I have the novel this is based on
I originally saw the movie when it was on tv in 4th or 5th grade, and in 6th grade I found the original novel in the school library. It was actually pretty good, though they changed a few things for the movie. Eventually I bought the novel for my own personal library.
One of the most outstanding scenes, was describing exactly what the two boys in the story went through when a tornado actually touched down on the house they were in, and its effects on the sinks as well as their ears. Talk about being lucky they made it out alive!