Storm Catchers

Bowler, T. (2001). Storm Catchers. Great Britain: Oxford University Press.

Brief Annotation: Fin goes into rescue mode in an effort to find his kidnapped younger sister Ella. The family chooses to leave the police out of the search and take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, the youngest child, Sam, uses his “special” gifts to help them find Ella. Sam is wrapped into trying to catch the storm despite what has taken place with Ella. Sam had pinpointed an island where Ella is staying, so Fin and their father, Peter, go to the island and find Ella and the kidnapper there. A family secret is revealed about Peter, and how his history is what caused Ella to become the victim in the first place.
Genre: Mystery/Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Level: Grade 5- Grade 8

Readers who will like this: The book has a very suspenseful storyline. Readers who enjoy constantly wondering “who is it?” or “who’s done it?” will like the unveiling of the story as they read along.

Response/Rating (1-4): I would rate the book a 3. Overall, I think the book deserves a 4. However, one little section of the book has a few curse words so I have to bring the rating down simply for inappropriate language used for the targeted age bracket.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: While holding the cover of the book to the class, I would do the following. “We know this book is a mystery, and called Storm Catchers. I would like everyone to visualize themselves in this scene or to pretend you are the boy in this picture. What do you think may be happening to this boy?”