First published 2015
Eleven-year-old Dexter dreams of seeing a real tornado. When Dr. Norman Rays, host of Tornado Mysteries, invites him on a storm chasing expedition, Dexter jumps at the chance. He wants an adventure story to share with his older brother Jeremy, who left Joplin to join the Navy SEALs. Dexter knows tornadoes kill people, but this storm is supposed to miss his hometown entirely. The plan seems safe enough. Then the massive tornado changes course and barrels straight toward Joplin. Suddenly Dexter finds himself facing the very disaster he thought he could observe from a distance. The boy who wanted to witness nature's power must now survive its fury. As the tornado tears through his city, Dexter discovers what real courage means.
Genres: adventure, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Joplin
Period: 2011
112 pages · Paperback · Scholastic Paperbacks