Yep, Laurence. 2006. THE EARTH DRAGON AWAKES: THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE OF 1906. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060275243
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book tells the story of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 through the eyes of two young boys, Henry and Chin. Chin's father works for Henry's family, the Travises, in the Sacramento Street area. Chin and his father live in Chinatown. The families are separated at the time of the earthquake, and the reader is able to view the effects of the earthquake and resulting fires from both the Travises' home and Chin's home. Although the boys and their families are concentrating on surviving this terrible disaster, they both cannot help but worry about the fate of one another. After fleeing the dangers of San Francisco, both families are reunited in Oakland, California. Eventually, each family is able to rebuild and resume their lives. The boys are strongly impacted by their experience in the earthquake and come to recognize everyday heroes in their parents and family friends.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Yep makes it easy to identify with both main characters, Henry and Chin. The boys are interested in "penny dreadfuls" books that tell the stories of famous heroes such as Marshal Earp (Yep, 2006, 7). In many ways these boys share interests and personalities that are similar to a typical boy of the modern era. Yep tells the perspective from each boy's point of view, so the reader is able to experience a child's fear, worry, and anxiety that would likely occur in the midst of such a natural disaster. Henry's fear is highlighted when he clings to his dog as he is being freed from his bedroom. "Then he scoops up Sawyer. Henry clutches his pet. The crowbar scrapes at the doorframe" (Yep, 2006, 30). It is easy to picture a boy holding his pet dog as he waits for his parents to rescue him. Although this story is set over 100 years ago, readers will easily relate to the characters because of the timeless feelings of vulnerability and fear.
The plot is framed by the actual sequence of events that unfolded the morning of and the days following the earthquake of 1906. Yep signifies the passage of time by stating the location, date, and exact time at the beginning of each chapter. For example, one chapter is titled , "Late evening Tuesday, April 17, 1906 Deep beneath San Francisco" (Yep, 2006, 8). These clues make it easy for the reader to jump back and forth between Henry's neighborhood and Chin's. In addition, the detailed listing of the time sequence down to the minute builds suspense within the plot.
Yep successfully creates a clear setting through the use of detail and careful notation when the setting slightly changes between neighborhoods. A vivid picture of the rolling hills of San Francisco is created by sentences such as "slivery tracks lead up and down hills. On the crests, Chin sees San Francisco spread out before them. Streetlamps glitter like jewels" (Yep, 2006, 12). The use of a simile and imagery make it easy for the reader to imagine the streets of San Francisco. Further descriptions detail the architecture characteristic of the city. "American houses perch shoulder to shoulder like pigeons. Beyond them rise the tall buildings of the business district […] They call them skyscrapers" (Yep, 2006, 8). This mention of the new term "skyscrapers" reflects the time period of the book.
The theme of this book highlights the courage and bravery needed to survive natural disasters such as earthquakes. Both boys act without regard for their own safety, and are able to set aside all fears to help protect their loved ones. Although the story begins by mentioning the boys' admiration for heroes in books, by the end of the story they recognize that they have found everyday heroes within their parents and friends. "'And we don't have to look far for heroes. They were right under our noses all this time"' (Yep, 2006, 105). Throughout the devastation of the earthquake and the harrowing rebuilding efforts the reader witnesses the boys grow in both maturity and wisdom.
Yep uses a vivid writing style full of imagery and figurative language to help the reader experience the sights and sounds of the city of San Francisco after this harrowing event. For example, human characteristics are attributed to the house through personification. "The house is still trembling" (Yep., 2006, 30). Similes also help the reader understand the devastation of the earthquake. "The cable-car tracks have been twisted into strange shapes like shining wire" (Yep, 2006, 31). Another example of a simile may be found in the statement, "the walls crumble like paper" (Yep, 2006, 24). These descriptions allow the reader to recreate the terrible scenes of that day in their mind, and feel as if he or she is actually present during the aftermath of the quake. Yep also intertwines factual information related to earthquakes along with the storyline. "San Francisco is on the edge of the North American Plate. Next to it is the Pacific Plate, which holds the Pacific Ocean" (Yep, 2006, 8). These informative details allow the reader to gain insightful knowledge while enjoying a good book.
Yep uses detail and description to describe the characters in the book, while successfully avoiding any negative stereotypes that are often wrongly associated with people of different nationalities.
4. PERSONAL RESPONSE:
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
The organization of this book is one of its main strengths in my opinion. The alternating settings between Henry's and Chin's neighborhood make this a quick and enjoyable read. Yep lists several resources that confirm the factual information used in the book that readers may consult. However, this could be improved by including primary sources such as letters or diary entries from those who actually survived the earthquake. I feel this added resource would confirm the historical accuracy of this book.
5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"Its natural disaster subject is both timely and topical, and Yep weaves snippets of information on plate tectonics and more very neatly around his prose." (SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL)
"Told in the present tense, the narration provides a 'you are there' sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories." (BOOKLIST)
6. CONNECTIONS
*Students can read one of the other books suggested by Yep relating to the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 such as THREE FEARFUL DAYS: SAN FRANCISCO MEMOIRS OF THE 1906 EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE (ISBN 0930235096)
*Students could create a timeline depicting the sequence of events following the earthquake. A color coded map of San Francisco could also be created to show the path of the earthquake destruction and fire damage.
*Students can research earthquakes and fault lines using nonfiction books or online resources.
No comments:
Post a Comment