Quake!

June 1, 2004
Gr 4-6-Karwoski's novel conveys very capably the fear, disorientation, and shock of living through a major disaster and coping with the aftermath. On occasion the novel's tone seems more like that of historical novels of a few decades ago, but the protagonist is appealingly unvarnished, alternately sweet and angry, open-eyed both to the destruction at large and the smaller scale unhappiness at home since his mother's death. Jacob's latest argument with his father, over a stray dog he wants to keep, results in him leaving home early the morning of the quake and being separated from his family when disaster strikes. Jacob has the unsettling experience of finding a friend's grandmother dead in the city's ruins, but also-thanks to the dog's heightened senses-the opportunity to save the life of San, a Chinese boy who becomes his fast friend. Jacob, already personally familiar with anti-Semitism, sees through San's eyes how badly the Chinese immigrants are treated. On the other hand, the boys also take part in the community created by the tent cities, in which people who might otherwise never have met begin to live and work together. The hoped-for happy ending materializes, but not before Jacob entertains the strong possibility that he may have to live with San's family if his own cannot be found or-worse-is dead. He also learns that he should not let disagreements stand between him and his loved ones. Quake! combines disaster and family longing for a sturdily constructed and affecting look at the past.-Coop Renner, Fairmeadows Elementary, Duncanville, TX

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2004
Gr. 4-6. It is 1906, and 13-year-old Jacob Kaufman, who lives in San Francisco with his father and little sister, is outside when a major earthquake shakes the city, cracking streets and toppling buildings. After Jacob and his dog save the life of San, a Chinese boy, the two join together to search for their families and for food and temporary shelter. Though San occasionally faces racial hostility, the boys meet many strangers who help them through the difficult days. In the appended author's note, Karwoski discusses the earthquake, the events and social changes that followed. What actually happened is reflected in the story, which emphasizes the communication and sharing that took place as different groups--the Jews, the Irish, and the Italians--found common bonds in coping with disaster. Prejudice against the Chinese, however, was more resistant to change. Karwoski's research is apparent in the many vivid details of life after the earthquake, but readers will be less concerned with social issues than with the developing stories of the sympathetic characters.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2004
Separated from his family in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Jacob Kaufman befriends a Chinese boy, San. As the two search for Jacob's family, they encounter both prejudice and generosity. Historical details give a strong sense of time and place. The story is readable but overburdened by multiple plot elements, many of which are only superficially explored.

(Copyright 2004 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)