I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 is part of the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis. The first book in the series, I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 was published in 2010 to acclaim in the children’s book community, and many more books in the series followed. Each book takes young readers on a journey through a historical event and/or natural disaster, as told through the eyes of a child protagonist. Tarshis’s series covers a range of topics and time periods, from ancient Pompeii, to the Nazi invasion, to modern events such as the 2018 California wildfires. In recounting these significant events in history by telling stories about relatable protagonists caught up in the urgency of the moment, the books teach young readers about history and natural disasters in a fun and accessible way. Several of the books have been adapted into graphic novels, and Tarshis has won numerous awards for them.

The series has a motto: “When Disaster Strikes, Heroes Are Made.” An important theme linking all of the books, beyond the historical settings and exciting adventures, is the importance of developing resilience. Tarshis’s young protagonists not only survive the most extraordinary disasters in human history, they learn important lessons about themselves and thriving in the world. Tarshis has said, “I’ve learned that resilience is connected to other emotional skills, like being self-aware, being able to understand our own emotions, and being able to feel connected to other people.” Her young protagonists often model these other qualities as well. Tarshis has written that she believes it is important for children to be actively taught these things, which she calls “emotional learning,” stating that (in her opinion) kids are not likely to pick up such emotional skills naturally.