Historical fiction for 5-8th graders. This story is based on the Newfoundland earthquake of 1929, as witnessed by a 13 year old girl. Not real graphic, but intense enough to draw a reader in to the story. I had never heard of the event, here in the states, but found the story riveting enough to read it straight thru in one sitting. Kids who love historical fiction will enjoy this book. There are enough male characters it that boys in the age group may well it just as interesting.

Unfortunately, this book expired from my NetGalley shelf soon after I was approved for it and therefor, unable to read.

My 2 star rating has nothing to do with the book - I had to give a rating.
I hope this could be placed back especially since it was downloaded on the NetGalley shelf and I was looking forward to reading it.

Archived way too quickly!

I would have loved to read this ARC and review the book but it was archived just a few weeks after I requested it and months before the September publication date. Much too early. It's no wonder there are so few reviews listed on NetGalley!

Celia Matthews’ 13th birthday celebration starts with a bang. Pots and pans bang to the floor, the walls shake, and Mr. Matthews orders everyone outside before Celia and her little sister Winnie can even finish setting the table for supper.

It’s November 18, 1929, and no one in her small village in Newfoundland has ever felt an earthquake before. While the earthquake frightened everyone, what came next devastated the village. The sea water disappears from the harbor and sweeps back in as a powerful tsunami, destroying everything in its path.

The family dog saves Celia from drowning, and hours later village fishermen rescue Boomer and Celia from their freezing raft. With all the larger boats out of commission, the telephone destroyed, and the telegraph swept away, the village has no way to let the outside world know of their situation.

Only a few buildings remain, and the village must work together to survive with little food as winter sets in. Celia worries about her injured family members and what the future will hold.

What I Liked About This Book

Celia, the narrator, shares something in common with every 13-year-old girl—the struggle to transition from childhood to teen. Her big family brings her both comfort and provides a source of irritation. She must learn how to make do with less than usual. In addition, she learns how she can best help her family recover from the tragedy—even if it means giving up old dreams.

Teachers and librarians looking for a solid historical novel for middle-grade students will want to add this book to their collections.

This is a wonderful children's historical novel. It tells the story of Celia who lives with her family in a small Newfoundland village when a tsunami hits their community. Celia has to find her bravery in the face of a terrifying natural disaster and help her injured family members until help arrives.

A Terrible Tale was an educational lesson for me. Being a lover of Canadian HF this one fit the bill nicely with a part of our history I was unfamiliar with. Taking place in 1929 in Newfoundland, A Terrible Tale follows the story of 13 year old Celia whose world is turned upside-down when an earthquake strikes the Atlantic Ocean sending water to her village.

What follows is a story told through her eyes of what her family, friends and neighbours endured. Geared for the middle grade reader it gives enough detail to get a clear picture of the aftermath and the struggle to survive.

A Terrible Tale is a story of family, survival and discovering whats really important.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting story about an earthquake and the resulting tsunami in 1929 Newfoundland. I always enjoy learning something new in my historical fiction and this definitely delivered. The first few chapters were full of action and had me interested immediately. I appreciate that the author spent most of the book dealing with the aftermath, and the impact on the community. It did get a little slow and drag through a few chapters, but overall an enjoyable, informative read.

This is a fictional middle grade story about the real life tsunami that struck the Burin Peninsula in Newfoundland. in 1929. This was a very interesting and insightful look at the tragedy told through the eyes of 13 year old Cecelia.

The story may be a bit much for sensitive young readers. The story goes into some details about the desperation of trying to outrun the "wall of water," the fear when getting caught in the waves, and facing your own mortality during the aftermath when seeing the bodies of those who didn't make it.

The book starts out strong and eventful, but slows down when the characters are dealing with the aftermath and destruction. The book not only covers the horror of the tsunami itself, but with the hardships of what comes next.

I love that the author included photographs of some of the actual damage on the Burin Peninsula. It really drove home the magnitude of what happened.

Set in November 1929 on the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada, this junior novel is based on true events. The story is told through the eyes of Celia, a thirteen year old girl who describes the events that occurred the evening of her birthday on November 18.

Celia was excited to have all her family together for her birthday celebration. As the very cold evening drew to a close, there were vibrations and rumblings from deep inside the Earth. It happened several times throughout the evening.

The small fishing village where her family lived had previously experienced serious Nor’easters, but this time it seemed different. While searching outside for her dog that evening, Celia glanced at the bay. The water was receding…and as she looked up she saw a huge wall of water heading straight for the village……

This story was riveting! Author Suzanne Meade’s vivid descriptions enable you to feel what it was like to live during the tsunami and its aftermath. Middle schoolers will be able to relate to Celia’s thoughts and actions as the story unfolds. This novel would appeal to adults as well!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Suzanne Meade, and Second Story Press for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC of this work of junior historical fiction.

This is an interesting young reader story about an earthquake and tsunami that hit Newfoundland in 1929. I had never heard of this event, and I enjoyed learning about it through the eyes of Celia and her family.