I love survival stories and this one turned out
to be really exciting! I’m really looking forward to the author's next adventure, Alone in the
Woods, coming out in the fall of 2020. This author also writes historical middle grade and I'm looking forward to checking it out when I get a chance.
Description from the publisher:
Hannah Steele loves living on Pelling, a tiny island near Seattle. It's
a little disconnected from the outside world, but she's always felt completely
safe there.
Which is why when she's asked one day to babysit after school, she
thinks it's no big deal. Zoe and Oscar are her next-door neighbors, and Hannah
just took a babysitting class that she's pretty sure makes her an expert. She
isn't even worried that she left her inhaler at home.
Then the shaking begins.
The terrifying earthquake only lasts four minutes but it changes
everything, damaging the house, knocking out the power, and making cell service
nonexistent. Even worse, the ferry and the bridge connecting the kids to
help―and their parents―are both blocked. Which means they're stranded and
alone... With Hannah in charge, as things go from bad to dangerous.
The Disaster Days by Rebecca Behrens
was published by Sourcebooks in 2019.
Why you want to read this book…
It’s an exciting story where three kids are put in the middle of a
disaster, when an unexpected earthquake strikes. There’s an interesting twist
to the story, because the main character, Hannah, is babysitting two younger
kids when the earthquake hits. The kids are cut off from parents and any kind
of phone communication, forcing Hannah to rely on her sense of responsibility
and her problem-solving skills to help them survive. Aftershocks, injuries and
Hannah’s own asthma condition add to the drama. If you love survival stories,
this book is a must read!
Opening:
Nothing was
remarkable that morning, except the postcard-perfect view of Mount Rainier.
Most of the time, clouds and fog hid it, but the volcano was always there,
watching us, even when we couldn’t see it. We forgot that we were living right
on top of a fault zone.
If you’re a writer…
You might be interested in studying the plot complications the author
dreams up for these kids who are basically stuck in the same setting for much
of the story, as well as how she ramps up the tension. Hannah’s internal thoughts and
worries all seemed so appropriate for her age, which might help writers who
need a mentor text for a kid stuck in a life-threatening situation.
If you’re an educator…
This is a good story for a read aloud or a comparative book study with
other kinds of disaster stories. Some ways to use this book in your classroom:
- create a “disaster” book display with a place for students to share
their thoughts on how they are different, which they liked best, etc.
- read in conjunction with non-fiction projects on the earth and earthquakes
to spark ideas for studying how people are affected by changes in the earth
- encourage writing about “your worst experience” as a journal writing
activity or theme for a class book
If you’re looking for another great list of middle grade books to read, check out Marvelous Middle Grade Monday on Greg Pattridge's blog.
