Quake!

By Gail Langer Karwoski, Robert Papp (Illustrator)

A boy and his dog face survival and prejudice after a devastating earthquake.

3.6/5 Goodreads · 164 ratings

192 pages· 39,050 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In the chaos of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, thirteen-year-old Jacob must navigate a shattered city with only his loyal dog. As he searches for his family, Jacob confronts survival challenges and societal prejudices, especially when he befriends a Chinese boy. Will he find safety and acceptance in a world turned upside down? This gripping tale explores resilience and friendship amidst disaster.

From the publisher

A boy and his dog navigate dangerous rubble, prejudices, and survival in this riveting fictional account of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. It’s before daybreak in San Francisco on April 18, 1906. Mourning the loss of his mother, thirteen-year-old Jacob Kaufman slips out of the cramped boarding house where he lives with his immigrant father and little sister Rosie. Why couldn’t Papa just let him keep the stray dog–the one thing that has made him happy in months? But he forgets all his frustrations when the ground beneath his feet begins to rumble. Buildings collapse, and the street splits wide open as Jacob runs for safety from a devastating earthquake. With just his dog, he embarks on a perilous search for shelter, food and water, and missing loved ones while grappling with his Jewish traditions and fighting prejudices against a new Chinese friend. In Gail Langer Karwoski’s stirring fictional account of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, young readers will relive the drama of the actual event and its devastating aftermath. An author’s note carefully separates fact from fiction, giving young readers a glimpse into one of the worst earthquakes in modern history.

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