Earthquake Terror

Kehret highlights the power of nature through descriptions of the destruction that the earthquake causes and the many life-threatening problems it creates for the Palmer family. Her use of intense imagery captures how much damage the earthquake does, and she highlights the widespread range of destruction and variety of issues it creates. For example, although the earthquake only lasts five minutes, it topples many trees that took decades to grow to staggering heights. By destroying the trees, the earthquake also destroys property such as the Palmers’ camper and Abby’s walker, and Kehret shows that it could just as easily have killed Jonathan Palmer and Abby Palmer had one of the trees fallen on them. The fallen trees also create a natural dam in Magpie Lake that leads to the island flooding in a matter of hours. On the road, the earthquake causes destruction to the pavement and topples more trees, making it impossible for the Palmers to continue driving. In the town of Beaverville, the earthquake breaks water lines and gas lines, resulting in fires that townspeople have no supply of water to fight. By showing the domino effect of the many types of damage that the earthquake causes, Kehret highlights the limitations of humans who try to contend with nature’s immense power.