Hurricane

Terry Trueman draws on his knowledge of Honduras, gained when he taught there, to create a compelling story about the impact of Hurricane Mitch, which devastated the Caribbean in 1998. The story's first-person narrator is 13-year-old Jose, who is thrust into the role of man of the house when the storm hits as a result of his father, older brother, and sister being away. Ramón de Ocampo builds suspense as Jose's village is destroyed by a mud slide and the survivors pool their meager resources to survive until help arrives. De Ocampo fills Jose's voice with all the fear, worry, and courage of a young man thrust too soon into manhood. The only weakness is that de Ocampo gives the Honduran protagonist a Spanish accent only when he speaks proper names. N.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Ramon de Ocampo narrates this compassionate story of destruction and hope in Puerto Rico. Shortly after Salvador G�mez-Col�n turned 15 in 2017, his home was devastated by Hurricane Maria. In the aftermath, he saw two pressing needs of his neighbors: light and clean clothes. He started to raise money to provide solar lamps and hand-operated washers. During the hurricane, de Ocampo matches the emotional intensity and vulnerability in G�mez-Col�n's words, tempered just enough to keep the story appropriate for middle-grade listeners. De Ocampo doesn't try to sound young, and his straightforward narration is respectful of G�mez-Col�n's powerful story. Narrator Quarie Marshall delivers an introduction to the I, Witness series and a conclusion with historical data and a list of ways to help. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine