I Survived the Joplin Tornado, 2011

“The tornado was three-quarters of a mile wide, with winds that topped 200 miles per hour. It swept away houses and blasted the wreckage thousands of feet into the sky. It tore apart schools and sent stores crashing down on the people inside. Cars flew through the air. Trucks turned into missiles. Century-old trees were ripped from the ground.”

Also from the first chapter, the above passage further demonstrates Tarshis’s matter-of-fact tone when discussing the tornado’s effects. The series was born out of feedback that children are curious about catastrophic events, so the author does not euphemize or sugarcoat. In each section of the novel, the scope of the disaster is not minimized, but the language avoids emotion and judgment, focusing instead on factual outcomes.

“Dylan and Dex had never had a fight, or even exchanged a mean look. But somehow an invisible wall had risen up between them, and Dex had no idea how to break it down.”

This passage exemplifies the attention the novel gives to the main character’s inner life, which enables young readers to connect with that character. Dex and Dylan drifting apart as they get older is a familiar experience in the transition between the end of elementary school and the beginning of middle school. In addition, this passage foreshadows later events. The tornado will literally knock down walls, in the process bringing the people of the city together to help each other. In Chapter 15, the narrative notes, “It seemed the tornado had broken down that wall that had risen up between” Dylan and Dex (87).

“Because you made your bed right, and you’ve started your day doing something right. And if you have a hard day, you can come home to a bed you made, so you can go to sleep and get strong again for the next day.”

In this passage, Dex explains his answer to Dylan’s question regarding what the ‘best’ lesson Jeremy has learned as a SEAL is. Dylan does not understand the answer at first, and Dex himself is surprised that making one’s bed properly was the first thought that came to his mind. As Dex answers the question, however, he realizes the importance of starting one’s day ‘right.’ This passage exemplifies the way Dex repeatedly returns to lessons he has learned from Jeremy and the inspiration he takes from Jeremy. It also foreshadows that Dex will turn to thoughts of Jeremy when faced with Dr. Gage’s injury in Chapter 12.

“His head was filled with tornadoes dancing in the sky, touching down in his mind and carrying him off to sleep.”

Here, as Dex falls asleep dreaming about the tornado, the imagery is of dancing. This perception exemplifies how Dex thinks about tornado’s before he experiences one. He knows that tornadoes are dangerous, but he also finds them intriguing; Dex is unable to grasp the scope of their danger before he has experienced one. The imagery here contrasts with the descriptions of the tornado as a predatory animal during and after Dex experiences it.

“Dex knew that one day he’d travel the world. But he also knew he’d always be happy to come home to Joplin.”

Dex’s reflection above occurs as he and Dr. Gage are driving through Joplin on their way to chase the storm. On one level, the city functions as a character in the book, with Dex as an exemplar of the kind of relationship its citizens have with Joplin. In her afterword, Tarshis explains that Joplin is a city that “feels more like a small town,” noting that it was easy for her “to see why so many people who are born here never leave” (90). She builds this sentiment into the story through both Dex’s close bond with his city and its residents rallying to each other’s aid in the tornado’s aftermath.

“Dex scanned the sky, which was clear blue except for some hazy clouds. It was hard to imagine that a violent storm was somewhere nearby.”

One of the important facts about tornadoes that Tarshis repeatedly returns to in the story is that they cannot be definitively predicted. It often takes someone seeing a tornado with their own eyes to know which direction it is headed, which is part of what makes them so dangerous. The above passage is an example of how Tarshis emphasizes the point both before and during the tornado. Residents like Dex could not have known from looking into the sky a few hours earlier what the end of the day could bring. This repeated refrain drives home the gravity of tornadoes’ threat for young readers.

“Most people say that a tornado sounds like a speeding freight train. But every tornado sounds different. This one was roaring and hissing, like some kind of snake.”

Here, Dr. Gage tells the story of the tornado he lived through when he was Dex’s age. One of Dr. Gage’s research focuses is on sound as a potential means of being able to better predict tornadoes, hence his attention to the sound a tornado makes. The imagery of the language exemplifies the shift that occurs before and after surviving a tornado: Dr. Gage describes the tornado as a “roaring” and “hissing” predatory snake as opposed to the ‘dancing’ imagery of Dex’s dreams.

“The air was steamy and thick, and the wind was stronger. The corn plants rippled like waves on a stormy ocean.”

