As most, if not all, of you know or can infer by the blog name. I work as a meteorologist for my 'day' job. (I am all over-nights, so day is relative) There aren't that many books that encompass the weather, especially not fictional ones, but I've decided to share the information I can about the ones I find and really enjoy.
This first post of this series of blogs will be about a trilogy of books I really enjoyed, and am happy exist for the younger readers in the world, especially those who like weather. Without further ado...
Chasing Helicity Trilogy by Ginger Zee
Chasing Helicity is a middle grade novel by Ginger Zee, the meteorologist at Good Morning America and fellow Valpo alum.
Each book follows a young girl named Helicity, who lives in Michigan and is fascinated by the weather. Each book also focuses on a different weather element, which is one of my favorite parts of the series.
In the first book, Helicity finds herself outside on horseback while a tornado rips through her hometown. Helicity, fascinated by weather, is now stuck between being in awe of the weather and seeing the direct impacts it has on the people around her.
In the aftermath of the tornado, Helicity is struggling between the strict expectations of her father and her brother border lining on addiction the pain medication for a broken bone that has the risk of ruining his college football career.
Now, this book has a lot of weather information that is easily digestible by an audience who finds the weather fascinating. This book also has a lot of a heavy topics, drug addiction, survivor guilt, and overall just the talk of how trauma impacts a person. There are some topics that might make it hard to give certain children, and even adults. So tread carefully depending on how you think those things will impact you.
The next two books in the series are also just as intricate with weather detail, as well a having some drama. In book 2, we see first hand how to make it through a hurricane, and book 3 talks about storms in the southwest.
Overall, I really enjoyed all 3 books. I think that my younger self would have absolutely loved these books and the fact that there was a 13 year old who wanted to be a storm chaser. I also think these books do a lot for reminding kids that weather does impact people, and how to not feel bad because you find it fascinating. A lesson I didn't learn until most of the way through my college career. Meteorologists and storm chasers are needed for data, for improving forecasts, but in that process we will see the power of what nature can do.
If you have any young weather lover in your life, or love the weather yourself I really recommend these books.
More information on Goodreads, link below:
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