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Magnitude
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26From the #1 New York Times bestelling author of Iceberg and The Free State of Jax comes the harrowing story of one girl's fight for survival during the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
San Francisco, 1906.
When Cora leaves her house in the early morning hours of April 18th, she expects trouble to find her, like it somehow always does. But as she makes her way to the San Francisco docks to look for her father, the earth begins to shake and suddenly, Cora realizes that she's not just in trouble--she's in danger.
Soon after, the last thing Cora remembers seeing is a tall building swaring overhead, before everything goes dark.
When Cora wakes up, she's trapped underground with Zhi, whom she met by accident on the way to the docks. They're running short on air and time, when miraculously, Cora's friend Oliver pulls them from the rubble. Once she's above ground again, Cora is shocked to find herself in a city that has been decimated by a massive earthquake.
Together, Cora, Zhi, and Oliver begin a desperate search for their families, all the while trying to evade terrifying fired that are tearing through the wreckage and a gange of thieves who are pursuing Cora and a valuable secret she holds.
From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a thrilling, suspenseful story about courage, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive one of the most terrible natural disasters this country has ever seen.
San Francisco, 1906.
When Cora leaves her house in the early morning hours of April 18th, she expects trouble to find her, like it somehow always does. But as she makes her way to the San Francisco docks to look for her father, the earth begins to shake and suddenly, Cora realizes that she's not just in trouble--she's in danger.
Soon after, the last thing Cora remembers seeing is a tall building swaring overhead, before everything goes dark.
When Cora wakes up, she's trapped underground with Zhi, whom she met by accident on the way to the docks. They're running short on air and time, when miraculously, Cora's friend Oliver pulls them from the rubble. Once she's above ground again, Cora is shocked to find herself in a city that has been decimated by a massive earthquake.
Together, Cora, Zhi, and Oliver begin a desperate search for their families, all the while trying to evade terrifying fired that are tearing through the wreckage and a gange of thieves who are pursuing Cora and a valuable secret she holds.
From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a thrilling, suspenseful story about courage, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive one of the most terrible natural disasters this country has ever seen.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 3, 2026
313 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer A. Nielsen
53 books9,593 followersJennifer lives at the base of a very tall mountain in Northern Utah with her husband, three children, and a naughty puppy. She loves the smell of rainy days, hot chocolate, and old books, preferably all at once. She is a former speech teacher, theater director, and enjoyed a brief but disastrous career as a door-to-door pollster. In her spare time, Jennifer tends to panic, wondering what she has forgotten to do that has allowed her any spare time.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 7, 2025
Writing about a disaster requires a special set of writing skills, foremost among them the dual ability to make the characters have a stake that's not entirely related to the disaster itself. Nielsen did this beautifully in her book Iceberg (about the Titanic), but it doesn't quite work as well here. In large part, this is because we simply don't get quite enough information about the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. There are headings at the start of each chapter charting first the quake and then the progress of the fires, and bits of information about the way the Chinese community was treated and the corrupt city government are present, but they don't intertwine with Cora's story quite as well as they might have - and the historical note in the back doesn't really give readers any resources or additional information.
Still, the basic story and writing are good. Nielsen does a solid job of depicting Cora's moral dilemmas and if the plot about the rift between her family and her best friend Oliver's isn't as developed as it could be, it's still a good backdrop for the other issues she faces. Chi is the least developed character in the book, and since she's also the only nonwhite character, that's a problem; I really would have liked to see a bit more go into her other than "People in 1906 learn that Asians are human too."
I think I would still recommend Outrun the Moon to a middle grade audience looking for a book about the earthquake, but that doesn't mean that this one isn't worth reading. Rather it's the book you pick up when you already know the basic history and want a story in that time and place, not the one you pick up to learn about it in the first place.
Still, the basic story and writing are good. Nielsen does a solid job of depicting Cora's moral dilemmas and if the plot about the rift between her family and her best friend Oliver's isn't as developed as it could be, it's still a good backdrop for the other issues she faces. Chi is the least developed character in the book, and since she's also the only nonwhite character, that's a problem; I really would have liked to see a bit more go into her other than "People in 1906 learn that Asians are human too."
