Beautifully written! Intriguing subject matter choice.

books:

	• Dark Water Rising Marian Hale Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2006 - 240 pages average customer review:based on 6 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

An Excellent Story

Too often historical fiction concerning the 1900 Storm is riddled with inaccuracies presented as fact or suffers from weak characters and a forced plot to incorporate the Storm. Marian Hale surpasses all of this.

I fell in love with the Braeden family and even though I knew what was coming next, Ms. Hale wrote it in such beautiful, flowing language I found myself looking forward to the rest of the story.

Ms. Hale treated her characters with respect and honesty--especially Seth's observations and relationship with Ezra and Ben--without resorting to exaggeration.

On a personal level, I appreciated Ms. Hale's ability to incorporate many real-life characters and situations of the first hand accounts reproduced in my own publication, Through a Night of Horrors: Voices from the 1900 Galveston Storm. I easily recognized familiar settings and stories experienced by Seth and the Braeden family, and found a loving tug at my heart that Ms. Hale had given so much thought and attention to bring them into her novel seamlessly.

Under my ever-searching intense eyes I found only only one teensy historical error that can easily be overlooked. This is a Galveston I recognize, with factual history blended smoothly in a way that propertly sets the touching story and characters.

I highly recommend this novel for use and will be giving it to my own 4th grade daugther to read - especially since she's not interested in reading mine just yet. Thank you Ms. Hale for an excellent novel.

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Beautifully written! Intriguing subject matter choice.

The Galveston hurricane in 1900 was a tragedy in which over 6000 died. The author has interwoven a touching fictional tale with the facts resulting in a gripping, fascinating story. I highly recommend this and Hale's first novel, The Truth About Sparrows.

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Not for young adults only

This is a moving and beautiful story based on the actual events surrounding the Galveston storm and flood. As with many of today's books for younger readers, this is a novelist who is writing for young adults yet dealing with issues and life decisions in an intelligent way--edited to a reasonable length--so that an adult would find this a most satisfying read. I certainly did, and the images and lessons of this story will stay with me for a long time.

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Great historical novel for (pre)teens

I originally read both books by Mrs. Hale because I know her personally, but was blown away by this one. It is a story about a 17 yr old boy's, Seth, experience with the devastating Galveston Storm of 1900. It is so precise and well-written historically, I actually assigned it to my students to better understand the impact the storm had in Galveston. The only thing I want to warn about is the graphic nature. Some of my students had some trouble with the descriptions of the bodies, devestation. So if your child has a queasy stomach, you may want to wait until he/she is older. However, overall, it is a great historical fiction book!

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Ms. Hale has done it again!

A friend told me about Marian Hale's first book, "The Truth About Sparrows". She said that even though it was written for pre-teens, she had enjoyed it very much. I must agree with her. It was an excellent book, and when I finished it I wanted more! As soon as "Dark Water Rising" was available I read it. Sometimes when we have expectations about a book we are disappointed, and then there's that old axiom about everyone having one good book in them. However, I was delighted to see that Ms. Hale had done it again!

"Dark Water Rising" captivated me from the beginning. When I was reading it, it was as though nothing else existed. I looked forward to the limited time I have each day for reading. This book seized hold of my mind and my heart, wrapped them in tears and smiles and wouldn't let go. I made it last as long as I could, because I didn't want it to end. I was amazed at Ms. Hale's ability to achieve such depth and detail of content with a warm simplicity. I would not like to see adults pass this book over thinking it is only for "children". Any adult who enjoys good writing will love it!

It's been a long, long time since a writer has taken me back to the first good feelings that I associate with books. My grandmother read to me as a child. She sat in front of a blazing, crackling fireplace with me on her lap, reading the same stories over and over. Her gift to me was a love of reading. Ms. Hale's books take me to that same lovely, warm place. She obviously has a superior gift as a storyteller, and I impatiently look forward to many more books.

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reviews: page 1, 2

A poignant coming-of-age novel set during the Galveston Storm of 1900 I looked south toward the gulf, trying to keep an eye on the stalking sea. Wild waves rose up like a great hand and wrenched loose the Pagoda?s long staircase, sending planks tumbling through the air. With horror I watched the end of one twin building sway and dip into the surf.
I yelled at Josiah, but my words disappeared on the wind. I grabbed his arm, pointed, and we stood together, shoulder to shoulder, mouths gaping, watching the impossible.
Like a wounded Goliath, the great bathhouse shuddered, folded in on its long legs, and collapsed into the sea. Galveston, Texas, may be the booming city of the twentieth century, but to Seth it is the end of a dream. He wants to be a carpenter like his father, but the family has moved so Seth can become a doctor.
Just as things begin to look up for Seth, a storm warning is raised one sweltering afternoon. A north wind always brings change, but no one could have imagined anything like this.
The acclaimed author of The Truth About Sparrows has crafted an unforgettable story set during the Galveston Storm of 1900.

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