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Aftershocks
Jessie Wainwright, the daughter of a prominent San Francisco physician, intends to become a doctor herself, despite her father's disapproval. Her dream is nearly lost when a chance encounter reveals a shocking secret--and Jessie sets off in search of answers, temporarily abandoning her goals.
Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation.
Determined to confirm her dark suspicions, Jessie combs the streets of Chinatown. She ultimately witnesses the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and the plight of Chinese immigrants relegated to the nightmare of refugee camps in its wake. With the help of trusted friends, old and new, Jessie discovers the strength to stand up to her domineering father and to break through the racial boundaries of the times. In this powerful story of family, love, and history, Jessie also finds the courage to set out on a daring path that sets her apart from other young women of her generation.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
William Lavender
22 books9 followersWILLIAM LAVENDER'S career has spanned the areas of music, film documentary, theater, and literature. He published six adult novels in the seventies and eighties that received accolades, were brought out in many languages, and even made the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. JUST JANE was his first novel for young readers. William lives with his wife in Riverside, California.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 2, 2016
This is a thoroughly excellent book with a variety of themes, all blended well into one another:
1. Jessie, the daughter of a doctor, has a very strong interest in becoming a doctor herself, yet the society of the time, and her father, is strongly against any female pursuing such an interest.
2. The San Francisco earthquake itself. The description of the quake and its aftermath is done very well.
3. The anti-Chinese feeling of the time of many people in San Francisco (and elsewhere) is illustrated very well, along with the reactions of people to whites who dared try to treat the Chinese differently and without prejudice.
Jessie's parents have Chinese servants, but, as happened many times in master-servant relationships, the male master takes advantage of the female servant with serious consequences for the woman and virtually none for the man.
There is so much that happens in this book the best advice I can give is simply read it. It's one of the best young adult novels that I have ever read, and it's definitely one of those what you want to keep reading and not put down. The characters are all done well; the historical events are written about well; the consequences of those events and the actions of various people are examined well.
This would be one of the few books that I would classify as a “must-read” type of book.
1. Jessie, the daughter of a doctor, has a very strong interest in becoming a doctor herself, yet the society of the time, and her father, is strongly against any female pursuing such an interest.
2. The San Francisco earthquake itself. The description of the quake and its aftermath is done very well.
3. The anti-Chinese feeling of the time of many people in San Francisco (and elsewhere) is illustrated very well, along with the reactions of people to whites who dared try to treat the Chinese differently and without prejudice.
Jessie's parents have Chinese servants, but, as happened many times in master-servant relationships, the male master takes advantage of the female servant with serious consequences for the woman and virtually none for the man.
There is so much that happens in this book the best advice I can give is simply read it. It's one of the best young adult novels that I have ever read, and it's definitely one of those what you want to keep reading and not put down. The characters are all done well; the historical events are written about well; the consequences of those events and the actions of various people are examined well.
This would be one of the few books that I would classify as a “must-read” type of book.
June 26, 2011
I normally love historical fiction, but I have to say this book was mediocre to . . . not good. The writing seemed quite amateur, and the plot was so clichéd and cheesy that it actually made me squirm. I did like the setting around the 1906 Earthquake, but it was not enough to save this book for me. It's not a horrible book, but it's kind of a why-bother with so many other great books out there.
February 22, 2009
I adored this book (it was my favorite book for two years) it is a wonderful story that is full of suspicion and dislike then forgiveness and love. It made you feel a whirlwind of emotions until you end up with the bittersweet feelings of sadness, relief, regret, and joy.
October 22, 2014
Despite the synopsis, this really isn't a book absolutely filled with the harsh treatment of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco. Actually, I was very surprised at how well this topic was blended into the rest of the story; it was very tastefully done. As was everything else in this book. I, at first, was dubious about the writing style - I am not overly fond of third-person narrations. But it did not take long to grow fond of the writing style and characters - especially as Jessie grows from a 14-year-old girl to a young woman. She is irritating, reckless, and naive at first, but she gradually changes and becomes wiser and she becomes older. I was especially pleased with how the author, William Lavender, handled the delicate nature of the "family secret". He did not dance around the subject - which is good, since it is a prominent key to the plotline -, but he did not find it necessary to go into great and unnecessary detail concerning certain aspects of the secret.
My all-time favorite character in Aftershocks was Alan Lundgren. I am always dubious of main male characters; it seems that nowadays authors like to throw an element into their leading male character(s) that is more than slightly annoying. It's been a long time since I've grown as fond of a leading character as I did Alan Lundgren. He was believable - not a perfect, faultless angel, but with faults which he tried to conquer, and despite his faults, was a very good, decent, and kind person. I've never really liked optimistic characters - they tend to be very annoying -, but Alan's optimism is not.
There was one element to this story that I thought fell short. The earthquake. The aftermath of one of the most famous natural disasters in history was unbelievable. William Lavender did well in describing it and making the Reader see the devastation and danger. But when the earthquake itself hit . . . I barely blinked during that passage. I did not sit up straighter in my chair, nor did my breathing quicken or my fingers turn the book's pages faster. It was there, then it was gone. Almost like a slightly bigger ocean wave washing ashore - one that you might scamper away from, but feel no great alarm if it does happen to wet your feet. It did not have the proper feel of an earthquake, and I've experienced earthquakes before. Even the smallest ones are pretty terrifying.
