The Big Ones by Lucy Jones

THE BIG ONES by Lucy Jones is subtitled “How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us” and Jones, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist for thirty years, discusses eleven natural disasters from volcanoes (Pompeii) to hurricanes (Katrina) to earthquakes and tsunamis (Indian Ocean in 2004 and Fukushima). Having devoted her working life to better preparedness (e.g., running early versions of the Great ShakeOut Drill which in 2016 involved over 53 million people around the world), Jones encourages readers to accept the inevitability of natural events while questioning the role of human response. Her final chapter deals with the likely earthquake event in Southern California (which is an eye-opening and scary read) where she offers several suggestions for local governments and private citizens. THE BIG ONES is an accessible book which will appeal to our students across a range of disciplines such as science, history, architecture and engineering, anthropology, civics, and even politics and journalism. 

Invisible Fault Lines by Kristen-Paige Madonia

Invisible Fault Lines by Kristen-Paige Madonia tells the story of Callie, living in modern day San Francisco.  Tales of typical teenage angst and relationship issues abound (a new romance for Callie, a new gig for her band, and a painful break-up for her gay best friend).  However, the central question is what has happened to Callie’s father? It seems he has just disappeared one day without a trace – well, except for the picture of the 1906 earthquake which seems to contain his image.

Both Callie and her mother have a hard time coping with her father’s unexpected absence and Callie becomes obsessed with that picture and the events surrounding the earthquake.  Madonia crafts the story from multiple perspectives and time periods, introducing an unnamed man living in 1906 who seems to have amnesia and is trying to cope with the quake’s aftermath. There’s suspense, but [spoiler alert] it’s not resolved and the ending falls a bit flat.

Invisible Fault Lines is an innovative genre mash-up involving realistic/contemporary fiction, historical fiction, fantasy time travel and mystery. Even though I felt empathy for Callie as she certainly matures, to me, the best part of the story takes place in 1906. Invisible Fault Lines will prompt interest in the earthquake itself and I was more curious to see how those characters coped and adapted to the natural disaster.