One hundred years ago on December 6 1917 the French munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with the Belgian relief vessel Imo in the Halifax Harbour. At first a small fire broke out aboard the Mont Blanc which grew bigger crowds of people and emergency responders linded the shores of Halifax and Dartmouth to get a better look. Suddenly the Mont Blancampamp39s explosive cargo blew up flattening homes and businesses and triggering a tsunami.Amid the confusion and devastation that followed the blast was fourteenyearold Barbara Orr who had been walking from her neighbourhood in Richmond to a friendampamp39s house. Follow Barbara as she navigates postexplosion Halifax learning about rescue efforts the kindness of strangers and the bravery of heroes like Vincent Coleman along the way.Part of the popular Compass series this fullcolour nonfiction book includes highlighted glossary terms informative sidebars over 50 illustrations and historical photographs a detailed index and recommended further reading. In commemoration of the tragic eventampamp39s 100th anniversary Broken Pieces is a great resource for young readers and educators.