Severe and Unusual Weather

In this poignant middle grade novel, a young girl leaves her troubled home and, while investigating a destructive tornado with the class outcast, learns the importance of letting her guard down. A must-read for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Dan Gemeinhart, and Corey Ann Haydu. 

Nadine has rules for surviving as the new kid:

1. Keep your head down.
2. Mind your own business.
3. Don’t stick your neck out for anyone. Especially not for Francis Pepper, the boy everyone in school picks on.

Nadine just wants to get through the rest of the year without any trouble. She knows that once her mom is out of rehab, it’ll be back to the unpredictable in Chicago.

But when she’s paired with Francis for a project about Centralia, Illinois, her new hometown, she’s drawn to his story. Francis was born the exact day that a tornado, the Great Tornado of the New Millennium (GTNM), destroyed the area. The cyclone even killed his mom. Then Nadine finds a mysterious book that contains instructions for channeling weather. Before she can blink, she and Francis are caught in the swirling whispers and lies that surround the GTNM.

Try as they might, they can’t figure out two things: Who would want to summon a tornado to Centralia? And why would they want to hurt Francis’s family?

"Foley elevates this quiet exploration of healing after trauma and finding one’s place to belong by gradually incorporating magical twists and sinister undertones. Each new variable is unveiled with a thoughtfulness that ensures the grounded themes surrounding grief and bullying remain the focus of this feel-good adventure." - Publishers Weekly

“A breezy, feel-good tale with whiffs of fantasy and wish fulfillment.” - Booklist (starred review)

"A gripping story of loss and connection." - Kirkus Reviews

“Satisfying and heartfelt. Foley balances deep topics with tween drama and handles both with aplomb.” - Horn Book Magazine