Storm Runners

Narrated by Ramón de Ocampo. Chase Masters and his dad travel to Florida where Hurricane Emily is forecast to hit, and where Mr. Masters hopes to make money on repairs in the aftermath of the storm. Mr. Masters has raised Chase to be fully prepared for any emergency, but they didn’t count on being caught up in what turns out to be “the storm of the century.” Young listeners will be captivated by the suspense and dramatic energy of the story as presented.

I could only give this book four stars due to the abrupt ending. Buy the next book to continue the story! I liked the way the chapters alternated among different scenes and different groups of people, thus different views of the situation. I also liked that the chapter headings were chronological times, not chapter numbers. I wanted to learn more about Momma Rossi and the circus family, but those characters were not well developed. I did like John Masters very much, a very cool dad character. Chase (good name!) also had a lot of survival skills. The book was very gripping and drew in the reader almost at once. Too bad I have to get the next two books to finish the story!

The action keeps rolling and rolling in this hurricane chasing book. Events seem improbable - exciting yes, but unrealistic. The interior feelings and motives of characters are not explored, leaving them to feel one-dimensional. It's just action packed scene after action packed scene, ending in the middle of a momentous scene. It's as if Roland Smith is begging us to read the next installment. It's a cheap trick. While I understand that writers need to display a variety of tactics and magic to attract and keep reluctant readers reading, the content certainly doesn't need to be dumbed down.

Overall, a quick read and a page turner, I'll give it that.

Love this one for young readers. Easy and original. Will catch those who think they don't like to read by surprise: YA will relate to the characters while being thrilled at the twisting action. Touches on deep life issues for wonderful class or small group conversations.

It was fine.
Not good.
Not bad.
Just fine.
There was some action - enjoyable but predictable.
There were some good characters but they were put in obvious situations.

I enjoyed it while I was reading it but will soon forget it, won't recommend it and probably won't read Roland Smith again but if this is your "type" of book then give it a try.

This story of a storm-chasing father and son is full of nonstop action and adventure a la Mother Nature. Chase and his dad have traveled to Florida to prepare for Hurricane Emily. When it changes course unexpectedly, his dad is a few towns over, and Chase and a couple of new school friends find themselves trapped on a school bus that never made it to their homes. He and the two girls must use their wits if they are to travel the miles to their homes in the face of horrendous rains, winds, flooding, roads that are crumbling before their eyes, and way too many Florida alligators that have been disturbed by the storm. Fans of Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and other survival stories will tear through this one, and the cliffhanger ending will ensure they are waiting for the next in the series.

So, after Chase's mom and sister are killed in a car accident and Chase's dad is struck by lightning (yes, really), Chase's dad decides to start a new career path as a storm runner. He heads to where severe storms are predicted and helps folks rebuild and shore up their houses and buildings. This means they travel a lot, which means it's been some time since middle-schooler Chase has been able to put roots down. And it also means he's learned a LOT about storms and survival through watching and working with his dad. When they head to Florida, just ahead of a predicted hurricane, Chase has a bad feeling that things are not going to go the way his dad has planned. When Hurricane Emily strikes land 50 miles north of where meteorologists had predicted, Chase finds himself trapped on a school bus with two of his classmates and they'll have to rely on Chase's wits to survive floods, hurricane winds, and alligators (yes!). Once the book gets going, the action is nonstop and it'll definitely please tweens looking for adventure stories. Chase is a resourceful lad and puts his knowledge to good use. He's also a no-man-left-behind type of guy. Of course, the reader must suspend disbelief for some parts of the book, but it all makes for a rip-roaring good time. Be warned that the ending is a MAJOR CLIFFHANGER and you'll want to have the next books in the series at hand. Actually, probably encourage kids to check out all three at once.

Chase and his father travel around the country looking for storms -- Chase's father is a contractor who specializes in storm preparation and clean-up. When Chase and a couple of friends are stranded miles from safety in the middle of a hurricane, Chase's storm survival skills are tested to their limits. They face high winds, raging water, and wild animals . . . and even when they reach their destination, the danger is far from over.This isn't really a book -- it's the first third of a book. It ends in a cliffhanger, so if this sounds like the book for you, have the second one on hand. This fast-paced read that will definitely appeal to reluctant readers, especially those who enjoy man-versus-nature survival stories. I wouldn't recommend this for adult readers, as adult fans of this sort of thriller will seek out longer and more complex works. However, for readers in the target age range, this will be a highly enjoyable book.

On the road with his father over the past year, Chase had thought a lot about the word fate and decided it was one of those little words with a big meaning... Chase Masters and his father travel from place to place, following storms and disasters. John Masters was a renowned builder until his wife and daughter were killed in a car accident, and he was struck by lightning. Now he and his friend Tomas rebuild homes and communities after tornadoes and hurricanes, enrolling Chase in school wherever they are. In the first book of a planned series, they are in Florida, awaiting Hurricane Emily as she churns in the Gulf, gathering strength and taking aim. Tomas and John head for Palm Beeze, leaving Chase with Tomas's friends the Rossi's who are wintering their traveling circus at their Florida farm. Chase and Nicole are headed home on the bus with a friend when the hurricane strikes, and they end up struggling for their lives in the open, miles from shelter and the farm! The next one comes out in the fall, so readers won't have to wait too long for Round Two! Short, fast paced and action-packed, especially when the hurricane hits, this is perfect for more reluctant readers. 6th grade and up.

Twelve-year-old Chase travels the country with his father, who offers his services in reconstruction after catastrophes, sometimes exploiting those in need, but Chase tries to make things right, especially when he and a new friend are caught in a hurricane near St. Petersburg, Florida.

Roland Smith definitely has a winner with this book. Of course that is just my opinion. Chase is a very likable character. He has lost his mother and sister. We don't find out how until later in the book. This loss has definitely caused some tension between chase and his father. But life as he knew it the day his father was struck by lightning. Now they and their friend Tomas chase storms across the country. That is how Chase ends up in Florida. A hurricane is headed their way and his father wants to help prepare people and then be there to help them clean up. But weather is a difficult thing to predict. When the category five hurricane changes directions and Chase and a couple of classmates are caught in the mess he will need everything he has to survive. Since I live in Florida and have gone through several hurricanes I really connected with this book. It shows kids that they have the ability to make a difference no matter how small it may seem. The book ends with a big cliff hanger and I will eagerly await the sequel "Surge" which I believe will be out around August.