In this graphic novel about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, readers learn about how San Francisco was a boom town during the Gold Rush, a decimated city after the earthquake and fire, and a rebuilt city after the damage had been done. The end of the book has a short section on the 1989 earthquake in the San Francisco area, additional information about the 1906 earthquake and fire, and a few points about the science of earthquakes. The book also includes a glossary, a list of related internet sources and books for children to look at, and a bibliography of sources used in the writing of this book. The information in the book is conveyed both through short textual passages and dialogue spoken by various characters. Through this dialogue and the author's use of simple, straightforward sentences, he manages to convey a great deal of information in the book about the earthquake and fire. The book has four short chapters, each six to eight pages long, about different topics related to the overall story. The artwork in the book, with its vivid colors and details, is able to draw readers in, while complementing the text and keeping the story moving along all the way through the book. ( )