Storm Warriors

by Elisa Carbone

Driven from his home by the Ku Klux Klan and still reeling from the death of his mother, Nathan moves with his father and grandfather to the desolate Pea Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina to start a new life. Fortunately, life on Pea Island at the end of the 19th century is far from quiet.  The other island residents include the surfmen--the African American crew of the nearby U.S. Life-Saving Station--and soon Nathan is lending an extra hand to these men as they rescue sailors from sinking ships. Working and learning alongside the courageous surfmen, Nathan begins to dream of becoming one himself. But the reality of post-Civil War racism starts to show itself as he gradually realizes the futility of his dream. And then another dream begins to take shape, one that Nathan refuses to let anyone take from him.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Historical, African American, Childrens

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Elisa Carbone was raised in Arlington, Virginia. She attended college at University of Maryland and also received two master’s degrees from University of Maryland, one in Speech Communication and the other in Education.
She now lives part time in the Washington D.C. area and part time in the mountains of West Virginia.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting true account about the "Storm Warriors" of the Outer Banks of North Carolina who worked in the 1890s. The Storm Warriors were a group of black surfmen of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station who saved countless lives of men, women, and children who were traveling on boats or ships which had capsized off the coast. The main character, Nathan, dreams of one day becoming a surfman with the Pea Island Life-Saving Station, but his dad discourages his dream since it is so dangerous and he thinks that Nathan should take over his job as fisherman when he gets older. Nathan discovers his future career choice as the novel progresses - this is a novel about dreams, hard work, honor, strength, and family.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

An exciting story, and a great historical portrait...but a bit too much profanity, especially for a kids' book.

[Corinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My historical fiction friends who like more obscure historical events, I highly recommend this one! The author did a lot of research in creating a novel that is close to the experiences of the crew and the struggles that many of the black surf men crew faced. It sheds light on the bravery of the Pea Island crew.

[Lisa Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

After his mother's death in 1895, Nathan and his father get ran out by the Ku Klux Klan, they move with his grandfather to Pea Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Fishermen by trade, they live near the only rescue station on the coast to be manned by an African American crew of lifesavers. As Nathan gets to know these men, his admiration leads him to aspire to become one of them, though he knows that many boys have the same ambition and few achieve it. Nathan is the one who narrates this story. I think it’s interesting to read things from his point of view. Exciting storms, shipwrecks, and rescues are what makes this book worth reading. Nathan's growing awareness of his family's story, from his grandfather's years in slavery to his father's pride in being an independent fisherman, leads him to wonder what the future will bring for him.
I would suggest this book to 8-11 graders, it is also a great way to learn about america’s past and how we came to be where we are now. It teaches why it is so important to never lose ambition and always go after what you want. But it is also important to know everyone’s reasonings for things.

[Somer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing story, if it wasn't because I can't I would have cried with it. "You have to go out, but you don't have to come back", the surfmen's motto. How we chase our dreams, sometimes they behind fronts we don't even know what they really are but keep chasing them with all our breath. About heroes that aren't recognized as well(in this case, they were posthumously) but with the feeling of duty accomplished. It is a book that I highly recomend.

~español~español~español~

Un fascinate libro, si no fuera por las tantas cirugias en mi cara, habría llorado con él. Nos cuenta unas historia, basada en hechos reales, qque nos muestra como perseguimos nuestros sueños, que muchas veces estan detras de una fachada y ni nosotros mismos sabemos lo que perseguimos, pero aun así, con todo nuestro aliento seguimos luchando. Acerca de heroes que no son reconocidos como tal ( aunque en este caso postumamente) mas que por la satisfacción del deber cumplido. Este es un libro que recomiendo, aunque lamentablemente supongo que no estáadaptado al español para quienes no lean inglés.

[Dean Whitlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this a 5-star rating for two reasons. First, it's very well written: rich characters, a believable and very human story line, and a smooth writing style that helped to flesh out the first-person narrative. Second, it's about a part of the African-American experience that was totally new to me. I have lived on the Southern seacoast (Virginia Beach, specifically) and have visited North Carolina's Outer Banks many times. (My parents retired there.) I knew about the life-saving service in some detail - but not the black surfmen that managed to be a presence for a relatively brief period after the Civil War, before the tide of prejudice changed the rules and forced them out. This book takes place in the transition period, as times were getting harder for blacks in general and these people on the seacoast in particular. Maybe it's because I love the coast so much, and love being in boats so much, that I loved this book so much, but I think it has just as much to do with the young hero, his struggle, and the beautiful prose.

[Jenny Wheelbarrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool (and true) story about all African American crew of surf men who save sailors and passengers of shipwrecks on NC Outer Banks at Pea Island. Nathan lives with his dad and grandpa. Grandpa is such a cool guy and still longs to find his wife who was sold as a slave and separated from her family, including Nathan’s dad.

I learned about rescues, the training, and how shipwrecked cargo that was washed ashore was auctioned.

My little guy likes non-fiction these days and this was book was perfect. I let him rank it and he said because it was about NC, true and amazing he would give it 5 stars and I would give it 3.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very engaging story of a young man who aspires to be a surfman, the precursor to the US Coast Guard. These brave men rescue crews & passengers that have foundered off the coast, in this case, off North Carolina. Most of the surfmen are white, but one crew at the Pea Island Station is African-American & Nathan lives near the station with his father & grandfather, who are fishermen. Nathan wants to learn everything about rescue operations, but his father knows that prejudice makes the surfmen's lives difficult. Based on true events, it's an interesting & exciting story as Nathan learns about storms & rescues.

[Caroline Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unfamiliar with the topic of the lifesaving stations and enjoyed learning about it through this historical fiction book. While the first chapter was a little slow, I enjoyed the characters and storyline more than I thought. I liked the storyline of Nathan trying to determine his plans for the future and would love a sequel where we could follow Nathan through chasing his dream and see what the future holds for him and Fannie! Maybe I'll write it.. ;)

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful story of perseverance, dreams, reality and doing what's right, courage, stamina, bravery and strong character. It would be even better if authors of books for children could use other words besides swearing. There are many words in the English language that would be suitable and descriptive and believable.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another novel I used for book clubs in my classroom.
There is a lot of adventure along with a look at racism in the late 1800s. It portrays a way of life (islands of the Carolina coast) that our Midwestern students don't know much about.
Most of the students who read this book enjoyed it.

[Andrea Forbes · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was curious to see what our 4th grade had just read. So I looked it up and with in the first few pages I was appalled! I get it is a part of history but it is for teens or young adults! Not elementary kids! It is graphic with in the first few chapters! Talks about death and drinking and has curse words! Do not recommend for kids younger than 16!

[Hannah Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

People are there for one another. Sailing during storms are dangerous, but they did it anyway to help others. Whiskey is their medicine.

[Christian]

this book has some racist character that bully Nathan for being black.

[Nancy Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A middle reader, for the benefit of my grandkids. Historical fiction, Jefferson Cup Award winner.

[Christine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

North Carolina, the Outerbanks, 1890's reconstruction era...interesting history of surfmen, ship wrecks, and racial relations.

[Harper Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book with a very rich story line and plot I would recommend reading it.

[Lawre D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a ton about different wrecks and life saving stations.

[Anne Counoupas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gem of a story about the rescue team on OBX's Pea Island in the late 1800s and a boy who dreamed of joining their ranks. A little
known slice of history and a story that teaches us to be open to what life brings our way and reminds us that we don't always know which dreams to hope for, but that they are realized, even when different from
How we imagined them.

