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Waterproof
Fifty years after an earthen dam broke and sent a thirty foot wall of raging destruction down on the city of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Pamela McRae looks back on the tragedy with new perspective.
This fast-moving retrospective propels the reader forward much as did the flood itself.
When the Johnstown flood hit, it wiped out Pam’s fondest hopes, taking her fiancé and her brother’s lives and her mother’s sanity, and within a year her father walked away, leaving his daughter—now the sole support of her mother—to cope with poverty and loneliness,.
The arrival of Katya, a poor Hungarian girl running away from an arranged marriage, finally gives Pam the chance she needs to get back into the world; Katya can care for her mother, and Pam can go to work for the Johnstown Clarion as a society reporter.
Then Davy Hughes, Pam’s fiancé before the flood, reappears and, instead of being the answer to her prayers, further complicates her life. Someone is seeking revenge on the owners of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, the millionaires who owned the failed dam. And Pam is afraid Davy has something to do with it.
This fast-moving retrospective propels the reader forward much as did the flood itself.
When the Johnstown flood hit, it wiped out Pam’s fondest hopes, taking her fiancé and her brother’s lives and her mother’s sanity, and within a year her father walked away, leaving his daughter—now the sole support of her mother—to cope with poverty and loneliness,.
The arrival of Katya, a poor Hungarian girl running away from an arranged marriage, finally gives Pam the chance she needs to get back into the world; Katya can care for her mother, and Pam can go to work for the Johnstown Clarion as a society reporter.
Then Davy Hughes, Pam’s fiancé before the flood, reappears and, instead of being the answer to her prayers, further complicates her life. Someone is seeking revenge on the owners of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, the millionaires who owned the failed dam. And Pam is afraid Davy has something to do with it.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2012
36 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Judith Redline Coopey
11 books71 followersJudith Redline Coopey, born in Altoona, PA holds degrees from the Pennsylvania State University and Arizona State University. A passion for history inherited from her father drives her writing and a love for Pennsylvania sustains it. Her first book, Redfield Farm was the story of the Underground Railroad in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. The second, Waterproof, tells how the 1889 Johnstown Flood nearly destroyed a whole city and one young woman’s life. Looking For Jane is a quest for love and family in the 1890s brought to life through the eyes of Nell, a young girl convinced that Calamity Jane is her mother. Her most recent work, The Furnace: Volume One of the Juniata Iron Trilogy, is set on an iron plantation near where she grew up and tells the story of an ill conceived marriage of convenience as it plays out over a lifetime. As a teacher, writer and student of history, Ms Coopey finds her inspiration in the rich history of her native state and in stories of the lives of those who have gone before.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 24, 2012
It wasn't bad. Being from the area it was on my reading list. It would appeal to anyone who is from the flood city. Only three complaints/suggestions. The "present day" sections are from 1939, three years after the city's second major flood. If the writer says the 1889 flood was so devastating to the psyche of the area, - a mention could have been made of the 36 flood. Secondly. Johnstown flooded all the time. Ppl didnt leave the city because the officials cried wolf so many other times. The other minor suggestion is to add a map of the area for locals who read it. That way they can figure out where the chunks of the story take place.
March 11, 2019
I like Judith Redline Coopey’s books. They aren’t the best I’ve ever read, but are consistently enjoyable, have a storyline that isn’t automatically predictable, and keep me reading. Since I live in the area of PA that she writes about, it has also been interesting to learn a bit about the history of the area as well as to recognize landmarks, towns, etc. as they are mentioned. This particular book told the story of the aftermath of the Johnstown Flood and how it affected various people. From a sociological/psychological perspective, I found the tales of the various characters very interesting. The main character tells the tale while reminiscing from a 50 year post-flood perspective. Although this was effective, it did get predictable that every time she sat down or went to bed, the memories of the flood era would get told. Also, the book was not well edited. There were numerous typos, misspellings, and even a whole paragraph from the end of one chapter repeated at the beginning of the next.
April 4, 2022
The Aftermath
I have been fascinated with the story of the Johnstown flood for years. This is the first book that I've read about the aftermath of the destruction. The author has a different way of writing than what I'm used to, but I soon got into the swing of it. This story has lots of different emotions running through it and I found myself swept away (no pun intended).... several times I forgot where I was. I'm so glad that I read this book.
I have been fascinated with the story of the Johnstown flood for years. This is the first book that I've read about the aftermath of the destruction. The author has a different way of writing than what I'm used to, but I soon got into the swing of it. This story has lots of different emotions running through it and I found myself swept away (no pun intended).... several times I forgot where I was. I'm so glad that I read this book.
