Earthquakes are a terrifying yet fascinating force of nature.
Seismologist Johanna Wagstaffe takes you through her own journey of understanding the earth beneath our feet. Along the way you'll learn the science behind what makes the earth rumble and hear from kids around the world who have experienced the wonder, and terror, of an earthquake.
September 1, 2017
Gr 4-7-A Canadian meteorologist utilizes her background in earth science and geophysics to present a well-developed explanation of the science of earthquakes. Each chapter is filled with maps, graphs, histories of the earth's most powerful earthquakes, captioned photographs, question-and-answer sections, and sidebars to explain the earth's tectonic plates and their movements, quake epicenters, floods and tsunamis, earthquake prediction, and how people can prepare themselves and their homes for an event. A fabulous feature is that the science content is accompanied by stories from people around the world about experiencing earthquakes. The book's layout and use of colorful, contemporary photographs make this an attractive eye-pleaser and will draw readers into the world of seismology. VERDICT An excellent addition for STEM collections and a usable title in science classrooms.-Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community College, Mount Carmel
Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 15, 2017
A seasoned meteorologist and journalist uses personal experiences, interviews with earthquake witnesses, history, charts, and photographs as she explains the science behind earthquakes.The introduction begins in a conversational tone that continues throughout a lengthy text: "When I was four years old, I lived with my family in Tokyo, Japan." The author--shown, blonde and pale, in her kindergarten uniform--goes on to tell about the "regular earthquake drills" in her kindergarten class and the education that led her to become a meteorologist and science reporter. Five chapters follow, each with subheadings and a plethora of art to complement everything from discussions of the Earth's layers through tsunamis to emergency preparedness. Most of the information is well-organized and logically sequenced; the only organizational glitch is that there are three occasions on which sidebars use such abbreviations as "M 9.0" to describe specific earthquakes before those abbreviations are clarified in an explanation of the Richter scale. The use of personal stories keeps interest high, and changes in color and typeface, as well as well-placed, colorful art, prevent fatigue. Vocabulary words are flagged in colored italics, and analogies and comparisons heighten clarity. There is even some humor, as in this heading about plate tectonics: "A Stressful Situation." To help young people avoid sensory, personal, and intellectual overload, reading one chapter a day is optimal. Thorough, engaging, and accessible. (resources, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 9-13)
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January 1, 2018
This generously illustrated, cleanly formatted volume uses clear scientific prose--as well as the meteorologist author's personal perspectives and experiences--to explore earthquakes. The narrative covers plate tectonics, earthquake measurement, related disasters, monitoring, and emergency preparation. For a science book, there's a pretty heavy emphasis on the autobiographical material, and some scientific omissions may lead to confusion. Websites. Glos., ind.
(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
October 15, 2017
Grades 4-7 A Canadian meteorologist and science reporter based in British Columbia introduces earthquakes: their types, their causes, their effects, and the importance of planning for them. Interspersed with these lucid explanations are the stories, written in first person, of people who experienced earthquakesincluding the writer's grandmother as a child in Australia, a girl in Turkey in 1999, two girls in Japan in 2011, and Wagstaffe herself in Vancouver in 2015and follows up with the story of her visit to Japan following the 2011 event. Sidebars offer facts about those events described in the first-person accounts, as well as topics such as seismic activity on other planets and Earth's moon. Almost every page includes a sharply reproduced photo, while clearly drawn digital drawings, diagrams, and maps also provide insights into the topic. Kids concerned about the topic will find the section chapter on preparedness both useful and reassuring. The conversational tone of the text is engaging, while the interplay of information and narrative will appeal to many readers. A colorful, useful introduction to earthquakes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)