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Quake Chasers: 15 Women Rocking Earthquake Science
Sharing perspectives on their journeys into the physical sciences, these heroes provide readers with advice about overcoming adversity.
Quake 15 Women Rocking Earthquake Science explores the lives of 15 diverse, contemporary female scientists with a variety of specialties related to earthquake science.
Dr. Debbie Weiser travels to communities post-disaster, such as Japan and China, to evaluate earthquake damage in ways that might help save lives during the next Big One. Geologist Edith Carolina Rojas climbs to the top of volcanoes or searches barren deserts for volcanic evidence to measure seismic activity. Geophysicist Lori Dengler works with governments to provide guidance and protection against future tsunamis.
With tenacity, intellect, and innovation, these women have crushed obstacles in society, in the lab, and out in the field. Their accomplishments leave aftershocks as they work toward revealing answers to the many riddles that lie behind earthquakes, saving lives by teaching us how to prepare for these terrifying disasters.
Young scientists can take away inspiration and advice on following their own dreams like these inspiring women. Women of Power . Bold books to inspire bold moves. Women of Power is a timely, inclusive, international, modern biography series that profiles 15 diverse, modern women who are changing the world in their field while empowering others to follow their dreams.
Quake 15 Women Rocking Earthquake Science explores the lives of 15 diverse, contemporary female scientists with a variety of specialties related to earthquake science.
Dr. Debbie Weiser travels to communities post-disaster, such as Japan and China, to evaluate earthquake damage in ways that might help save lives during the next Big One. Geologist Edith Carolina Rojas climbs to the top of volcanoes or searches barren deserts for volcanic evidence to measure seismic activity. Geophysicist Lori Dengler works with governments to provide guidance and protection against future tsunamis.
With tenacity, intellect, and innovation, these women have crushed obstacles in society, in the lab, and out in the field. Their accomplishments leave aftershocks as they work toward revealing answers to the many riddles that lie behind earthquakes, saving lives by teaching us how to prepare for these terrifying disasters.
Young scientists can take away inspiration and advice on following their own dreams like these inspiring women. Women of Power . Bold books to inspire bold moves. Women of Power is a timely, inclusive, international, modern biography series that profiles 15 diverse, modern women who are changing the world in their field while empowering others to follow their dreams.
- GenresNonfictionScienceHistory
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 26, 2022
3 people are currently reading
1662 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 27, 2024
Quake Chasers details the biographies of fifteen contemporary woman seismologists, volcanologists, geophysicists, and science communicators. Targeted toward a middle-grade audience, it describes the histories, accomplishments, and journeys these women took, as well as simplifies and clarifies scientific terminology and racial and gender bias.
The book was a good introduction to the histories and accomplishments of each of the women as well as the science they contributed to. The information was still fairly basic, given that the target audience appears to be middle graders, and the narration did sometimes feel light and oversimplistic. Much of the writing consisted of fourth-grade level vocabulary, had few cited sources other than email conversations with the women, and wove in contractions throughout the narrative, which is fine for a middle-grade audience but may not fare well if you are looking for academic writing in this book.
I am probably not the target audience for this book. Still, this book was a good introduction to these fifteen women, their contributions, the culture they lived in, and some of the science. While older readers may still want to do further research if they are interested in learning a bit more, there was still some interesting content to glean from this book. For instance, I found it inspiring to see how some of the women were able to be both scientists and wives and mothers, even weaving their scientific mindsets into their lifestyles. For instance, the book described how Pelly Helweg, seismologist and former worker at the Exploratorium, took a road trip with her granddaughters near Mount Rushmore, where they were observing its rocks. She then asked the granddaughters to hypothesize how they thought the rocks were formed. I also found it interesting how Sara Mcbride, a social scientist focusing on effective warning and communication about earthquakes, fit the feminine archetype, despite being in a traditionally male-dominated field ("wears a kimono, long, dangling earrings, and bright red lipstick").