October 8, 2012
Generally I don't like books that jump around in time. This one did that in every chapter but I didn't get annoyed by it until near the end of the book. I enjoyed the story but was disappointed with the way she brought the book to an end. It was almost like she got tired of writing so she decided to pull it all together and have a happy ending for all (except for Davy).
July 3, 2024
I read this book as a book club selection. We meet monthly at the Cambria County Library so most of us are native Johnstowners. I was skeptical at first because I've seen other flood novels that disappointed, but I liked this one a lot. I could picture the action from the streets named and it felt real for that reason. The author is very good at writing dialog for all the different characters, from broken Hungarian English to working class slang. Sometimes it was a bit confusing deciding whether action was in the present (1939) or the past (1889). I found out many things I had never learned about the city after the flood. As a survivor of the newest 1977 flood, I could sympathize with the plight of thousands trying to rebuild and restart their lives. The flood of 1936 wasn't mentioned, but I assume that floods were common in the area, and it really had no effect on the book's main characters, not like the one of fifty years before. My only complaint would be the editing. There were numerous misspellings, typos, and one character changed his last time for a few chapters. (Gerald Kirk became Gerald Price) I did think that the ending was a bit tidy, but I liked it anyway. I would recommend this book to local Johnstowners and others who are curious about the history of the area.
May 26, 2020
As a Pennsylvania girl, this topic is inherently interesting, but there was much more that appealed. The writing style, past/present time shifts, and character arcs were engaging. The time transitions were not always smooth and some were redundant, but seeing events via the same narrator in both eras really drew me in - some clues, a few red herrings, but no terrible spoilers in the mix. In fact, several plot twists were quite clever. The latter-day romance, however, was pretty much routine from meet cute to decades later. Happily, it's not a romance novel but historical fiction that springboards from the actual flood, reflects back to those events when the plot or characters merit, and moves ahead in time without losing the central theme that tragedy stays with a community for a very long time and in many ways (some sad, some inspiring). Also, nice job with the sidebar themes of immigrant, women, and status in the community or in the work force. Deep research with a light touch rounded it all out nicely.
March 26, 2018
As the 50th anniversary of the Johnstown flood approaches, ex-reporter Pamela McRae looks back on the tragedy and how it impacted the town. It changed her life. She had anticipated getting married. Instead the flood took her brother, her fiance, destroyed her mother, and devastated her father.
When her "dead" fiance shows back up at the same time someone is vandalizing the properties of the Pittsburgh millionaires who owned the dam. Is it Davy?
Judith Redline Coopey, author of The Redfield Farm, is a teacher, writer and student of history, and finds her stories in the daily lives of those who have gone before. Waterproof is based on fact.
When her "dead" fiance shows back up at the same time someone is vandalizing the properties of the Pittsburgh millionaires who owned the dam. Is it Davy?
Judith Redline Coopey, author of The Redfield Farm, is a teacher, writer and student of history, and finds her stories in the daily lives of those who have gone before. Waterproof is based on fact.
October 24, 2024
Second book for me by this author, who also happened to work in the same school district I did years ago. We have family from Johnstown, so I was intrigued by the subject matter and drawn in quite quickly with the author’s storytelling. Ms Coopey brings attention to historical events but adds a well thought out storyline to keep the reader even more engaged. My only disappointment was the abrupt ending, which left a lot to the imagination and a possible indicator of a future sequel.
August 17, 2021
Excellent story with many layers throughout to relate to things today. Oklahoma house are like fema housing. Those who have means are able to come back stronger while those without are lost after the disaster.
The mental health themes are fantastic. The varied responses to the trauma experienced by the town is spot on
Excellent read.
The mental health themes are fantastic. The varied responses to the trauma experienced by the town is spot on
Excellent read.
March 8, 2022
Loved this book
Born and lived most of my life in Johnstown , I could picture almost every street and place described . The storyline held my interest and I could not wait to see
how it would end. Bravo to you Judith for many enjoyable moments. Thank you for writing an amazing book !!!
Born and lived most of my life in Johnstown , I could picture almost every street and place described . The storyline held my interest and I could not wait to see
how it would end. Bravo to you Judith for many enjoyable moments. Thank you for writing an amazing book !!!
October 7, 2019
Good story, some language
The story was interesting and the characters were easy to relate to. I wish the author had been able to let the story carry itself without using swear words.
The story was interesting and the characters were easy to relate to. I wish the author had been able to let the story carry itself without using swear words.
February 1, 2021
Historical Romance that I thought a little too predictable
April 4, 2021
an interesting story.
