Bookverdict.com

Gr 5–8—Winchester, a journalist and former geologist, examines earth-shaking phenomena. In the opening pages, the author discusses his experience on a university research team that confirmed the key scientific theory of continental drift; his powerful writing conveys the excitement of discovery. After this first chapter, descriptions of earthquakes, volcanos, and tsunamis are told in the third person. This contrast between personal narrative and straightforward factual writing is incredibly effective and makes the book an excellent mentor text for demonstrating the d...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

The author combines scientific information about volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis and detailed considerations of major historical events with his ow...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Simon Winchester combines accounts of his own experiences (he lived through the 2010 earthquake in New Zealand and climbed Mount St. Helens days before it erupted in 1980), famous natural disasters including Krakatoa and San Francisco's 1906 earthquake, and geology facts (for example, how to identify different types of rocks) to great effect. This blend of personal na...Log In or Sign Up to Read More