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 and tough, but then the most powerful earthquake in American history 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 and in the end, it caused billions of dollars in damage and the death of 129 people. 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. With a section of nonfiction facts and photos about this real life event, this tale in an ever popular series is sure to captivate young readers.