Quake!

by Joe Cottonwood

With their parents away at the 1989 World Series, fourteen-year-old Franny, her younger brother, and their cousin try to cope with the frightening events following an earthquake that destroys their home on Loma Prieta mountain.

Genres: Adventure, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Survival

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Mason Motil · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first Quake was a interesting book with a good story line, but as the story went on it started to become a little boring and not much action was taking place at all in this book. Also, the way the author worded the text made it confusing to follow and I found myself having to go back and reread multiple times throughout the novel.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It reads like a biography retelling of the event. It did inform me about some of the events that happened around an earthquake I just happened to catch on TV (I never watch sports, but just happened to catch that 1989 world series game). It did leave me with some big questions and I felt like some of the relationships were not fully developed. However, it was a good exploration of the immediate after effects of such a quake. Living in a mountain valley with a high probability of a severe earthquake in the next 25-100 years, It was worth reading. It changed some of the ways that I look at emergency preparedness.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating look into the quake of '89, from the standpoint of several kids who were left alone while their parents went to the World Series. Cut off from nearly everyone (no cell phones), no water or electricity. Fires rages unchecked. People came together to help each other.

[Christie · Rating 2 out of 5]

My son was getting rid of this book, I don’t think he ever read it. I picked it up to see what it was about and was pleased to see it was about the ‘89 earthquake and not ‘06. Anyway, it started off being interesting but as soon as the parents arrive nothing else happens. I would have loved for this to be more of a teenage survivalist story instead of a series of observations. Close but no banana.

[Nayari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child and I still love it as an adult. In my opinion, it is a vivid and visceral account of a teenager experiencing a traumatic event. The characters are real, flawed as they are. The process of shock is very well described and though the book is not action heavy, we are right there with Franny as she moves through her changed world, trying to process all the differences.

[wanderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of my kids enjoyed it. Others seemed bored. It's nice to find a disaster novel for kids and with a female MC.

[Silas Newcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What an amazing book! I will read this book again.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a great story, very real ( based on true stories) with just a surprising, beautiful ending. I love the depth of the main characters!

[Angeluismanzueta · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about a fourteen yr old girl, and her brother, experience an earthquake and are very afraid because one. there parents are away. two. there house is destroyed. three. its an earthquake. they go on a small journey in the streets after the earthquake.
i would connect this book to text to world, because there are always earthquakes every year, and people always face diasaters in there homes, familys, and themselves.
i would give this book four stars because although there are challenges faced with the characters, which is the best part in the book, there are also a few boring parts in the story which explains the characters, feelings, and thoughts which bores me.

[Austin Sporleder · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was about a 1989 earthquake that struck california by oakland and san fransicso and during the quake there was a world series and if i was at the world series i would have been nervous because your with all those people and anything could happen. I would also be scared because the stadium might collapse because back in the 90's stuff wasn't that sturdy. I also would not want to be on the bridge because it collapsed when the earth quake happened. I would also be nervous if there was a earth quake and i was the only one home. This book was good because it showed what happened when there was an earthquake in california

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 4-6 ? 143 pgs


October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta, CA. 14 year old Franny, her best friend Jennie, and her little brother Sidney are home alone when the earthquake hits. Together they head for their school, the meeting place in case of an emergency, helping the people they find along the way.

Good read.

[James W.]

I'm so far intrigued. I was in California during that event...I'm fascinated with your angle on it!

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty stupid. I had to read it for a reading project. The characters kept using the phrase "Cut the crap" and one of the main character's is the dumbest prep ever.lol

[Dborrelli Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book when i was little

[Salgal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scary good friendship

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Engaging account of the Loma Prieta earthquake through the eyes of a 14-year-old girl living in Loma Prieta, near Highway 17.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for reluctant readers.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have often wondered what would it be like to live through a huge earthquake. Joe Cottonwood helps me understand in Quake!

[Emmaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the story line and the main idea but the writing in this book wasn't very good.

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14180924

[Angie Gazdziak · Rating 3 out of 5]

My oldest enjoyed this, and I liked reading it with her.