Module 13--The Storm in the Barn

The Storm in the Barn

Synopsis: 11 year old Jack is trapped in the Dust Bowl. Faced with his sister's mysterious illness, his father's disappointment, and town bullies, Jack's life seems hopeless. But when he and his sister find a strange creature living in a barn, Jack realizes that he has the strength to return the rain to the parched Kansas land.

Citation: Phelan, Matt. The Storm in the Barn. (2009). Illus. by the author. Somerville, Mass: Candlewick.

My thoughts: This is a wonderful graphic novel. The simplistic pictures, sparse text, and weak colors all blend perfectly to make this multi-award winnig book. I would love a sequel or more by Phelan.

Libary usage: Could be used for graphic novels. Or American history. Could be a tie-in for folktales even with the Jack stories told and eluded to by Ernie.

Review:

Jack, a child of the Dust Bowl, has never seen rain--until he discovers a mysterious figure seemingly made of the stuff in an abandoned barn. Phelan's sparing use of color in his debut graphic novel is stunning; his simple yet profound storytelling and expansive, emotive illustrations masterfully evoke the complex historical and emotional landscapes charted. Review 11/09.

"The Storm in the Barn." The Horn Book Magazine Jan.-Feb. 2010: 12. Literature Resource Center. Web.

In Kansas in the year 1937, eleven-year-old Jack Clark faces his share of ordinary challenges: local bullies, his father’s failed expectations, a little sister with an eye for trouble. But he also has to deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl, including rising tensions in his small town and the spread of a shadowy illness. Certainly a case of “dust dementia” would explain who (or what) Jack has glimpsed in the Talbot’s abandoned barn — a sinister figure with a face like rain. In a land where it never rains, it’s hard to trust what you see with your own eyes — and harder still to take heart and be a hero when the time comes. With phenomenal pacing, sensitivity, and a sure command of suspense, Matt Phelan ushers us into a world where desperation is transformed by unexpected courage.Tall tale. Thriller. Gripping historical fiction. This artful, sparely told graphic novel — a tale of a boy in Dust Bowl America — will resonate with young readers today. --Candlewick

Awards:
Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

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