[Andrea]

I picked this book up when I was searching the local public library branch for something to read to my son's class. I was looking for historical fiction that could be tied into his teacher's planned lessons on American and South Carolina history. It is a fictionalized account of life at the Pea Island Life-Saving Station on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, one of many such stations in the area, but the only one staffed by African Americans. I knew when I took it out that it wouldn't really fit in - we live in SC after all, not NC - but my love of OBX persuaded me to read it anyway.



I absolutely loved it!



The author certainly did her homework. The location of the stations, the men at the Pea Island Station, dates of the wrecks she described, the names of the ships, and details of the rescues are all historically accurate. The main characters - three generations of fishermen living in a cabin on Pea Island - were fictional, but were so seamlessly added to the story that I wouldn't have been surprised to find out that the people she described really did exist.



The story of the Outer Banks includes tales of many shipwrecks as the choppy water pushed many a boat onto the shoals. The life-saving stations were the predecessors of the Coast Guard, and the men who worked the stations were well-trained, conscientious, and courageous beyond words. The author's detailed accounts of their techniques and equipment drew me in and made me really feel as though I was there, on the shore, watching their heroic efforts.



Anyone studying North Carolina history, African American history, the history of lifesaving in America, or who just wants a wonderfully crafted, historically accurate tale of life in the 1890s should check this out. It's due back at the library in a few weeks, but I will be adding it to my permanent collection soon. If the Wren library doesn't already have it on the shelf, I might just need to put it there too.

[Jennifer Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired by the rescue crew based in the Pea Island Life-Saving Station in the 1890s (located in North Carolina Outer Banks region), this work revolves around a young (fictional) teenager and his family, along with his interactions with the rescue crew of Pea Island. Along with documenting numerous actual rescues that the crew performed, the work also draws an eye to racism and race relations in the region and time of the work.

Both believable and fast-moving, Carbone's work is engaging and interesting, and the young narrator's voice is perfect for the narrative and developed situations--it does a marvelous job of capturing the mix of comedy and drama that wraps up the life and viewpoints of a young teen. And as a young adult work, it does work well, though my one related critique might be that there is so much seriousness based around the family, and it's almost too much seriousness (in my opinion) for a book meant for young readers. I'd understand if all of the drama surrounded the rescues, but I felt as if that suspense and seriousness was more than enough for the novel, and I would have preferred the focus remain there more consistently (when it came to the serious moments in the book, at least).

On the whole, this is a great young adult example of a work that usefully mixes "real" history and a fictional narrative, and it is a fast and often suspenseful read. On the other hand, there's much seriousness here, and not just related to the rescues and to civil rights. At the least, I'd recommend parents read it before passing it on to young readers. Certainly, the reading level is appropriate to fourth or fifth graders and up...but the material itself might be more serious than some parents would expect, in many respects. Personally, I doubt I'd directly pass it on to any readers under an eighth grade level unless I knew them well and/or they had a specific interest in the subject.

[Bibliobites Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, excellent juvenile historical fiction. Great period/geographical details, good pacing, believable protagonist. I read this in my quest to learn more about my adopted state of NC, and I’m so glad I did. Will definitely be adding to my home library.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. It was a quick and easy read. there was some new vocabulary that might need to be addressed as you read. The book is written from the perspective of a young boy (~11 years old) and I think this is a character students can relate to.

There are numerous themes in the book, but the two that I would specifically target are hope and racism.

One thing I always try to instill in children is that there is always hope. I think this book also tries to communicate this message. Even when the odds are against you, or the possibility is slim to none, it does not mean that you can not hope to achieve it or hope for better. It is hope that empowers you to act towards your goals, and if you act in a way to achieve your goals anything is possible. With such an abstract idea I would use this book at a higher grade level.

I would also use this book to illustrate race relations during the time period. I feel it paints a sufficiently graphic picture without beating the topic to death so that students think about the brutality of treatment.