Aside from that disappointing occurrence (and I was very much looking forward to the earthquake), it was a very interesting and good story. I encourage any who read it to give Jessie a chance - she is trying through the majority of Part One, but she is easier upon the Reader's patience by Part Two. She really does become a likable character, and if that turns out to not be the case, there are plenty others who do turn out to be very likable.
My all-time favorite character in Aftershocks was Alan Lundgren. I am always dubious of main male characters; it seems that nowadays authors like to throw an element into their leading male character(s) that is more than slightly annoying. It's been a long time since I've grown as fond of a leading character as I did Alan Lundgren. He was believable - not a perfect, faultless angel, but with faults which he tried to conquer, and despite his faults, was a very good, decent, and kind person. I've never really liked optimistic characters - they tend to be very annoying -, but Alan's optimism is not.
There was one element to this story that I thought fell short. The earthquake. The aftermath of one of the most famous natural disasters in history was unbelievable. William Lavender did well in describing it and making the Reader see the devastation and danger. But when the earthquake itself hit . . . I barely blinked during that passage. I did not sit up straighter in my chair, nor did my breathing quicken or my fingers turn the book's pages faster. It was there, then it was gone. Almost like a slightly bigger ocean wave washing ashore - one that you might scamper away from, but feel no great alarm if it does happen to wet your feet. It did not have the proper feel of an earthquake, and I've experienced earthquakes before. Even the smallest ones are pretty terrifying.
Aside from that disappointing occurrence (and I was very much looking forward to the earthquake), it was a very interesting and good story. I encourage any who read it to give Jessie a chance - she is trying through the majority of Part One, but she is easier upon the Reader's patience by Part Two. She really does become a likable character, and if that turns out to not be the case, there are plenty others who do turn out to be very likable.
August 28, 2010
IN the beginning the characters is slightly young for my age... I can't remember now but I think maybe 11 or 12yrs old? But it is a growing up story, and it certainly was a passable read. Not the most thrilling, nor the most entertaining, it still had its memorable parts. One of the selling points in the book is the famous earthquake (hence title) but from what I remember (sorry I'm writing this almost a month after I read it) the earthquake, though essential, is not sooo important. And it comes half way through the book which I thought was a little late. It is a good portrayal of the racism towards chinese peoples in CA.
December 26, 2008
A heart pounding thriller! I found myself rooting for the heroine throughout the story. It's about a young woman in SF at the turn of the 19th century, who lives with a prominent family
and dreams of being a doctor, which was unthinkable for women in that time. After she discovers a scandolous secret, her life is turned upside down, and then the earthquake of 1906 happens, sending her racing to save an innocent life. Romance, intrigue, and drama mixed with rich, historical writing make this book one of my faves!
and dreams of being a doctor, which was unthinkable for women in that time. After she discovers a scandolous secret, her life is turned upside down, and then the earthquake of 1906 happens, sending her racing to save an innocent life. Romance, intrigue, and drama mixed with rich, historical writing make this book one of my faves!
August 14, 2012
I'm very interested in the 1906 SF earthquake and the time period this book takes place in, but the political underpinnings and lackluster plot did not a compelling story make. I kept reading despite my disappointment, wondering if it would pull me in. It didn't.
I also didn't like how typical stereotypes were somehow were all resolved at the end, like an off-kilter fairytale. The heroine was so forward and progressive in her attitudes and opinions, it was like a girl from 2012 was transported back to 1906. It just wasn't believable.
I also didn't like how typical stereotypes were somehow were all resolved at the end, like an off-kilter fairytale. The heroine was so forward and progressive in her attitudes and opinions, it was like a girl from 2012 was transported back to 1906. It just wasn't believable.
March 3, 2014
I really enjoyed reading this book. It had good character development, and an interesting plot. I also liked the way that the topic of Chinese immigration at the time was included in the story line, because it offered another historical detail, adding to the validity of the book. I would recommend this book to freshmen or sophomores in high school, because the characters are young but relatable and the historical elements may not interest younger readers.
October 25, 2009
Loved this one! For a long time I have been interested in the great 1906 San Fransisco earthquake, so that's what peaked my interest in reading this. I was also interested to learn more about the Chinese who lived there then; I had never thought about all the prejudice and racism they were subjected to. This book was well written, interesting, clean, and fun.
January 5, 2009
This book really teaches you what life really means. Its not THAT exciting but still has some exciting parts. I would say that almost anyone can read this book but it is probably centered a little more towards females. I would rate it an 8 on a 1-10 scale.
March 3, 2009
Set in and around the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, unconventional Jessie tests her father, the doctor.
January 16, 2011
Strong female role model.
April 21, 2011
OMG, this is such a good book. Everyone should read it.
August 28, 2016
This really was an amazing book!! I absolutely lovedd it!!!! =D 'star star'
April 10, 2012
The plot wasn't even a little creative. It just was not a very interesting book.
August 15, 2016
Pretty enjoyable, though somewhat predictable. There were alot of subplots and I wasn't sure which was the main one. Love the characters though.
May 24, 2012
This was a very good story. A light hearted read for all.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews