On March 18, 1937 a natural gas explosion destroyed the New London school, killing 298 children and adults. Odorless natural gas had escaped into the building’s basement and ignited when a teacher in the wood shop turned on an electric sander. The tragedy has been the subject of documentaries, books and articles, and now, Suzanne Morris has written a novel based on the event: Aftermath.

Morris will speak about her new book at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 4, in the Frances B. Ross Ballroom at Panola College. The presentation is sponsored by the Carthage Book Club and is open to the public.