Some of the science was interesting, and I would like to look into it sometime; there was mathematician and geophysicist Dr. Clara Yoon, who analyzed how human activities like hydraulic fracturing contribute to small earthquakes; additionally, the team she worked in developed an algorithm called Fingerprinting and Similarity Threshold, which is used to detect smaller earthquakes that would be undetectable with other technologies and use these smaller earthquakes to identify the locations of other earthquakes.
I do wish this book was a bit more thorough on the science as opposed to just social justice, although considering that it is a middle-grade book, the information will probably be sufficient enough for a younger audience.
Overall, while this was not the most well-written nonfiction or biography I have read, the book is certainly excellent for its target audience.
Also check out the flashcards I created for this book!
The book was a good introduction to the histories and accomplishments of each of the women as well as the science they contributed to. The information was still fairly basic, given that the target audience appears to be middle graders, and the narration did sometimes feel light and oversimplistic. Much of the writing consisted of fourth-grade level vocabulary, had few cited sources other than email conversations with the women, and wove in contractions throughout the narrative, which is fine for a middle-grade audience but may not fare well if you are looking for academic writing in this book.
I am probably not the target audience for this book. Still, this book was a good introduction to these fifteen women, their contributions, the culture they lived in, and some of the science. While older readers may still want to do further research if they are interested in learning a bit more, there was still some interesting content to glean from this book. For instance, I found it inspiring to see how some of the women were able to be both scientists and wives and mothers, even weaving their scientific mindsets into their lifestyles. For instance, the book described how Pelly Helweg, seismologist and former worker at the Exploratorium, took a road trip with her granddaughters near Mount Rushmore, where they were observing its rocks. She then asked the granddaughters to hypothesize how they thought the rocks were formed. I also found it interesting how Sara Mcbride, a social scientist focusing on effective warning and communication about earthquakes, fit the feminine archetype, despite being in a traditionally male-dominated field ("wears a kimono, long, dangling earrings, and bright red lipstick").
Some of the science was interesting, and I would like to look into it sometime; there was mathematician and geophysicist Dr. Clara Yoon, who analyzed how human activities like hydraulic fracturing contribute to small earthquakes; additionally, the team she worked in developed an algorithm called Fingerprinting and Similarity Threshold, which is used to detect smaller earthquakes that would be undetectable with other technologies and use these smaller earthquakes to identify the locations of other earthquakes.
I do wish this book was a bit more thorough on the science as opposed to just social justice, although considering that it is a middle-grade book, the information will probably be sufficient enough for a younger audience.
Overall, while this was not the most well-written nonfiction or biography I have read, the book is certainly excellent for its target audience.
Also check out the flashcards I created for this book!
April 25, 2022
I really wanted to enjoy the book. I really wanted to recommend it to my middle school science students. Unfortunately there is so much poorly written, tangential dross that I can't. Every chapter includes multiple paragraphs with unsupported generalizations that makes this seem more like an anti-man screed rather than a celebration of amazing women scientists. Sidebars about how women have been treated historically distract from the empowering message and instead frame women as victims with no agency. So disappointing. I may try to read the good parts aloud to students- but definitely not adding to the classroom library. Anyone know if all the books in this series are similar? Two starts because there is some new information that is interesting.
January 22, 2023
Fast and interesting profiles (ten-ish pages) of scientists and communicators working with earthquakes. Seeing all the different education paths was reassuring about the many ways to end up in science, and the women all check in with how they dealt with barriers from sexism and possibly racism (earthquake science is getting better about including women, but it's still very white). There were always at least small problems, and sometimes major issues with prejudice. But the stronger theme is how vital and passionate the women are about their careers.
August 28, 2025
I’ve been fascinated by earthquakes since I was a kid and it was so inspiring to read about all these women. I really needed to read this to remind me why I do what I do. I will always strive to be a student of the world to make it more equitable, compassionate, and beautiful. Thank you to Lori for being who you are and for being the most compassionate teacher to my brother and sister. Today I was reminded of the power we have as women.
December 13, 2022
Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
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May 17, 2023it was wonderful and glad I got to be a student of her's
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews