The Mercy of the Sky
The Story of a Tornado
-
- $13.99
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
“A gripping, heartbreaking and heartwarming account of the monster tornado that ravaged Moore, Oklahoma in 2013. It will leave you emotionally drained but glad you journeyed into the heart of this extraordinary storm with Bailey as your guide.” --Daniel James Brown, #1 NY Times bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat
Winner of the Oklahoma Book Award// Winner of the American Meteorological Society’s Louis J. Battan Award
An acclaimed reporter returns to her hometown after the worst twister on record and emerges with a suspenseful story of human courage in the face of natural disaster.
On May 20, 2013, the worst tornado on record landed a direct hit on the town of Moore, on the outskirts of Oklahoma City, levelling neighborhoods, sending farm animals flying, and destroying a school while the children cowered inside. Holly Bailey went back both as a journalist and a hometown girl, speaking to the teachers who put their lives at risk as they struggled to comfort their students; to the mayor and first responders who waded through the debris while the storm still raged; to the scientists and meteorologists who have dedicated their lives to understanding tornadoes but still can’t determine when one will land with any degree of certainty and are haunted by every death they might have prevented; to the storm chasers who pursue level 5 twisters with a combination of gadgetry, courage and adrenaline; and to the shell shocked residents of Moore, who rose to the occasion that day with countless acts of selfless courage. An intense and inspiring account of what happened on that fateful day, The Mercy of the Sky Bailey does for the Oklahoma flatlands what Sebastian Junger did for Gloucester, Massachusetts, in The Perfect Storm, telling the dramatic story of a town that must survive the elements—or die.
“The book is excellent – well researched, well told, with a strong narrative that reads like a disaster novel… It’s difficult to imagine that anyone other than an Okie could tell the story so confidently and so well.” – The Oklahoman
“This gripping book tells the story of one resilient Oklahoma town and the immense killer tornado that ripped through it. Holly Bailey brings together riveting science, human drama, courage, tragedy, and redemption to create a quintessential American story. Powerful and moving.” – Douglas Presenton, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of The Monster of Florence
“Bailey is a brilliant storyteller. She brings you to the center of the storm – and it’s terrifying. She makes you feel a community’s loss – and it’s devastating. And she brings you inside people’s lives as they heal – and it’s inspiring.” – David Greene, host of NPR’s Morning Edition
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist Bailey grew up in central Oklahoma's "tornado alley" and was accustomed to storms, but the tornado that struck Moore, Okla., the city where she'd spent much of her childhood, on May 20th, 2013, was one of truly epic and horrifying proportions. She revisits that terrifying day in this remarkable account, putting readers on the ground as the storm grows. Interviews with residents including the charismatic Gary England, then chief meteorologist for Oklahoma City's KWTV-9; Amy Simpson, head principal of one of Moore's hardest-hit elementary schools; and Steve Eddy, Moore's relentlessly determined city manager highlight the tornado's personal toll and make for an almost unbearable page-turning experience. The storm began as "nothing more than a wispy little funnel" but metastasized into a monstrous tornado "more than a mile wide" with winds "well in excess of 210 miles per hour." It also hit during the worst possible time: late afternoon, when children were still in school. Bailey ramps up the tension with a skilled hand, following the tornado's path through town until residents emerge from the wreckage to a landscape they "no longer recognized." Bailey's artistry will leave more than a few readers gasping for breath.
Customer Reviews
Storm Chaser
I've always been intrigued by severe weather so this was a must read for me. This was well written and included background information that you would never see on the news. It was heartbreaking to see how these dramatic storms affect those in its path and the impact it has on them for many years afterwards.
Well written
So gripping, yet so sad.