July 27, 2021
Interesting & a point view
As the born native to the Johnstown area, I found the book to be very interesting. It was It was an interesting look at the flood from a different point of view. I would encourage you to read this book.
As the born native to the Johnstown area, I found the book to be very interesting. It was It was an interesting look at the flood from a different point of view. I would encourage you to read this book.
April 23, 2022
Woorlwind story about a real tragedy in history. I liked the descriptions and the character overcoming despair. Would liked to have spent more time with the story.
November 25, 2012
Historical fiction based on a true event, the devastating flood that destroyed Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1889.
50 years years later, Pamela McRae is looking backing on the period of time 2 years after the flood; she is still living in an "Oklahoma house", (kind of an early model of manufactured housing, meant to be temporary shelters for those that lost their homes to the flood). She lost her brother and fiancee in the flood, and her father just walks away leaving Pam alone to cope with the poverty, loneliness, despair, and the care of her mother, who disappears into a state of catatonia after the flood.
The arrival of Katya, a poor Hungarian girl running away from an arranged marriage, gives Pam the chance she needs to start a new life for herself. Katya takes care of her mother while Pam goes to work for the local paper as a society reporter. But then, someone from her past reappears and complicates her life, and she gets involved with a reporter investigating a group of people seeking revenge on the millionaire owners of the failed dam.
I really enjoyed this book; the story kept me intrigued the whole time and I could tell the author really did her research on this one. The ending was satisfying, but I wish the book had been one or two chapters longer; I really liked the characters and wanted to know even more about how their lives during that period of time.
50 years years later, Pamela McRae is looking backing on the period of time 2 years after the flood; she is still living in an "Oklahoma house", (kind of an early model of manufactured housing, meant to be temporary shelters for those that lost their homes to the flood). She lost her brother and fiancee in the flood, and her father just walks away leaving Pam alone to cope with the poverty, loneliness, despair, and the care of her mother, who disappears into a state of catatonia after the flood.
The arrival of Katya, a poor Hungarian girl running away from an arranged marriage, gives Pam the chance she needs to start a new life for herself. Katya takes care of her mother while Pam goes to work for the local paper as a society reporter. But then, someone from her past reappears and complicates her life, and she gets involved with a reporter investigating a group of people seeking revenge on the millionaire owners of the failed dam.
I really enjoyed this book; the story kept me intrigued the whole time and I could tell the author really did her research on this one. The ending was satisfying, but I wish the book had been one or two chapters longer; I really liked the characters and wanted to know even more about how their lives during that period of time.
August 1, 2015
This was the second book by JRC (the first being Redfield Farm, about the Underground Railroad). I grew up in this area, but only recently looked into some of the history. My boyfriend & I went to the National Flood Museum last year. The flood of 1889 was devastating to the city of Johnstown, and it is easy to see how the country club members who built and neglected a faulty dam in a very precarious location would be blamed by the victims. It's really unimaginable to visualize what that was like: sight, sound, etc. The main character is remembering the events shortly after the flood, as she has been approached by a newsboy for an anniversary story. It is interesting how JRC imagined this girl's life to have played out. It was also neat to read about locations in a town I live in now, where everything is so different, but the streets remain the same.
It also kind of made me sad, though, because while Johnstown was devastated by this flood - it wasn't the first, and it wasn't the last - the area is still depressed. It seems like the valley holds a kind of despair that makes it hard to climb out of.
It also kind of made me sad, though, because while Johnstown was devastated by this flood - it wasn't the first, and it wasn't the last - the area is still depressed. It seems like the valley holds a kind of despair that makes it hard to climb out of.
September 7, 2012
I happen to enjoy historical fiction and this book was history with an unexpected twist. What happened to the survivors of the famous Johnston PA flood?
I've read a couple of novels that touched on the flood itself, but this novel explored how people in the town dealt with the aftermath.
For the heroine, Pamela, she believed that dealing with past meant honoring the dead, and moving forward. Although she too, has lost family, she copes and tries to create a life for herself.
Other characters are angry and bitter after the flood and blame it on the rich owners of the hunting and fishing club. They find a different way to cope.
My only criticism was the pacing which at times was very slow. I came to care about the characters and rooted for Pamela to succeed.
A good read.
I've read a couple of novels that touched on the flood itself, but this novel explored how people in the town dealt with the aftermath.
For the heroine, Pamela, she believed that dealing with past meant honoring the dead, and moving forward. Although she too, has lost family, she copes and tries to create a life for herself.
