If any of you are studying earthquakes and volcanoes as a unit study or as 
part of your science studies, we have found a new book that may not be 
mentioned in any Konos, Weaver, or other unit study books about earthquakes. 
It was just published last year by Scholastic's Apple Paperbacks Division.
The book is a historical fiction about the Loma Prieta earthquake of October, 
1989. A gal named Fran and her brother Sidney were left in their mountain 
home cabin with Franny's former best friend (from years before) Jennie. Their 
parents went together to Candlestick Park to see the World Series game. The 
story is about the way these three kids cope with the earthquake, and there 
is a lot of good information about the tragedies that are caused by 
earthquakes. There's a subplot about Sidney, as he is a self-centered, 
violence loving seven year old that caused the parents to get rid of 
television a year before because he was demented by it. The story also shows 
how the earthquake starts to change his values slightly.
I have been reading this aloud. Unlike my norm, this is a book I did not 
preread beforehand. So in some ways, the book was every bit as exciting to me 
since I hadn't read it previously. My kids have been on the edges of their 
seats with this story.
Have I hooked you now? The book is called "Quake!" by Joe Cottonwood. ISBN 
0-590-22233-3, published by Scholastic. We got it in the April Scholastic 
Arrow Book Club order but it seems to me it would be available many other 
places. Cover price is $3.50/USA, $4.50/Can. The cover has four real life 
photos from the quake, and the back cover has one. It's a real eyeopener if 
you aren't from "earthquake country".
                                 -donna
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