This passage demonstrates the way Tarshis creates a foreboding atmosphere and foreshadowing. The change in the weather reflects that Dr. Gage and Dex are moving closer to their confrontation with the tornado. The “stormy ocean” imagery foreshadows the destruction that is to come in the ensuing chapters.

“They were just a few feet from the car when a huge hailstone smashed into Dex. He saw a burst of stars, and next thing he knew, he was on the ground.”

Cliffhangers at the end of each chapter are a significant way in which Tarshis generates the momentum that propels readers through the narrative. The above passage is an example of the kind of cliffhangers that recur across the book, not only during the tornado but also before it. Often, they are built around physical danger of some kind. In this case, Dex is injured during the storm. Earlier in the book, Dex seemed about to be hit by a car, and later, he will realize Dr. Gage is gravely injured.

“‘It always surprises me,’ Dr. Gage said. ‘Nature can be so violent one minute, and so peaceful the next. And we humans have no control at all.’”

The author repeatedly emphasizes the limits of human knowledge to understand and predict tornadoes. Dr. Gage’s statements here provide a stark expression of the contrast that Tarshis sets up across the book through descriptions of the landscape before and after the tornado. This passage also exemplifies how the author tells children the unvarnished truth. The attention she gives to community action and support provides a counterpoint to humans’ vulnerability to nature.

“Dr. Gage stared through the cracked windshield, scanning the sky like a SEAL searching for enemy shooters.”

The passage above illustrates the way Tarshis uses similes to bring elements across the novel into relationship. Jeremy provides inspiration in several ways. Here, the simile suggests to readers how people in a variety of roles can serve and protect their communities, putting themselves in harm’s way in the process. Later in the story, by thinking of Jeremy, Dex will find the inspiration he needs to help Dr. Gage after he is injured.

“Dex’s eyes flooded with tears. Joplin! His city was being torn to pieces.”

In her afterword, Tarshis describes Joplin as a city beloved by its friendly and hospitable residents. Within the novel, Dex embodies the qualities that Tarshis ascribes to the residents in her afterword. As exemplified by the above passage, he feels a bond with his city, and watching the tornado tear it apart hurts him. Yet it is that love for the city that inspires people to come together to support each other and rebuild their community.

“And there was a noise like nothing Dex had ever heard, like thousands of Black Hawk helicopters had exploded from the sky, their engines roaring, their blades whirring.”

Tarshis uses a range of similes to characterize the strength and power of the tornado. Here, for example, she uses a simile to capture the scope of the noise. The comparison to military helicopters draws attention to the tornado as a powerful force. It also plays on Dex’s previous fears for his brother, placing Dex in the center of a situation as dangerous as the ones he feared his brother might face while in the military.

“Dr. Gage gripped Dex’s arm so hard that Dex was afraid it would be torn off. He pulled Dex back, refusing to let him fall into the tornado’s hungry jaws.”

As the tornado threatens to pull Dex out of the smashed car window, Dr. Gage grabs onto him, presumably saving his life. The passage illustrates on a person-to-person level the power of resilience and resourcefulness. Individuals look out for each other, each one being a link in the chain that creates community. Later, remembering Dr. Gage’s actions in this moment, Dex will find the courage to recall his first aid lessons and keep Dr. Gage safe until help arrives.

“The tornado bellowed like a beast whose bloody kill had been snatched away.”

The above quotation is an example of the kind of animal imagery the author uses to characterize the tornado. Tarshis repeatedly portrays the tornado as a predator and humans as its prey. In addition to adding vividness and drama to the writing, the similes emphasize the limits of human knowledge when faced with the power of nature. Though there is much we can do to protect themselves, humans cannot bend nature to their will.

“Because the whole point is to show you that you are stronger than you ever imagined. As a SEAL, there will be times when you are terrified, lost, bleeding. But you can’t just quit. The guys on your team are depending on you. Your country is counting on you. And so no matter how you feel, you need to find the strength to complete your mission.”

Alone with a gravely wounded Dr. Gage, Dex recalls a conversation he had with Jeremy in which his brother explained why SEAL training is so difficult. The training is a simulation to prepare the soldiers for the kinds of challenges they will likely face; its intensity demonstrates the importance of resilience and resourcefulness when faced with adversity. Earlier, Dr. Gage likely saved Dex’s life. In this moment, Dex has an opportunity to save Dr. Gage, and his brother’s words help him to rise to the occasion. In the days and weeks to come, Dex and his family will also receive support from their friends and neighbors, further demonstrating the importance of these qualities.

