46 pages • 1 hour read
Peg KehretEarthquake Terror
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1996A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Abby’s Disability
Abby Palmer’s partial paralysis functions as a motif in the novel that highlights the experiences of many children with physical disabilities. Abby fell from a playground slide when she was two years old, and the fall resulted in partial paralysis. As a result, Abby uses a walker or crawls from place to place. The Palmers do not allow her to use a wheelchair because they want her to strengthen her leg muscles. Even so, with Abby’s partial paralysis, certain tasks are exhausting and time-consuming for her. Kehret underscores the difficulties that Abby faces by describing the step-by-step process of her progress through the woods with Jonathan Palmer after the earthquake. Because fallen trees and branches cover the trail, Abby must wait while Jonathan clears a path, and she relies on his help to climb over fallen trees. Without her walker, which is broken by the earthquake, Abby can only crawl or lean on Jonathan for support. During the emergency of the earthquake, her disability complicates the children’s circumstances and has a profound effect on their chances for survival.
By highlighting Abby’s disability, Kehret also shows the reactions of others to Abby’s partial paralysis. For example, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are extremely patient and encouraging with Abby. They don’t let their daughter’s disability keep their family from pursuing outdoor activities like camping and hiking, and they are willing to modify their outdoor adventures to accommodate Abby’s needs. Jonathan, however, struggles to understand and empathize with Abby at times, especially at the beginning of the novel. He becomes frustrated with her slower pace and constantly reminds himself to be patient. Although Jonathan struggles internally between frustration and empathy, his sense of compassion for his sister wins out over time as he takes care of her and repeatedly recognizes how young she is. With this dynamic, Kehret reminds readers that people with a disability should be treated like people, with empathy and patience instead of frustration and ableism.
The Camper
The Palmer family’s camper symbolizes both safety and its loss. After the earthquake, Jonathan calms himself by thinking of the camper, for he knows that once he and Abby can make their way back to it, they will have food, water, supplies, shelter, and a first aid kit. Jonathan also thinks about the many comforts the camper contains, such as his radio and Abby’s toys. He pictures himself listening to the World Series baseball game, playing cards with Abby, and letting Abby take a nap.
However, all of these plans become impossible when Jonathan sees that the camper has been crushed by a fallen tree. The safety the camper represents is taken away in a moment, and Jonathan must change his mindset to adapt to the reality of the situation. His priorities change drastically, and he must think creatively to keep Abby calm and determine the next logical step. In this way, Kehret highlights the safety of the camper only to take it away and show that Jonathan and Abby are facing a true emergency. The camper’s destruction therefore serves to build tension and add additional complications to the rising action.
Time
Time functions as a motif in the novel and contributes to the theme of uncertainty, as well as adding to the intensity of the rising action. Jonathan does not know how much time passes between the moment his parents leave and the moment the earthquake hits. This lack of knowledge makes him unsure of whether his parents have successfully made it off the island, and it also makes it difficult to make logical decisions. If his parents made it off the island, he reasons that people will be coming to rescue them before long. If not, then they cannot hope to be rescued for several hours or possibly until the next day. Without the presence of a timepiece, Jonathan must make decisions based on incomplete information, which further highlights the uncertainty he faces.
Time also adds to the novel’s tension. All of the novel’s events happen within 24 hours, so the action is fast-paced as each problem compounds the ones that came before it. To further add to the complication, Abby cannot move quickly, so Jonathan must think of different actions to take. Since time is of the essence in this emergency situation, a rising sense of urgency permeates the narrative and adds a new level of suspense with the addition of each fresh challenge. At first, Jonathan feels that he and Abby can take their time in getting back to the camper. However, once he discovers the problem of the rising water levels, time becomes precious. He realizes that he has only minutes to devise and execute a plan to keep them both safe from the rising floodwaters. Yet despite this urgency, he must maintain his patience with Abby while simultaneously motivating her to hang onto a tree to stay afloat. Just as the scarcity of time creates tension in the beginning of the novel, the excessive passage of time heightens tension toward the end of the novel after Jonathan is rescued, as his exhaustion forces him to sleep for several hours before remembering that Abby is also in need of rescue. Since the reader is aware of Abby’s situation, Kehret’s use of the passage of time heightens anxiety about whether Abby will be saved. The time motif highlights the uncertainty Jonathan faces as he tries to react to emergencies. It also creates excitement in the novel as Jonathan and Abby must quickly react to one problem after another.
Related Titles
By Peg Kehret
