Reading Metrics
Description
After surviving a ferocious hurricane in a lighthouse on the Bolivar Peninsula, middle-grader Helicity Dunlap emerges battered but alive, having rescued a stray dog. With her mother and Sam, she begins the two-day drive back to Western Michigan, leaving her brother Andy and father behind as Andy enters an addiction rehabilitation program. Her courageous act thrusts her into the media spotlight, but the attention quickly turns hostile when social media users criticize her decisions. Now Helicity must cope with family struggles, grief, and the harsh glare of public scrutiny while trying to find her footing again.
Quick Summary
From the moment the hurricane makes landfall on the Bolivar Peninsula, Helicity Dunlap turns a terrifying night in a lighthouse into a page-turning adventure that feels both real and empowering. The story mixes hair-raising storm scenes with Helicity's quick thinking and dry humor she fixes a broken radio, rigs a makeshift shelter, and eventually coaxes a frightened stray dog to safety, showing readers that courage often comes in small, clever acts rather than superhuman feats. Kids who love survival stories like the I Survived series will find the same heart-pounding tension here, but with a spunky female lead who isn't afraid to get a little dirty and make jokes even when the roof is caving in. Parents will appreciate that the book teaches practical weather safety and problem-solving without being preachy, and the occasional moments of levity keep the tone light enough for younger middle-graders while still delivering genuine stakes. If your child enjoys fast-paced, real-world thrillers with a touch of heart, this quick-read adventure about a girl who refuses to give up even when the world's literally falling apart around her might just become their next favorite book.