The Disaster Days

Behrens’s natural disaster–themed epic portrays a young person’s grace under pressure. Hannah, 13, is embroiled in typical early teen drama with friends, school, and her parents. She’s also worried about her second-ever babysitting gig, which will be for a neighbor on the small island of Pelling, near Seattle. Reality exceeds her imagined worst-case scenario after an earthquake traps her and her two young charges—10-year-old Zoe and her younger brother, Oscar—on the island without power, a working phone, or adult guidance. It’s up to Hannah, despite asthma and serious injuries, to keep them safe. Her extraordinary resourcefulness and courage in deadly situations highlight her burgeoning maturity. Behrens (When Audrey Met Alice) uses immersive details and situations effectively viewed from Hannah’s perspective to create a suspenseful, vivid story filled with lessons about responsibility and overcoming adversity. Ages 8–12. [em]Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (Oct.) [/em]