knaut, matron of the halifax protestant orphanage at 1274 barrington street, ushered twentyone children and several staff into the buildings basement. Children of the halifax explosion 2000 which explored in more detail the stories of children who. Commended, canadian childrens book centre, our choice, 2007. The halifax explosion in books for children no safe harbour book cover whos a scaredy cat book cover image terror in the harbour book cover. The author does a great job of putting you right into downtown halifax and makes you feel how destructive the event actually was.
Africville was a small community of predominantly black canadians located in halifax, nova scotia, canada. Author bacon sums up the book with the legal ramifications that took place as to which ship was to blame for the collision in the harbor at halifax. A mazing story for kids 710 about the halifax explosion,a fictional story, but based on real characters who lived through the explosion written by motherdaughter team author laura kingillustrator hannah aubrecht of halifax public school teachers, based on stories handed down through the years by the family. Husbands gathered wives and children, and together they gamboled down the hill, as though heading to a carnival. A fire on board the french ship ignited her cargo, causing a cataclysmic explosion. The diary of a young girl who experienced the halifax explosion, i was a little surprised that a book for children was so graphic in describing what she saw right afterwards. If you are into history, in particular canadian history, then this is a book for you. The blast that resulted was the largest manmade explosion prior to the development of nuclear weapons. The story of the 1917 halifax explosion and the boston. Bacon in this definitive account, bestselling author john u. The halifax explosion was a disaster that occurred in halifax, nova scotia, canada, on the morning of 6 december 1917. This is a story of severe heartache with the towns of halifax, dartmouth, and richmond being especially hard hit by the explosion.
Feb 25, 2014 i bought blizzard of glass online since i was travelling to halifax. Beside the name of each victim is listed the age and local residential addresses at the time of the explosion, in addition to their burial sites. It has remained a definitive account which has influenced numerous works published since. This canadian history for kids, sketches of our canada, looks at the devastation created by the halifax explosion of december 6, 1917. Rich in firsthand accounts gathered in decades of research in canada, the us, the uk, france and norway, the book examines the disaster from all angles. Robert macneil, author of the novel burden of desire. This is a riveting, wellwritten and researched world war i book. Includes sections about the halifax explosion of 1917, the chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster, the 2004 indian ocean earthquake and tsunami, hurricane katrina and the terrorist attacks of september 11, 2001 kitz, janet f. She also wrote children s books including whos a scaredycat. On december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship mont blanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. On the morning of december 6, 1917, two ships collided in the halifax harbour. The aftermath of the 1917 halifax ship explosion is shown in a file photo. Our collection includes numerous items about the halifax explosion. The great halifax explosion sheds new light on this sad but fascinating event.
From 1970 to the present, a protest has occupied space on the grounds. Nov 07, 2017 this cover the halifax explosion which was the largest human created explosion until the invention of the atomic bomb. Bacons the great hali fax explosion is the seminal account of one of the bloodiest manmade disasters in world history, which killed some 2,000 people. Finalist for the atlantic book award for nonfiction on december 6, 1917, the french munitions ship montblanc and the norwegian warrelief vessel imo collided in the harbour at halifax, nova scotia. On dec 6, 1917, there was an explosion in the halifax harbour. The toll of the halifax explosion was enormous with over 1600 men, women and children killed.
Around 2000 people were killed and many more injured. See more ideas about halifax explosion, halifax, explosion. It developed on the southern shore of bedford basin and existed from the early 1800s to the 1960s. Last year marked the 100th anniversary of the halifax explosion, and its effects. Sep, 2017 halifax a fresh generation of childrens books is finding the grace notes in halifaxs worst moment a massive explosion that levelled much of the city 100 years ago but inspired acts of. The halifax explosion remembrance book, an official database compiled in 2002 by the nova scotia archives and records management, identified 1,950 victims. Written and illustrated by laurie, this children s book is an account of the explosion through the eyes of a young girl. Nonfiction books adult fiction childrens fiction movies and music. Ss montblanc, a french cargo ship fully loaded with wartime explosives, collided with the norwegian vessel ss imo in the narrows, a strait connecting the upper halifax harbour to bedford basin. Sep 21, 2017 halifax a fresh generation of childrens books is finding the grace notes in halifax s worst momenta massive explosion that levelled much of the city 100 years ago but inspired acts of. Dec 01, 1992 i first heard about the boat explosion in halifax harbor on my trip to nova scotia last year. Why the halifax explosion was one of historys biggest. Continuing down spring garden and turning up birmingham street, we arrive at canadas oldest childrens book store.
These are two cities in nova scotia skosha, canada. Emily and matt travel back in time to 1917 during the halifax explosion, where they must help a soldier find his lost little sister. On december 6, 1917, as world war i continued in europe, ships carrying troops, supplies and munitions filled the harbour of the port city of halifax, nova scotia. I would recommend this book to all who know about the explosion or would like to know more. New books remember the great halifax explosion the star. This is a an incredible book telling about the survival of a small group of children representative of those living during this time. This book is aimed toward younger readers, but i found it a good introduction.
Childrens books explore restoration amid tragedy of halifax. A former feature writer for the detroit news, his writing has been recognized three times in the best american sports writing series. Explosion in halifax harbour, 1917 by dan soucoup this little book is great for a straightforward overview of the facts and figures of the explosion as well as the people involved and the adjoining communities that were affected. A fresh generation of childrens books is finding the grace in halifaxs worst moment a massive explosion that levelled much of the city 100 years ago but inspired acts of kindness that still. Children of the halifax explosion the canadian encyclopedia. Childrens books explore restoration amidst tragedy of. Oct 30, 2014 the explosion was so violent that a one of the mont blancs guns flew over 3. Knaut, fearing the city was being bombed, took her charges to the safest placeor that was what she thought.
Survivors tells the story of seven children who survived the halifax explosion. A world war i story of treachery, tragedy, and extraordinary heroismpaperback picture. Stories vary on how closely they approach the widespread injury and nearly 2,000 deaths. Bacon recreates the recklessness that caused the tragedy, the selfless rescue efforts that saved thousands, and the inspiring resilience that rebuilt the town. On december 6, 1917, two ships collided in halifax harbor in nova scotia, canada. Childrens books tell of bravery, kindness after halifax explosion. This thoroughlyresearched and documented book can be worked into. Dec 06, 2009 there are numerous factual accounts of the halifax explosion including shattered city. A story of the halifax explosion, which is a story surrounding two families in dartmouth at the time of the halifax explosion. Bacon is the author of the national bestseller the great halifax explosion and five bestselling books about college football, including three and out, fourth and long, endzone, and bos lasting lessons, coauthored with michigan coach bo schembechler. A fresh generation of childrens books is finding the. The blast wave was ferocious and ruthless, striking down nearly 2,000 men, women, and children with equal abandon, turning houses into. Jan 12, 2021 despite being one of the most tragic and devastating manmade disasters in north american history, the halifax explosion remains largely unknown.
Why the halifax explosion was one of historys biggest tragedies. The halifax explosion of 6 december 1917, the biggest humanmade blast before the atomic bomb, holds a poignant place in my family history. Winner, hackmatack childrens choice award atlantic canada, 2008. The book combined artifact research, oral history and documentary history to explore the explosion through the families involved.
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