The Johnstown Girls

The interesting history informing Kathy George's The Johnstown Girls is woven into a moving novel whose characters are fully realized, whose scope is wide reaching, and whose story is compelling. Pittsburghers especially will love the local color of places like Kennywood and Homestead, and learning more about Johnstown, where so many Pittsburghers grew up. But this is a book for readers everywhere who like to learn history while in the certain hands of a wonderfully accomplished novelist.

Edgar-finalist George successfully moves to period fiction with this evocative, historically themed whodunit, set in 1989, as the great Johnstown, Pa, flood approaches its centennial. . . . George offers complex and rewarding storytelling that pays tribute to not only the magnitude of the disastrous flood but also the resilience of Johnstown and its citizens.

Ellen Emerson is the oldest known survivor of the legendary Johnstown flood of 1889. Now, as the flood's centennial year approaches, reporter Ben Bragdon and his girlfriend, Nina Collins, sit down to hear her story one more time for posterity. When Ben asks her for anything new she might be able to recall, Ellen not only obliges with a detail she's kept to herself all this time but also admits to believing that her twin, assumed dead in the flood 100 years ago, is still alive somewhere today, and she doesn't want to die before finding her. Intent on helping Ellen find her sister, Nina begins the search, while Ben concentrates on writing the flood piece and rekindling his failing marriage. Though seemingly separate, the stories, Ben and Nina's in the present and Ellen's in the past, share a common theme of strength and perseverance in the face of hardship. The resulting narrative is a noble tribute to the people and history of Johnstown and to the unassailable spirit of independent women through the years.

A story with characters that feel so real that it's sometimes hard to remember the book is a work of fiction. This is further compounded by the vivid descriptions of the flood that correspond with historical accounts and the fact that the story is set in very real locations. . . . A colorful account of one of the most traumatic moments in Pennsylvania's history and the lives it changed.

The 125th anniversary of the devastating Johnstown Flood will be observed on May 31, 2014. Thousands perished. It was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history at the time. The author has captured the drama of these real events and blended the personal storylines ofwonderful characters to pay tribute to the people of Johnstown, Pa. Bravo, Ms. George. You have shown the true grit and spirit of this American town.

The story of the flood was fascinating.

The history of this devastating [Johnstown flood] is minutely detailed and particularly authentic . . . Coming on the 125th anniversary of the flood, this is a worthy literary contribution to the memory of those who lost their lives and an excellent study for readers interested in natural disasters and American history.

Brings not just May 1889 but also the entire twentieth century to life for readers. In 'The Johnson Girls,' George introduces readers to the class issues that others have featured in the story of the flood, but in tracing the lives of her main characters after the flood she also subtly forces readers to contemplate the gender, race, and class issues that prevailed throughout the twentieth century. . . A meaningful story that builds on historical reality while painting a larger picture that goes well beyond the one event. . . the goal of the novel is not to retell the well-known story but to give it a human face that reflects, but does not necessarily recount, the history. George succeeds at this.