Danny and Life on Bluff Point: The Blizzard of ‘95

Danny and Life on Bluff Point: The Blizzard of ‘95
Mary Ellen Lee
Four Seasons Publisher
ISBN: 1-891929-68-2
Historical Fiction, Children, Middle Grades
Reviewed by Tami Brady

Danny and Life on Bluff Point: The Blizzard of ’95 is the second book of the Danny and Life on Bluff Point series. This fictional series is based upon the real journals of the author’s grandfather. The main character of the story is the author’s father Danny. Danny is ten years old and dreams about becoming tall and strong like his father. The boy has an older sister Ruthie who used to be a lot of fun but is now more interested in girly stuff and two younger sisters Mary and Carolyn who are still just a little young to be a friend to Danny. In each book, Danny shares his dreams and adventures as well as his challenges and successes. Thus, each book actually contains several smaller stories that lead up to the main dramatic event.

In The Blizzard of ’95, Miss Spaulding, the children’s teacher, comes to live with the Lee family for three months. In their community, each family took turns at housing the teacher and making her feel at home. At first, Danny isn’t really happy about the teacher being at his house. He is sure that the kids at school will tease him. He is also not very happy about all of the extra chores that will need to be done. Danny finds out that although there is more work to be done, he now has an opportunity to show his father that he can take on more responsibility. Also, Miss Spaulding encourages Danny’s interest in history and even tries to help him in his search for the town founder’s cabin. The big event in this book is a huge blizzard in which something very sad happens.