When the Earth Shakes: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis

by Simon Winchester

Book Overview

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis. Headline-making natural disasters with devastating consequences for millions of people. But what do we actually know about these literally earth-shaking events? New York Times bestselling author, explorer, journalist, and geologist Simon Winchester--who's been shaken by earthquakes in New Zealand, skied through Greenland to help prove the theory of plate tectonics, and even charred the soles of his boots climbing a volcano--looks at the science, technology, and societal impact of these inter-connected natural phenomena. A master nonfiction storyteller, Winchester digs deep into the powerful natural forces that shape the earth, exploring the how and why of world-changing events from the 19th-century's infamous volcanic eruption at Krakatoa and the earthquake that flattened San Francisco, to the 21st-century tsunamis that devastated Indonesia and Japan. It's a gripping story about what happens when our seemingly unmovable planet shakes, explodes, and floods--all richly illustrated with fascinating historical and stunning contemporary photographs.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670785369
• ISBN13: 9780670785360
• Release Date: June 2015
• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.6" x 9.6"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher