I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964

I Survived

by Lauren Tarshis

The Great Alaska Earthquake is the largest and most powerful recorded earthquake in US history. Lauren Tarshis's story of one child surviving this terrifying natural disaster pounds with page-turning action and heartwarming hope. It was 1964 in the brand-new state of Alaska, a vast land of staggering beauty and heart-stopping dangers. Eleven-year-old Jack had grown up living happily with his parents in an off-the-grid cabin, miles from their closest neighbors. Grizzlies and wolves outnumbered people, and dark winter days were 30 degrees below zero. Jack had always thought of himself as strong -- “Alaska tough”. But then the most powerful earthquake in American history -- the Good Friday Earthquake -- struck. The 9.2 magnitude quake lasted nearly five minutes, destroying downtown Anchorage and sending 30-foot tsunamis into coastal cities, wiping out entire communities. Its vibrations were felt around the world. In the end, it caused billions of dollars in damage and the death of 129 people. New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tells the story of the disaster that changed our understanding of earth science -- and tested one boy in ways he never could have imagined. Includes a section of nonfiction backmatter with more facts and photos about the real-life event.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Survival, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Juvenile

144 pages, Hardcover

Published December 5, 2023

About the author

Lauren Tarshis often wonders how she came to spend most of her waking moments thinking about disasters, as the author of the children's historical fiction series "I Survived." Each book takes readers into the heart of history's most thrilling and terrifying events, including the sinking of the Titanic, the Shark Attacks of 1916, Hurricane Katrina, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the San Francisco earthquake, 9/11, and the Battle of Gettysburg. Writing these books often makes her feel very nervous, as though at any moment a volcano could erupt right outside her window. Then again, she has learned a thing or two about avoiding being eaten by a shark.
Lauren is also the author of the the award-winning Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and its sequel, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love.

For more information, go to her website: www.LaurenTarshis.com

And check out the I Survived Website: www.Scholastic.com/ISurvived

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

*libby app, Overdrive was better *

Enjoyable and learned something new, this stuff should be covered in history classes everywhere.

When Jack fell into that fissure and was squirted out by the water, made me claustrophobic and scared by proxy *shudders *

[Daniel Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

It focused on Valdez and not the rest of the state or the tsunamis. Valdez was built mostly on sand and the buildings along the harbor fell into the sea.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about these books is that they give you snippets of events in history but also focus on something more relatable for children – in this one, Jack feels like an outsider because he didn’t grow up in town. I learned so much about an earthquake I knew nothing about and also felt the anxiety of being new in town and not having the shared experiences all the other children have. I just wish there had been a little more about the effects of the earthquake.

[Lauren Sapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite book in this series, but I had no idea that this earthquake even happened, so at least I learned something new.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students loved this book! Going to read another I survived book after the break.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half stars

I was a little disappointed with the ending of this book. Just like some of her other newer books in the series, the story abruptly ends just as the disaster begins, except for a chapter that has a time jump and tells us the conclusion of the story.

I was really interested in the beginning, a small family lives in the Alaskan Bush in 1964, and their cabin is attacked by a grizzly bear, forcing them to move to town for several months. Eleven-year-old Jack, who could survive on his own in the Bush, now had to go to school for the first time. This was surprisingly hard for him, and he thought it would be better to just be alone. But then the most powerful earthquake in American history struck, and he realizes that maybe having friends isn’t so bad.

Included at the end of the book, is a long section of the author’s visit to the area and facts and photos of the real-life event.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story, but I just wish the section after the earthquake was longer. To me, the most exciting books in series are the ones where the disaster happens closer to the beginning/middle of the story, and the character has to survive the disaster for the remainder of the book.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I liked the main character in this book. Kind of reminds me of myself. I liked how The main family lived in the brush and then they had to move to a town. How Jackson didn’t really fit in but then discovered that friends can make your life better. I don’t think this is the only I survived book that does this but I feel like the disaster in this one I was just kind of glossed over. I feel like the author could’ve spent more time talking about the main character and other supporting characters and their tales of survival. I know the earthquake only lasted five minutes but surviving its affects could’ve taken a lot longer than five minutes. All in all a decent I survived story.

[Kari Kraemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. In this new I survived book, Lauren Tarshis, does a great job of describing what life might have been like in Alaska, 1964. Then the earthquake happens ( magnitude 9.2) and the story quickly ends. As always in this series there is information at the end with the actual facts surrounding the disaster. Kids love these books and will no doubt love this one as well.

[Jett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good, but I didn't think it had much to do with the earthquake. All of it was about the kid's life. Also he fell far down AND ALL HE DID WAS BREAK HIS ANKLE, not to mention a geyser pushed him out of the hole and geysers are really hot.




GOOD BOOK THOUGH. : )

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great factual history told thru the eyes of a young boy. Wonderful.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting a few more boxes checked in my #brighterwinter reading challenge. This was for: a book published in 2023. I thought it pretty good and boys absolutely love this series.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably the weakest of the “I Survived” series. Started out slow, and then completely rushed through the actual earthquake.

[Renee's little gr library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars 🤩

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
This was my first I Survived book, and I totally understand why my students loooove them. I can't keep the graphic novels on the shelf long enough!

But I wish there had been more of the actual disaster. There was a lot of build up, and only 2 Chapters about the actual earthquake.

[Mychaela Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of my students are big “I Survived” fans, so I gave it a shot. Not my favorite book I’ve read with my classes this year, but I still enjoyed it!

[Karine Lelièvre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the I survived series, but still quite good and informative

[Melissa Lawyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a view from an adult reading these books to my kids. What I don’t appreciate about these books is that they don’t really dive deep into the actual disaster. The earthquake is two chapters of the book and it would have been a much cooler story if the actual focus had been on the characters getting out of the earthquake rubble. This author spends too much time creating other problems for the characters that have nothing to do with the actual disaster and it really takes away from the main event.

[Erin Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book on the website https://imaginationsoup.net/historica... through the Wakelet. I read this book on my Kindle through the Libby app.

Jackson, an eleven-year-old boy lives in Alaska with his parents. The story starts out with the Great Alaska Earthquake and then flashes back to a few weeks prior to the earthquake. The author uses excellent details to describe the earthquake, so I was hooked right away. Jackson lives in a very small town, miles away from anyone else. He lives in a small cabin that has no electricity. One day, Jackson and his parents are outside when they see a giant bear. They watch as the bear enters their cabin and starts eating all the food they saved for the winter. The bear knocks over their stove and starts a fire. The whole cabin burns down, leaving Jackson's family without any shelter, food, or clothes. They go stay with Jackson's uncle, Solly, in Valdez. Jackson starts going to public school for the first time and he struggles to make friends. One day, Jackson is in town when he feels the ground start to shake. The most powerful earthquake in America had started. Jackson falls into a fissure in the ground, but is eventually pushed back to land by a water spray. He finds 4 classmates who help him get to safety. The friends bring him to a camp where families are reuniting. Hours later, Jackson finds his parents and Uncle Solly.

At the end of the book, there is a nonfiction section with more information about how earthquakes happen, earthquake safety, and the history of Alaska. The author went to Valdez, Alaska, when she was writing this book, so there's also a section about her trip.

I enjoyed this book, but I wanted to hear more about the effects of the earthquake. The parts about the actual earthquake felt rushed. This book would be appropriate for students in grades 2-5. This book could be used in the classroom to teach about earthquakes. The book used very descriptive words to explain the earthquake, so the book could also be used as a mentor text for writing lessons. Finally, the author used onomatopoeia throughout the book, which could also be taught using this book.

[Daniel Stitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren Tarshis’s I Survived series has a strong reputation for drawing young readers into gripping tales of survival in the face of real historical disasters. I Survived the Great Alaskan Earthquake, 1964 is no exception—but it does take a slightly different path than others in the series.

One of the highlights of this book is the vivid description of the Alaskan wilderness. The author paints a beautiful and serene picture of life in the bush, which made the setting feel real and immersive. I also appreciated the development of the main character—a boy who has lived his whole life in the wilderness and is suddenly forced to adapt to city life after a fire destroys his family’s home. His emotional growth and adjustment felt believable and well-paced.

However, I did feel that the actual disaster—the earthquake—was covered too quickly. The majority of the book focuses on building up the characters and setting, while the earthquake itself felt rushed, confined to just a chapter or two. Other books in the I Survived series tend to give more attention to the actual event and the ways the protagonist survives. In that sense, this book felt more like a travel narrative than a disaster story.

That said, it’s still an engaging and fast read, perfect for young readers. One of the standout features of this series continues to be the nonfiction section at the end. I learned quite a bit about earthquakes and how earthquake research has developed over time. That educational bonus adds real value to the story.

Overall, while this book leaned more into setting and character than action and disaster, it was still a worthwhile read—especially for readers interested in Alaska’s natural beauty and the science behind earthquakes

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our first official I Survived book that we read and overall, it was an interesting take on a historical event that happened in Alaska in 1964. We went on a trip to Alaska this summer so as a family we wanted to check out a few books so we can get to know the state a little better. I did not know about this earthquake and admittedly, I was a little nervous going on the trip after learning about how many earthquakes actually occur there all the time (and of course it's location near the Ring of Fire). The story comes from an 11 year old boy's point of view whose name is Jackson, along with his family who live in the Alaska bush. They are forced to relocate to their Uncle Solly's town of Valdez after a winter bear invaded their cabin and inadvertently started a fire, which sadly burned it down. Jackson has to learn to socialize with other kids and has to attend school while his family goes to work with Uncle Solly. Disaster strikes, aka the earthquake, and fortunately his friends are around to help him after he gets injured after falling into a fissure. In the end, the family decides to stay and live in town, as opposed to moving back to the bush, and the story ends with Jackson revisiting his old home. He ends up encountering the winter bear that destroyed his family house who is now scarred from the fire and the bear ignores him and does his own thing and eventually leaves. Jackson is content and at peace with the decision to permanently stay in town, while also gaining some new friends along the way. The story ends with the author's visit to Valdez and includes some information on earthquakes that was interesting to read.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What earns this book 4 stars is the additional information that the author includes at the end of the book, after the story ends.
Lauren Tarshi has made a career out of writing these teen books in her "I Survived" series.
These stories include: I Survived" "Pearl Harbor", 9/11, D-Day, The Great Chicago Fire, and 19 other events.
This writer was new to me, as was her style. I suppose if I had to specifically label it, I would call it "Teen- historical fiction". She places the fictional (teen) protagonist in a very realistic setting and tells the tale of the disaster around them.
What I found fault in this book was that in my opinion, she spent too much time in "setting the table", dwelling on the back story of our hero Jackson's life in the Alaskan bush. He shows up in Valdez, towards the end of the book, and bang, the earthquake hits a few days later!
The author redeems herself by following the story with her field notes from her research trip to Valdez as she was researching her book. Then she explains , in the clearest way that I have seen, the science of Seismology and of plate tectonics ever defined.
The book is written in a way to encourage strong values, independence and sound reasoning among its teen readers.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson and his parents live in the bush of the Alaskan wilderness. Growing up here, Jackson is in his element and is well versed on survival skills and living off the land. When a big bear accidentally sets fire to Jackson's home while looking for food in the dead of winter, his family is forced to evacuate and seek refuge in town with his uncle. When in town, Jackson realizes that surviving blizzards and a three day treck from the bush comes much easier to Jackson than going to school with all these other kids in Valdez. When disaster strikes in the form of the biggest earthquake in U.S. history, Jackson finds himself alone again, but this time he doesn't know what to do.

I enjoyed Jackson and seeing him grow from someone who loves the solitude of the bush life to a young man who can appreciate the blessing of having friends. Equally enjoyable was all the background infomation that Lauren Tarshis provides in the back of the books which actually is about 1/4 of the book itself. She shares the importance of her research as she travels to nearly all the places she's written about in her series, as well as interesting and helpful earthquake/science information. This made me want to visit Alaska!

[Los libros de Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

ESP/ENG

Me gustan mucho los libros que se basan en eventos reales y nos presentan una historia que bien pudo haber sucedido. En este caso, Jack y sus padres deben mudarse a la población de Valdez, después de que su cabaña se incendiara. A Jack le cuesta trabajo hacer amigos y convivir con más personas, ya que toda su vida había vivido con sus padres en la naturaleza, alejados de otros pueblos o ciudades. Pero un día en 1964, Jack aprenderá que todos necesitamos nuestra propia "manada".

Un libro que nos invita a vivir ese momento de la historia en que grandes grietas e inundaciones afectaron a múltiples poblaciones en Alaska.
--
I really enjoy books based on real events that show a story that could very well have happened. In this case, Jack and his parents have to move to the town of Valdez after their cabin burns down. Jack finds it difficult to make friends and get along with other people, since he has lived his whole life with his parents in the wilderness, far from other towns or cities. But one day in 1964, Jack will learn that we all need our own "pack."

A book that invites us to experience that moment in history when massive fissures and floods affected numerous communities in Alaska.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: To eleven-year-old Jackson Barrett, it seemed like the world was ending. He was caught in the middle of the most powerful earthquake in United States history. Across Alaska, the ground shattered like glass. Buildings fell to pieces. Icy cliffsides crashed into the sea. Giant tsunami waves smashed into towns and villages along the coast.

Premise/plot: Jackson has grown up in the wilds of Alaska. His family has lived in a tiny cabin they built themself--a bit "off grid" if you will. (Before being off grid was trendy). But a fire caused by a wild bear has the family living in town for a change...and this puts them right in the path of the Great Alaska Earthquake--March 27, 1964.

My thoughts: All of the I Survived books have a certain formula. This is good news for kids, I'd imagine. You know exactly what to expect and if you love one, chances are you'll enjoy if not love almost all of the others in the series. (Though, of course, there will always be favorites that stand out.) As an adult reader this one won't be making my favorites list. Some in this series prove captivating to me. Others less so.

[Lily S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964
by Lauren Tarshis

Jackson's family overcame the cabin fire and the earthquake

It fit the theme because they survived the cabin fire and the earthquake and they survived the theme.

I give this book a five star rating because it really caught my attention because it teaches you about friendship and how you should not wish to have no friends. I recommend this book to anyone who don't like their friends or appreciate their friends the way they are.

They live in a bush and they live in a cabin they made in the forest, A bush is like a forest or out in the wild. One night a bear went into Jackson family cabin and pushed there gas stove over which was on to heat the cabin and he knock the stove oven an caught the cabin on fire so they called there uncle solly to come pick them up. Now they are living with Uncle solly mom and dad have a job and Jackson goes to school and he does not like it, over time he got used to it. His Just finished he second week of school on Sunday or Saturday an earthquake hit them he found his parents after the earthquake and they decided to

[Molly]

I'm so excited to finally read this book! Jackson's story of surviving the earthquake and tsunami in Valdez, along with his family and friends, was exciting and inspiring. While I wish that more of the book would have focused on the days immediately following the disaster, it was still an enjoyable and informative story.

On a personal note, I'm the youth services librarian in Valdez and was fortunate to get to meet Lauren Tarshis when she came here to research this book. (Admittedly, my favorite part of the audiobook was the author's note read by Lauren herself.) Lauren and her husband David graciously reached out to me and offered to do a talk at our library. The I Survived series is super popular with our kids and they were all so thrilled to meet a famous author. She was so kind and generous with her time, spending time with everyone who wanted to talk to her and ask questions. I'm so grateful our community was able to meet Lauren and that a book about the history of our town now exists for young readers.

[Summer Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was pretty good. I liked how they lived out in Alaska and like they would get everything from like their what was surrounding them and like the nature and they would like store foods like fish. It sounds like a very healthy life. My favorite part was probably when a winter bear broke into their cabin/house and he knocked over the stove when he was looking for food and he was like burnt and like hungry and starving and then later in the book like at the very end, he’s like a healthy bear in the summer and he like survived and I was that was like my favorite Part. My least favorite part was probably when. Jackson was telling all the kids at school about the story when he accidentally cut his finger off his mama just throw it back on when he was biting a stick. I had to picture all of my head. I was reading it, and it was very gross. It took me a while before it was out of my head, but yeah, so that’s the recording of this book. Bye-bye.🤗

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get to work ~ the Barrett family motto

I must confess that I knew very little about this consequential earthquake -- the strongest ever measured in North America at 9.2 and it lasted for five excruciating minutes. Tarshis does an excellent job setting the scene for Jackson Barrett and his family to be in Valdez when the disaster occurs. Having their family live in the bush added a fascinating dimension to the tale. She has a knack for adding just the right secret ingredient to connect us to the main character. This book also includes ton of extra content including notes on the author's trip to Alaska to do research and tips for surviving an earthquake in real life. This informative series engages the imagination and informs the mind. Makes the facts more sticky that way!

[Mark Will Never Cry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like half of this book was the actual book and the other half was the author talking about her own trip to Alaska and about the facts about the disaster, which felt somewhat weird. Also, there just seemed to be very little focus on the Earthquake itself. In other books of this series, the main character often has a lot to lose when their home falls apart, but this main character is a new boy in the town that is affected and his previous home has no connection to the earthquake. But hey, at least we got some good representation of the native population of the Alaska in the shape of... the teacher? Yeah, this could have been better and I swear, this series just keeps talking about how wild animals are dangerous and this one time that was somewhat relaxed and that was great.

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy a book set in Alaska! The details given by the author about Jackson's experience living "off the grid" and then later his surviving the earthquake were vivid. It was interesting to learn about Alaska's 1964 earthquake and how it was rated a 9. Such a violent one, and the fact that it lasted for 5 minutes was mind-blowing. Thirty seconds is a long time to be in an earthquake - can't imagine it going on for 5 minutes. I can see why one survivor said that not a day goes by that he doesn't think about it.

The pictures at the end really brought the story to life as well as the author's interviews with some of the people in Valdez. I like how she gave a lot of facts about earthquakes. I also thought the author's chapter headings in typewriter font were very cool!