The Shattered Sky

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You’re about to read “The Shattered Sky.””

Here are a few things you need to know before you read. The words in bold are words that are important to know.

This story is about a terrible explosion.

Where and when does the story take place?

The story takes place in Halifax, Canada, on December 6, 1917.
Canada is divided into areas called provinces. Halifax is in the province of Nova Scotia—just to the east of Maine.
Halifax sits along a harbor—an area of calm water near land where ships can dock.

What was Halifax like at the time?

Halifax was an important city. Large factories made sugar, cotton, and clothing.
Its harbor was one of the busiest harbors in North America. Many ships passed through it every day.
Several of these ships were carrying supplies for World War I.

What was World War I?

World War I was a terrible war in Europe.
It began in 1914 and ended in 1919.
Several countries were involved in the war, including France, Germany, and the United States.

What kinds of war supplies were the ships carrying?

Some ships were carrying dangerous chemicals, like benzol.
Benzol was used to help power aircrafts. It is similar to gasoline and can blow up easily.

One of the ships carrying benzol was called the Mont-Blanc.

What happened after the crash?

The crash caused sparks to fly. Some of these sparks caused the benzol to catch on fire and explode.
The explosion was so large that people could feel the ground shake 250 miles away.
The explosion caused a huge wave to rush through Halifax.

You’re about to meet a boy who lived in Halifax during the explosion.

His name is Noble Driscoll. He was 13 years old in 1917.
Read the story “The Shattered Sky” to find out what happens to him on the day of the explosion.