I think I would still recommend Outrun the Moon to a middle grade audience looking for a book about the earthquake, but that doesn't mean that this one isn't worth reading. Rather it's the book you pick up when you already know the basic history and want a story in that time and place, not the one you pick up to learn about it in the first place.
September 19, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a ARC of this book. This was my very first Jennifer A. Nielsen book and I flew through it. I really enjoyed the nonstop plot, the chaos our main character deals with throughout and how everything is resolved. I truly enjoyed how the author how all people are important and how they all share in the destruction and the shock of the earthquake too. I am looking forward to adding more books from this author on my TBR. Great read!
December 2, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Cora and Oliver both live in San Francisco in 1906. Their families were friends, but after Cora's father lost the family gold mine and he went to Los Angeles for work, the two were forbidden to speak. Cora owes money to bullies Vincent and Tony, of the Union Street Gang, and when she is going to meet them in the early morning hours, she sees them bullying a young Chinese girl, Chi, and trying to take her bicycle. Cora intervenes, and the girl gets away, but an earthquake hits. Both girls are trapped underground, but work to escape. When they finally free themselves and see the devastation, they both want to find their families. Cora has stolen some gold coins while trapped. Cora runs into Oliver, whose father is a fireman, and the two defy the authorities and head back to her house to find her my other and brothers. They aren't there, but Cora picks up some possessions. Vincent is looting, and tries to extract payment from Cora; he shows up and again and again, as does Mr. Hinkle, who seems helpful but who hides a secret. General Funston is trying to help the fire by blowing up buildings, which seems like a bad idea. Oliver and Cora occasionally listen to the authorities and evacuate to Union Square and the Praesidio, but always seem to go back to get into more trouble. Cora also comes across Chi several times, and eventually helps her get to her family on a boat. She also finds her mother, but goes off and loses her again. In the end, it turns out the gold she is worried about really belongs to her grandfather and will help the family after the father miraculously returns and finds everyone.
I love Nielsen's work (Free State of Jax, One Wrong Step, Uprising, Iceberg, Lines of Courage, Rescue, Words on Fire, Resistance, A Night Divided, The False Prince )generally, but this novel had so many coincidences and bad safety protocols that it wasn't my favorite. It was well written, compelling, and had a lot of historical details that will appeal to readers of historical fiction. Since I already have Hopkinson's Into the Firestorm: A Novel of San Francisco 1906 and Deadliest Fires: Then and Now, Blundell's A City Tossed and Broken, and Lee's Outrun the Moon, I may pass on purchase. If I buy it, I'll feel compelled to tell all students who check this out "What do you do in case of fire/flood/earthquake? If authorities tell you to evacuate, FOLLOW THEIR DIRECTIONS!" May have grilled my daughter about this, and luckily she knew that if you go into a danger zone, it endangers not only you but the rescue workers, as well as other people they might have helped had you not been stupid.
Whew. Sorry. Visceral reaction to this one.
Cora and Oliver both live in San Francisco in 1906. Their families were friends, but after Cora's father lost the family gold mine and he went to Los Angeles for work, the two were forbidden to speak. Cora owes money to bullies Vincent and Tony, of the Union Street Gang, and when she is going to meet them in the early morning hours, she sees them bullying a young Chinese girl, Chi, and trying to take her bicycle. Cora intervenes, and the girl gets away, but an earthquake hits. Both girls are trapped underground, but work to escape. When they finally free themselves and see the devastation, they both want to find their families. Cora has stolen some gold coins while trapped. Cora runs into Oliver, whose father is a fireman, and the two defy the authorities and head back to her house to find her my other and brothers. They aren't there, but Cora picks up some possessions. Vincent is looting, and tries to extract payment from Cora; he shows up and again and again, as does Mr. Hinkle, who seems helpful but who hides a secret. General Funston is trying to help the fire by blowing up buildings, which seems like a bad idea. Oliver and Cora occasionally listen to the authorities and evacuate to Union Square and the Praesidio, but always seem to go back to get into more trouble. Cora also comes across Chi several times, and eventually helps her get to her family on a boat. She also finds her mother, but goes off and loses her again. In the end, it turns out the gold she is worried about really belongs to her grandfather and will help the family after the father miraculously returns and finds everyone.
I love Nielsen's work (Free State of Jax, One Wrong Step, Uprising, Iceberg, Lines of Courage, Rescue, Words on Fire, Resistance, A Night Divided, The False Prince )generally, but this novel had so many coincidences and bad safety protocols that it wasn't my favorite. It was well written, compelling, and had a lot of historical details that will appeal to readers of historical fiction. Since I already have Hopkinson's Into the Firestorm: A Novel of San Francisco 1906 and Deadliest Fires: Then and Now, Blundell's A City Tossed and Broken, and Lee's Outrun the Moon, I may pass on purchase. If I buy it, I'll feel compelled to tell all students who check this out "What do you do in case of fire/flood/earthquake? If authorities tell you to evacuate, FOLLOW THEIR DIRECTIONS!" May have grilled my daughter about this, and luckily she knew that if you go into a danger zone, it endangers not only you but the rescue workers, as well as other people they might have helped had you not been stupid.
Whew. Sorry. Visceral reaction to this one.
September 23, 2025
Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen (Mar 3, 2026)
ARC provided by NetGalley
Jennifer A. Nielsen takes readers back to April 1906, San Francisco, on the eve of the devastating earthquake. Cora lives with her mother and siblings in crowded tenements, anxiously awaiting the return of her father, who left to find work after the family gold mine closed. On her way to the pier in hopes of spotting him, Cora encounters Chi (Zhi), who is fighting to keep hold of her bicycle from Vincent and Tony Jr.—two boys Cora knows all too well.
Cora steps in to help, and together she and Chi escape—only for the earth to suddenly split beneath them. The girls plunge into a crevice as buildings collapse around them. They’re later rescued by Oliver, whose family once shared a close bond with Cora’s before time and circumstances fractured that connection.
From there, the trio face a series of perilous challenges amid aftershocks, fires, and destruction, uncertain if they’ll ever make it home to their families.
As in most of Nielsen’s novels, readers will be gripped from the very first page and held fast until the end. Chapters marked with times and dates mirror the relentless rumbling and chaos spreading through San Francisco, heightening both the tension and the atmosphere.
A powerful, fast-paced survival story—highly recommended for upper elementary and middle grade readers.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Jennifer A. Nielsen takes readers back to April 1906, San Francisco, on the eve of the devastating earthquake. Cora lives with her mother and siblings in crowded tenements, anxiously awaiting the return of her father, who left to find work after the family gold mine closed. On her way to the pier in hopes of spotting him, Cora encounters Chi (Zhi), who is fighting to keep hold of her bicycle from Vincent and Tony Jr.—two boys Cora knows all too well.
Cora steps in to help, and together she and Chi escape—only for the earth to suddenly split beneath them. The girls plunge into a crevice as buildings collapse around them. They’re later rescued by Oliver, whose family once shared a close bond with Cora’s before time and circumstances fractured that connection.
From there, the trio face a series of perilous challenges amid aftershocks, fires, and destruction, uncertain if they’ll ever make it home to their families.
As in most of Nielsen’s novels, readers will be gripped from the very first page and held fast until the end. Chapters marked with times and dates mirror the relentless rumbling and chaos spreading through San Francisco, heightening both the tension and the atmosphere.
A powerful, fast-paced survival story—highly recommended for upper elementary and middle grade readers.
November 2, 2025
I went into this book knowing very little about the San Francisco fires, and I loved how it inspired me to look up more about that period in history. The opening chapters were especially interesting to me. I could have spent even more time underground with the girls! I also liked the unique chapter titles noting which parts of the city were burning and at what times. One of my favorite aspects was the cross-cultural friendship that formed despite the societal barriers of the time.
On the other hand, the group of antagonist boys didn’t work as well for me. They felt a bit contrived and appeared so frequently that their presence started to pull me out of the interesting historical fiction part of the story. I understand they were meant to add tension beyond the fires themselves, but their role felt overplayed.
I always enjoy Jennifer A. Nielsen’s writing, and while this wasn’t my favorite of her books, it’s still a solid read. The topic may have made it harder to write a fast moving plot, but the historical details and themes of resilience and friendship make it well worth reading for fans of historical fiction.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
On the other hand, the group of antagonist boys didn’t work as well for me. They felt a bit contrived and appeared so frequently that their presence started to pull me out of the interesting historical fiction part of the story. I understand they were meant to add tension beyond the fires themselves, but their role felt overplayed.
I always enjoy Jennifer A. Nielsen’s writing, and while this wasn’t my favorite of her books, it’s still a solid read. The topic may have made it harder to write a fast moving plot, but the historical details and themes of resilience and friendship make it well worth reading for fans of historical fiction.
I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for the digital ARC of Magnitude. This was the first book I have read by Jennifer A. Nielsen. She has a wonderful narrative style for middle-grade readers. "Magnitude" tells the story of Cora, Oliver, and Chi as they navigate San Francisco after a strong earthquake in 1906 that started fires and demolished buildings. The devastation isn't the only risk for these three. Cora owed money to boys who loaned her money from a surprisingly unscrupulous city leader. Many times, their greedy hands proved to be more dangerous than the city's terrain after the quake. Junior high students will appreciate Ms. Nielsen's novel if they are previous fans of the "I Survived" series and are looking for a new challenge. I highly recommend this for girls due to the brave female protagonist, historical fiction fans, and those who want to know more about immigrant experiences at the turn of the 20th century.
November 17, 2025
Set in 1906, Magnitude takes us through the horrific San Francisco earthquake and its aftermath. As Cora tries to find her family, she has to navigate a crumbling city plagued with fires, looting, and corruption. In the midst of never-ending suspense, she finds extreme courage and powerful friendships.
I once heard Jennifer Nielsen say that a coming theme in her books is "danger." And this book definitely fits the bill. I love that this book does such a good job of teaching us about the time period while also telling a great story with dynamic characters. I learned so much and I found myself really rooting for Cora and her friends. I can't wait for more readers to get their hands on this book.
I once heard Jennifer Nielsen say that a coming theme in her books is "danger." And this book definitely fits the bill. I love that this book does such a good job of teaching us about the time period while also telling a great story with dynamic characters. I learned so much and I found myself really rooting for Cora and her friends. I can't wait for more readers to get their hands on this book.
October 22, 2025
"The earthquake didn't care where we had come from. We all shared in the destruction. So we can all share in the shock of it too."
Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a well-written historical fiction novel for a middle-grade audience (but can be enjoyed by any age). This story is filled with themes of friendship, reconciliation, and standing up for what is right, even when it hurts. Although this novel explores some heavy themes and events, it will leave you satisfied and happy.
Content warnings: violence, mild-ish wounds, natural disaster, and theft (but it is righted...mostly).
Note: I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a well-written historical fiction novel for a middle-grade audience (but can be enjoyed by any age). This story is filled with themes of friendship, reconciliation, and standing up for what is right, even when it hurts. Although this novel explores some heavy themes and events, it will leave you satisfied and happy.
Content warnings: violence, mild-ish wounds, natural disaster, and theft (but it is righted...mostly).
Note: I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for a review.
November 18, 2025
I would 100% teach this if I was in a middle school classroom. There’s a ton of connections to classroom content, particularly for US history: Gold Rush, Chinese exclusion, effects of poverty, natural disasters, martial law.., this is sure to be a winner for teachers and students. Also, great lessons about friendship, resilience, and forgiveness. The best part is there’s a female main character with a strong supporting male character and no romance. Imagine, a boy and a girl just being friends! Thank goodness for this refreshing read!
October 4, 2025
Another winner from Jennifer Nielsen! I was familiar with San Francisco’s Chinatown and the plagues from reading Choldenko’s “Chasing Secrets.” Magnitude” expanded on that and brought the horror of earthquakes and fires to a visceral level. I was glued to my couch wanting to know what happened to Cora, Chi, and Oliver. It was a great story with unexpected twists, interesting history trivia, and lasting friendships.
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October 12, 2025How do you find your family when your world has crumbled? In Jennifer A. Nielsen's historical novel, Magnitude, this question becomes a desperate reality. Set during the catastrophic 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the story follows three friends who must survive not only the powerful aftershocks but also the chaos of city-wide curfews and dangerous looters. It is a gripping tale of courage, friendship, and perseverance that fans of Nielsen's work will not want to miss.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews