“I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906”
by Lauren Tarshis.
Scholastic, Inc., New York, 2012, 94 pages, Grades 4-5.
Helping middle school students move to higher level works of fiction can be difficult. In some cases, the children do not have the reading comprehension ability to understand the vocabulary.
Another reason is that of interest. Should the book be about interior struggles or external battles? The choices made by authors determine the cadence and rhythm of the novel. Lauren Tarshis has written a series of exciting action-adventure books entitled the “I Survived” series. These books tend to focus on the external obstacles the characters must overcome to survive the calamity. They are fun to read and are very popular with middle school students.
Leo Ross is a 10-year-old boy trying to survive in 1906 San Francisco by selling newspapers. His father has recently died and he is now an orphan, living in the basement of a house. He is excited because President Teddy Roosevelt is coming to San Francisco. After a successful morning of selling his newspapers, Leo dreams of buying himself some milk and rolls.
Unfortunately, the boy is accosted by two young thugs, Fletch and Wilkie. They rob him of his hard-earned nickels and steal the precious gold nugget his father had given him. As he picks himself off the street, Leo sees a thin boy named Morris. This boy is even weaker and more vulnerable than Leo. As they commiserate, both boys feel the earth starting to shake.
Soon the street begins to heave upward and houses start tumbling down. Morris tells Leo this is an earthquake, and the boys try to find shelter. But where can you go when everything is falling down and all the houses are on fire? As they look through the smoke, they spy Fletch and Wilkie trying to get away from the flames. Fletch is carrying a bag filled with loot from collapsed houses, and when Wilkie is trapped under falling timbers, Fletch leaves his partner to fend for himself. Leo and Morris see Wilkie lying there, trapped. Should they go and try to help the boy who robbed them? As the flames grow, the boys make a choice. What happens?
Do Leo and Morris save Wilkie? What happens to Fletch and his ill-gotten money? How is it possible to act with care for others when you are facing disaster yourself? To find the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this exciting novel, “I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906,” by Lauren Tarshis.
Middle-grade children will really like the “I Survived” books. The author writes vividly, and readers will sense the dangers the main characters face. The fast pace of the story will engage the interest of students. These books are fun, exciting reads. Additionally, the author has researched the disasters chronicled in her books. You will learn about earthquakes and the city of San Francisco in this book. This is useful knowledge for anyone.
But the best reason to read this book and others in the series is that they are thrilling and entertaining. Adults will like these books as well. When you take your youngster to the library, make sure they get the chance to read the book first. Enjoy.
