Earthquake Terror

As 12-year-old Jonathan Palmer and his golden retriever Moose walk along a trail toward a lake on Magpie Island in Northern California, Jonathan notices how eerily quiet the woods feel. Jonathan’s parents, Mr. Palmer and Mrs. Palmer, and his younger sister Abby Palmer are not far behind and they call for Jonathan to wait. As Jonathan stops with some annoyance, he reasons that it must be so quiet since it’s a Tuesday in October, and the Magpie Campground where he’s staying with his family is busiest in the summer and on weekends. Jonathan’s family loves to hike and camp, but their outdoor adventures have changed significantly in the last few years. Four years ago, when Abby was two years old, she had an accident that caused her to have partial paralysis in her legs. Now Abby uses either a walker or crawls to get around. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer don’t let Abby use a wheelchair because they want her to build strength in her legs. With Abby’s disability, the Palmers’ outdoor activities are slightly different and slower paced than they used to be; the hike from their campsite to the lake, for example, takes more than an hour.