Just curious: Would you rather be stuck at home now, wondering if your supply of Clorox wipes will last? Or would you rather have lived through the Johnstown Flood?

You can compare notes on your hardship and theirs in Kathleen George’s novel, Johnstown Girls.

Set in 1989, the flood-prone town (it’s had a few) prepares to commemorate the centennial of The Big One. A local girl, Nina, now a reporter in Pittsburgh, would love to write a feature story. Lacking the seniority to pull such a plum assignment, she feeds the idea to her boyfriend.

A first stop in their story-gathering trip is Ellen Emerson, a 104-year-old woman who survived the disaster. Ellen watched her mother and father die. Her twin sister rode off on a mattress.

Did the twin live or die?

Meanwhile, another 104-year-old woman in a nursing home not too far away, tries to piece together the facts, rumors and adoption stories that constitute her past.

And Nina wonders if her boyfriend will ever make good on his promise to divorce his wife.

It’s fascinating story material. I got sucked in quickly.

George drops some pace-dragging side trips into this tale. A few different plotting choices and this could’ve been a book that makes the reader stay up much too late.

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