Hurricane Rescue

Meet the Disaster Squad! Leela, Jaden, and the rest of the Jackson family travel the country and respond to natural disasters, helping people in need and rescuing animals along the way. 

In this second adventure, the Jacksons are called to Texas, where a hurricane is heading down the coast. Stormy skies, flooding streets, and crowded storm shelters… there are people and animals in danger! Will the Disaster Squad be able to weather the storm and lend a helping hand? 

Hurricane Rescue educates readers on the different aspects of hurricanes, including how they are named, how to evacuate safely, and the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. The plot of Hurricane Rescue is broken up into small sections showing how the Jackson family helps many people. 

The Jackson family goes to a shelter to help where needed, and Leela and Jaden jump in and help when it is safe. The reason the Jackson family goes to the shelter is unclear. However, they still find ways to help during the storm. While there, they meet Mayor Garcia, who shows them emergency dos and don’ts. While at the hurricane shelter, the lights go out, so Leela and Jaden use a flashlight to make shadow puppets to entertain the little kids. They also help rescue a baby dolphin that was beached during the storm. Interspersed throughout the book are short animal interactions that will appeal to animal-loving readers. 

The kids see a rattlesnake and wonder if they should help the snake find shelter from the hurricane. Their mom tells them, “Never touch a rattlesnake in the wild. They are very aggressive. . . Your aunt Maya often finds rattlesnakes in her backyard in Arizona. She calls a trained professional who captures the snake and puts it back in the wild.” Even though the Jackson family helps animals in need, they always use procedures that keep them and the animals safe. 

For young readers who live in an area affected by hurricanes, Hurricane Rescue can help them understand how to prepare for a hurricane and the importance of going to a shelter. The story begins while the Jacksons are traveling to Florida. While there, the family helps at two different shelters. The Jacksons change locations often, making the plot a little choppy. Even though the book uses kid-friendly descriptions, younger readers may need help understanding the cause and effects of the hurricane.  

Hurricane Rescue focuses on the Jackson family—a biracial family with two professional parents. The book also features a Hispanic female mayor who plays a significant role at the shelter. The Disaster Squad Series is part of Scholastic‘s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. The easy-to-read text and illustrations on every page will appeal to readers ready for chapter books.  

Hurricane Rescue reminds readers that “It’s important that people see how natural disasters and climate change are affecting the planet.” However, the book doesn’t give any information about how to help stop climate change. Still, the increasing number of natural disasters worldwide makes Disaster Squad a relevant series that will help readers understand the complexities of natural disasters. Readers interested in helping animals in need can find another action-packed adventure by reading  Storm Rescue by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Storm Dragon by Paula Harrison and Lucky Leopards by Aline Alexander Newman. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None