Earthquake Escape

Wild Rescue #2

by Jan Burchett, Jan Burchett, Sara Vogler

After a massive earthquake, an orphaned giant panda cub escapes from its sanctuary in China's Sichuan Province. With no bamboo to eat, and hungry leopards on the prowl, the cub is in serious trouble. Ben and Zoe have their work cut out for them if they want to save this endangered animal.

Genres: Animals, Adventure

152 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

AKA Grace Cavendish.

Reviews

[Samantha Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earthquake Escape is the second thrilling installment in Jan Burchett’s WILD Rescue series, and it doesn’t disappoint. Once again, twins Ben and Zoe are called into action by WILD, a secret organization that rescues endangered animals around the world. This time, the setting is even more intense, with nature itself adding to the danger. The book wastes no time getting into the action, making it a page-turner from the very start.

Like the first book, Earthquake Escape strikes a great balance between excitement and education. While the story focuses on animal rescue and survival, it also introduces young readers to natural disasters and the challenges they bring. The urgency of the situation feels real, and the fast pace will keep kids hooked while subtly raising awareness about wildlife protection in extreme environments.

Ben and Zoe continue to shine as resourceful, brave characters. Their teamwork and quick thinking are central to the mission, and their bond brings warmth to the high-stakes story. The writing stays accessible and age-appropriate while still delivering plenty of tension, excitement, and meaningful moments.

Overall, Earthquake Escape builds perfectly on the momentum of the first book, offering another action-packed, environmentally focused adventure. It’s ideal for readers aged 8–12 who enjoy stories about courage, nature, and making a difference. Whether you’ve read book one or are diving straight into this one, it’s a strong, engaging read on its own.

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read. Page-turning and suspenseful. Good characters and some pretty close calls. Great for reading anytime and anywhere. Enjoy!

[MarleyTheDragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for children who are animal lovers

[MG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid LT read aloud book. Not as good as the first one in the series but high engagement still

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ben and Zoe are twins whose uncle works for a secret organization called WILD that helps rescue animals in danger. With plenty of action and a few techno devices, Ben and Zoe manage to rescue a baby panda that wandered off after an earthquake hit China. This is a fast paced story that will appeal to boy, girls, and animal lovers everywhere. Of particular interest is the facthound website at the end of the book which directs children to websites for more information about the topic of the book. In this book two websites on earthquakes and pandas. Both sites look like great resources! This on #2 in a series of at least 8. Would be good for curriculum as well since discussion questions and writing prompts are included at the back of the book along with a glossary of challenging words.

[Stephanie (Gorelenore) Cover2CoverBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Background: Ben and Zoe work for a secret team, their mission today is to go in search of a panda cub named Jing-Jing, who escaped from a sanctuary after an earthquake.

Review: This was a great little read. I requested it from Netgalley because of the panda. I love pandas! They are so adorable, and I am so glad that I got to read this. I really enjoyed the story it was full of action and adventure. There were some facts about pandas and the Chinese landscape too. The book even includes a glossary for readers, more panda facts at the end, and even discussion questions. Very cute read, it is recommended for ages 8-11 and is part of the Wild Rescue series.

[Leigh Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you could imagine Jack and Annie from the Magic Treehouse, the Spy Kids and the Kratt Brothers all rolled into a book series - Wild Rescue would be it!

Ben and Zoe Woodward are twins who are operatives in WILD, a top-secret environmental organization. Their missions take them to different places all over the world, but they have one goal - saving animals in danger and protecting the environment. I have read four in this series and I think these are perfect for third and forth grade students who are reading chapter books but still need some pictures and a larger font. This is also perfect for those animal lovers!

[Diane Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is reminiscent of the Magic Tree House series where the kids go off on adventures, which the students enjoy reading. I find it a little hard to believe the exchange between the adults when the main characters go off on their own, but the premise of the book is sound. I like the fact that the author puts in facts that the reader can take in, along with the knowledge shared at the end of the story. I believe students would enjoy reading this story and join in with the adventure.

[Jane Humane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of the series. Although, it is still a good book. I didn't like the part with the dog. I understand that some animals are aggressive, but a series about animal welfare I thought should have taken a moment to give the situation or the dog more depth so he didn't come across as a villain.

[Riverina Regional Library]

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[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 10 year old read it in 1 day but loved it.