[Johanna Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storm Warriors is a historical fiction novel that portrays the trials and tribulations of an 11 year old African American boy growing up in the South with ambitions of becoming a surfman of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station. Nathan longs to become a part of the family of men who spend their lives dedicated to rescuing survivors on stranded ships off the coast of North Carolina, but does not realize that his stature in life will prevent him from doing so. However, through his quest to become a surfman he realized another dream that will take him in a completely different direction. Furthermore, the book depicts the realistic face of racism in the post Civil War era and gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for colored people in that time. This book is a good, quick read for children as well as adults and a wonderful tool to use in the classroom to demonstrate diversity.

[Jbreezy]

The theme of the book Storm Warriors is racism. Nathan is an African American 14 year old boy. He lives on Pea Island and works on a rescue station. He works with a group of men who save shipmen from sinking ships. Then when he wants to become a full time crew member, racism comes in. The particular station on Pea Island is the only station that allows black workers, but it is nearly impossible to become a crew member because of how many black people want to be part of it. This is racist because there were almost no opporutunities for black people to work. There is also racism showing when the white people from other islands are burning down blacks houses and treating the blacks as second class citizens. The authors message is to not judge others based on their culture or by the way they look. This is a good book that I would recommend to pre-teens and up.

[Oscar Maquito · Rating 5 out of 5]

The tonality of Elisa Carbone's novel Storm Warriors is reflective, adventurous and hopeful. The novel follows the hardworking crew of Pea Island as they battle a fierce storm with courage and resilience. Through the eyes of young protagonist Ruel Campbell, we get an intimate look at the hardships they endure and their generous acts of selflessness. Carbone's narrative not only reflects the experiences of her characters, but also serves as an inspiring reminder that even in the face of danger, hope can prevail. I have one thing to commonly match the reflective narrative when I read this twice and this is actually my very first book that I owned presumably my "First Favorite" on my kind, but when I grown up maturely, I revonsidered unhauled this because it's no longer in my account for this book due to domestic housing for telling it for American kids in South Carolina.

[Vijay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good book! I have never heard of this part of history before. This book is about a boy named Nathan, who lived in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. In the middle of the night, his dad woke him up, and told him they were moving to Roanoke Island. Nathan complained, so his dad showed him a lynched boy hung from a tree, with his fingers cut off. This scared Nathan so badly he didn't complain anymore. The plotline is interesting, and I thought the writing was very good. Sometimes, the story gets a bit boring though, so I gave this book 4 stars. It was really cool that the idea for this book was thought of when the author, Elisa Carbone and her husband were windsurfing in Puerto Rico.

[Camryn Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for people who love history and enjoy books with adventure.This book is based on the islands of North Carolina back in the days of segregation. It is about a young black boy who lived in north Carolina with his father and grandfather. his mother has just recently died of a disease. they all lived in Elizabeth city but had to move because of the threat of the KKK who was terrorizing the city. they moved to Pea Island were the father and grandfather worked as fishermen. on pea island there was the only black "storm warriors" station left the young boy would give anything for this position but is being tried to think again about it.

[Misha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was between a 3 and 4 star book. This book was historical fiction, based off an all black surfmen (a crew employed to rescue stranded sailors/crew on ships/vessels) team on Pea Island, off North Carolina. At a time where prejudice ran high (1890's) and black men were often treated sub-human, this crew was awarded posthumously nearly a hundred years later. The main character in the book was fictitious, but all the wrecks and dates were factual. Not a terribly exciting read, but always nice to get a different perspective and an awareness of how life was for a black man and on a broader level, as a typical surfman.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

gr 5-9 m 158 pgs


Pea Island Living Saving Station Outer Banks, NC, 1895. 12 year old Nathan wants to be a part of the life saving crew instead of a fisherman like his father. But with only one all African American life saving station in the area (the life saving stations are segregated), Nathan's father tells him that his chances of getting on the team are very slim. Nathan refuses to be discouraged and helps out with the crew's drills and even some of the rescues. He's sure that he'll be able to find a way to make his dream come true.

Great story with lots of action! Although the characters and storyline are fictional, the rescues described in the book did actually happen.