“Someone’s family portrait, smudged with grime, smiled out from under a pile of plaster and jagged glass. A page from a children’s book blew through the air like a dead leaf. A basketball rolled down the street, as though someone had just missed a free throw. Mixed in with the piles of wood and roof shingles were parts of couches, stuffed animals, a smashed oven, a headless Barbie doll, dishes, pots…parts of people’s lives scattered like puzzle pieces. Everything was soaking wet and covered with brown filth.”

As with similes, the author uses extended description to bring scenes to life in the reader’s imagination. Here, Tarshis stitches together a variety of images that capture Joplin after the tornado has passed through the city. Earlier in the novel, she uses a similar method to create a portrait of the town. The images she includes are likely to resonate with young readers because they are familiar items—games, toys, and the trappings of home life.

“The house where Dex had lived his whole life. The house where Dex had learned to walk and talk and tie his shoes and read and write, where he’d put his baby teeth under his pillow and waited for Santa to come down the chimney. The house where he rode around on Jeremy’s shoulders, feeling like the luckiest boy on earth. The house that had made him. The tornado had smashed it to pieces, and now it was just a mountain of rubble.”

One of the author’s stated goals with the I Survived series is to feature an historically significant catastrophic event through the eyes of a child who lives through it. The child’s emotional life is an important part of each book that can then provide a platform for exploring the power of resilience and community. Tarshis does not underplay the grief that the main characters, in this case Dex, experience. Instead, she builds on their experiences of grief to show that it is possible to go on after a tragic event.

“They clung together and cried. But they did not cry for what had been lost. That would come later. Right now, they were crying for what they had found.”

Here, after fearing the tornado had killed them all, Dex has just reunited with his parents and dog. This excerpt demonstrates the balance the author strikes between tragedy and hope. Though the novel does confront how much the city of Joplin suffered and lost in reality, it also balances this suffering and loss with hope and the possibility for good to emerge out of the bad.

“Though he was sleeping better, the tornado howled through his dreams. And he always woke up in a sweaty panic, reliving the terror of the storm, the jumbled darkness of those first few days.”

In depicting the reality of life after surviving a tragic event, Tarshis makes clear that Dex’s experiences during the tornado continue to affect him even though the event itself is over. However, Tarshis depicts this struggle as another form of resilience. Despite the nightmares, Dex finds comfort in the support of his family and community, and he takes action himself, volunteering and planning to share his hailstone with Dr. Gage. Tarshis thus acknowledges that, even for strong characters, healing from a traumatic event may take time.

“Dylan had helped Dex get the bed set up, and of course they made it right, the SEAL way. They’d even smiled at each other, the kind of smiles they used to share back when they’d been best friends. It seemed the tornado had broken down the wall that had risen up between them.”

In Chapter 2, the narrative noted that “an invisible wall had risen up” between Dex and his friend Dylan as they grew older (7). Here, the author revisits Dex and Dylan’s relationship to show how tragic events can also bring people closer together. The tornado tore down many literal walls, but it also broke down a metaphorical wall. The novel thereby shows young readers that even in the midst of tragedy there can be hope and possibility.

“At first Dex couldn’t believe Jeremy was giving it away. That trident was what made Jeremy a SEAL! But no. It wasn’t a piece of gold-painted metal that made Jeremy strong and brave. It was what was inside him. And wasn’t the same true of Joplin? What Dex loved about Joplin wasn’t the buildings and houses. It was the faith of the people, their strength. A tornado couldn’t break that.”

After the tornado, Jeremy sends Dex his SEAL pin, and Dex is initially shocked that his brother would give away an item of such significance. In this moment, however, Dex realizes that the pin, while a meaningful symbol, is not the true source of his brother’s valor. Dex also realizes that, while physical things can be destroyed, strength and resilience are more enduring. This moment helps remind young readers that it is what inside them that matters most; even if physical things are lost or destroyed, inner strength can still be summoned, especially if one’s family and community are still alive and able to work together.

“The I Survived series isn’t really about disasters. It’s about people. Yes, I write long chapters filled with destruction. But in the end, my books are about resilience—the ability most of us have to recover after experiencing something difficult or painful.”

This excerpt from Tarshis’s afterword addressed to young readers makes explicit one of the themes that she develops across the novel. Disasters and tragedies are inevitably a part of life, but they can also reveal the value of community and personal strength. The suggestion is that children’s curiosity about tragic events may speak to their desire to learn their own hidden strengths and capacities and to believe that they too could survive.