Other characters are angry and bitter after the flood and blame it on the rich owners of the hunting and fishing club. They find a different way to cope.
My only criticism was the pacing which at times was very slow. I came to care about the characters and rooted for Pamela to succeed.
A good read.
October 8, 2012
Pam, the main character in this historical novel, reminisces about the Johnstown Flood and the effects on her family and friends. Excellent character development and narrative written by a Pennsylvania history buff who grew up in nearby Altoona. For a companion read try David McCullough's book simply named The Johnstown Flood. Written in the late 1960's it is a powerful, unforgettable account of the historical events leading up to and immediately after the collapse of the earthen dam in 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Yes, it is still available to buy with an updated release date of 1987.
January 15, 2013
Being so intimately acquainted with the details of the 1889 Flood, I wasn't sure how I would feel about an historical fiction book set in my birthplace, but this was a pretty good story which was more than plausible in the aftermath of such devastation. By the end of the story, I wanted to know more - when did Pamela and Rob finally marry, what happened with her son that died, how did her mother's recovery go, etc.
My only real criticisms are the time jumps during the chapters (as opposed to alternating chapters), and that there was no mention of the 1936 Flood, which, while not the tragedy that 1889 was, was still very significant.
My only real criticisms are the time jumps during the chapters (as opposed to alternating chapters), and that there was no mention of the 1936 Flood, which, while not the tragedy that 1889 was, was still very significant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2016
I was given this book as a Christmas present from my husband's aunt. my husband is a native of Johnstown and I love learning about the history of the Great Flood of 1889. I enjoyed this book very much and was actually sad to have it end, it could have went on for another hundred pages. the only downfall I discovered was sometimes Ms. Coopey doesn't really differentiate between flashbacks and present time but it wasn't hard to figure out. I truly loved the rebuilding of Pam's life and how such a traffic event like the flood can affect people for the good (Pam, her family, Katya, and Rob) or bad (Davy and the Plummers). definitely will read again.
May 27, 2013
I was attracted to this book because of the Pennsylvania history. Due to the flashback style of narration, initially I struggled to follow whether the story was in the past or present, but eventually I caught on. The author did an excellent job of developing the characters and capturing the diverse ways people deal with devastating trauma. Though set in the context of a very specific historical event, the character study certainly has universal applications. I did some soul-searching myself. Certainly worth the reading time and effort!
April 1, 2015
This is a great historical fiction book and like the other three books I have recently read by this author she has done a great job with her research so you feel as if you are right there reliving the experience of the flood with Pamela. This book is full of drama, mystery and romance so there is something for everyone. The characters are very well developed and done so well that they feel as if they are real people. I have not read nor heard about this flood before so it has me even more interested in what happened. Another good book by this author.
April 4, 2013
I really enjoyed this novel based on the 1889 Johnstown Flood. Growing up in that area I never really thought of the perspective that was portrayed by the author. It was a good read that kept my interest. It did bounce from past to present, but did so in a clean manner that made it easy to follow. I would recommend it, especially for the $2.99 Kindle price.
December 22, 2013
Yes, I'm becoming a Judith Redline Coopey fan. Though this book is based on the historical facts of the Johnstown Flood, the plot goes beyond the facts and natural suffering to explore the emotional reactions to the tragedy and how people handled it. And she does it in a thoroughly interesting yet believable way.
August 27, 2014
This author knows how to tell a good story; I couldn't put it down. Suspenseful. If you're looking for a book that will tell you about the Johnstown Flood, however, this isn't the book for you. It's a good story, a drama, a romance, a mystery. But it doesn't really tell the story of the Johnstown Flood. And some of the details don't quite hang together.
October 8, 2012
I enjoyed this book, which is one of our book club books. A nice love story, with much more about the flood's aftermath than the actual flood itself. Makes me want to go on a field trip to Johnstown!
May 28, 2014
Very good historical fiction! This was such a great story line, I felt almost as if it was an autobiography rather than a fictional story. Great character base and nice transitions from historical to present.
March 26, 2015
The aftermath of a tragedy
I had read a book about the Johnstown flood years ago, this carried the story further and let you feel the sorrow, the anger, and the hope of the surviving residents.
Very easy to become completely immersed in.
I had read a book about the Johnstown flood years ago, this carried the story further and let you feel the sorrow, the anger, and the hope of the surviving residents.
Very easy to become completely immersed in.
April 10, 2015
I enjoyed reading this book. I would have given it five stars but for the fact it just seemed to end with no real closure. It was almost as though the author intended to right a sequel to the book and changed her mind. Other than that, I felt it was well written
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews