{My thoughts} – Hugo and his family are taking their very first trip on a zeppelin. It is emphasized about how safe it is in the book to travel in this way. Hugo in his family had been living in Kenya but are flying back to New York. They were told that in New York they’d be able to get a cure for the illness that attacks his younger sister. His younger sister has been through many near death occurrences in a short amount of time.

The zeppelin is a safe means of travel and as they are making their trip they learn that there is a spy on board. They learn that the spy is smuggling papers that will help reveal the location of Nazi spies that are hiding out in America. There are some Nazis that are on board the zeppelin that are on the look out for the spy. They are trying to hunt down the spy and to bring the spy to justice.

Little do Hugo and his parents know that they have personally met and interacted with the spy. So much happens on the flight before they are able to land. When they get ready to land a lot takes place including a fire on board the zeppelin. So many end up hurt and some die due to the occurrence of the fire.

My heart breaks for everyone in this book even though it’s a fictional story. It is based on real events and real people were hurt and did die from this disaster when it had happened. I’d learned a lot of interesting information while reading the book, stuff that I plan to further research in my free time. In the mean time though, I look forward to reading the next book in this series as I am highly wrapped up in these books right now! ( )

Hugo, his sister Gertie, their parents and their dog Panya are going to America on the Hindenburg. They had spent the previous year in Kenya. Hugo’s parents are scientists. They have loved it there, but Gertie got malaria. They have only the hope of new medicine in America to save her life. On the Hindenburg, Hugo and his family are introduced to the man in charge of the Hindenburg and his daughter. There are Nazi soldiers on board because they are looking for a spy. All of this is tense enough. When the actual event happens you get a small feel for what it was like inside the Hindenburg when it burst into flames and hit the ground. All of this took a little over thirty seconds. I was handed this book by one of my students and told I needed to read it over Spring Break. I am glad I did. I highly recommend it. ( )

There are 17 books in the I Survived series. Each book tells a fictionalized eye-witness account of a historical disaster or event. The books are for kids, so the protagonist of each book is a child, usually about 10-11 years old. This series is excellent! The stories are a mix of historical fact and fictionalized story, bringing the events alive for middle-grade age students. The books range from modern events like 9/11 to more ancient disasters like the destruction of Pompeii.

I Survived the Hingenburg Disaster, 1937 is the 13th book in the series. Hugo is 11 and travelling on the Hindenburg with his parents and little sister, Gertie. Hugo's mother is a little bit afraid to fly on an airship, but Hugo tells her it's the safest mode of travel with the fewest accidents. Little does he know that when they arrive in New Jersey on May 6th, 1937 that the ship is going to explode while landing. A family adventure turns into a dangerous, life threatening disaster. 35 people died in the disaster, and was the beginning of the end for airship travel.

This book is excellent and could easily be used in a classroom situation. It could be used to encourage kids to read, as supplemental reading for a history lesson or to read out loud to a class of students. Kids interested in history would love this series. The topics are varied and the event is related in realistic terms but not too graphic. Just enough detail....but not too much. The contents are age appropriate for middle-grade age children. As an adult, I enjoy this series as well. I like to read children's books in between heavier adult fiction to give my brain a bit of a break. I love history, so this series is perfect for me.

The cover art for this series is always colorful and eye-catching. The stories are interesting with lots of action. This series might be a good choice for kids who are reluctant readers.
( )

Only 3 stars because the Nazi general almost kills the boy and his dog. ( )

This is the first one of Tarshis's books where I actually learned new stuff! Good job. ( )