Lauren Tarshis

This book was recommended to me at a Science Fiction Convention (ConFusion 2008) at a discussion panel on the "new" world of YA fiction. I think Scott Westerfeld in particular recommended it (he wrote the Midnighters series and the Uglies/Pretties series). Anyway, I LOVED this book! I couldn't put it down last night, I think I read it in 2 hours or less. It's meant for middle school readers, and the characters are in the 7th grade. Emma Jean Lazarus is not quite like her peers (she almost show more has an Asperger's type of temperament) - she likes good hygiene, math, nature, order and doesn't really get all the emotional chaos, illogical behaviors and general rambunctiousness of her peers. But somehow she begins to get involved in their lives, helping them with problems - often with unintentional results. This is a wonderful book about a difficult time in a young persons life, and the author portrays the cliqueishness of that age group particularly well. Emma Jean is a very sympathetic protagonist, despite her sort of separateness from her peers - as a secret introvert, it was refreshing to see from her point of view. I cried during parts of the book towards the end, and I'm not sure it was just an emotional day or what, but in any case this is a great story about connections between others and what we risk when we dare to be involved. show less

Engaging and fun, and full of drama. The characters were vivid, and the banter between the siblings and their aunt helped to make them relatable for the reader. This book will almost certainly appeal to children who like adventure stories. However, parts of this story stretched credibility a bit too far. There are other fictional Titanic books out there for this age group that are better quality. Incidentally, it’s also quite possible that this author’s technique improved as she went. show more This one was only the first one in the series, and I remember being impressed with one of her later installments. Despite some very real flaws, the action-packed plot and memorable characters are sure to provide educational entertainment for children. It is no mean feat to portray such a distant time in a way that today’s children can understand and enjoy. show less

I listened to this with my kids on the way to school, and it was such a great choice! I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 is part of the I Survived series, and it packs a lot of action, emotion, and suspense into a short read. Josh, an eleven-year-old boy, is adjusting to life in Northern California with his cousins when a deadly wildfire threatens everything around them. It’s a powerful reminder of how quickly things can change and how resilience can carry you through the worst show more situations.

What I really appreciated was how Josh’s emotional journey ran parallel to the literal fight for survival. As someone who’s dealing with a lot of personal changes and grief, his growth felt real and heartfelt. The wildfire scenes were intense but not overly graphic—perfect for younger listeners, though the story does dive into some heavy topics like fear, loss, and family dynamics.

The kids were glued to the story, especially as Josh and his cousins faced the wildfire. They were really engaged and even started talking about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. I loved how Tarshis mixed action with emotional depth, showing that even in life-threatening situations, there’s always room for hope and personal growth.

Overall, it’s a solid book in the I Survived series. It’s both educational and thrilling, making it a great read (or listen!) for kids and parents alike. Would definitely recommend for a family listening session! show less

Chet is the new kid in town, living with his uncle and helping out at his diner. It's here that locals start talking about the newspaper accounts of sharks attacking people in the ocean not far from their town. But it's 1916 and no one has ever been attacked by a shark this far north before ... could it be real or not? Chet is about to find out.

So for many years now, I've been seeing these "I Survive" books fly off the shelves at libraries and have wondered what makes them so great that kids show more love them immensely. I decided to download several e-book titles to evaluate them, selecting some books with events I knew a decent amount about already, events I knew a little bit about already, and events I really didn't know anything about previously. This book fits into the second category.

I found this book riveting. The beginning does deal with some of Chet's home problems (always moving, trying to make friends, etc.) but the shark problem is introduced so early on that the reader is always aware of the danger. It probably helped for me that the locale is not far from my last job so I can envision the place (if not necessarily the time period) super easily. The story could be scary but is handled tactfully so that it is adventurous but not gratuitous.

Back matter describes which parts of the books were true and which were fictionalized. (I wish more historical fiction did this!) Some additional facts are included here as well. Black-and-white illustrations throughout are not necessary to tell the story but are a good addition for kids who are more visual or might just want a break in the text for a moment. show less