Magnitude

About this book

San Francisco, 1906.

When Cora leaves her house in the early morning hours of April 18th, she expects trouble to find her, like it somehow always does. But as she makes her way to the San Francisco docks to look for her father, the earth begins to shake and suddenly, Cora realizes that she's not just in trouble--she's in danger.

Soon after, the last thing Cora remembers seeing is a tall building swaying overhead, before everything goes dark.

When Cora wakes up, she's trapped underground with Chi, whom she met by accident on the way to the docks. They're running short on air and time, when miraculously, Cora's friend Oliver pulls them from the rubble. Once she's above ground again, Cora is shocked to find herself in a city that has been decimated by a massive earthquake.

Together, Cora, Chi, and Oliver begin a desperate search for their families, all the while trying to evade terrifying fires that are tearing through the wreckage and a gang of thieves who are pursuing Cora and a valuable secret she holds.

From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a thrilling, suspenseful story about courage, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive one of the most terrible natural disasters this country has ever seen.

Reviews

Praise for Magnitude:

"A thrilling adventure." -- Publishers Weekly

"Fast-paced..." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Nielsen has once again written a page-turner... A thrilling adventure with echoes for the present day." -- Historical Novel Society

Praise for The Free State of Jax:

"Nielsen...rewards [readers] with some provocative ideas, a flurry of gleefully rousing hijinks, and a winningly smart, sensitive protagonist. An...exceptionally feel-good story." -- Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Iceberg:

"Page-turning historical drama." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Nielsen (Lines of Courage) attentively sketches the Titanic's allure... and details its social hierarchy, seeding anticipation... it all makes for an engrossing portrait of an infamous maiden journey." -- Publishers Weekly

"This story of perseverance and survival should please readers who enjoy historical fiction with heroism and a heavy sense of foreboding." -- Booklist

"Nielsen's use of both real and fictional characters makes the story feel authentic and wildly suspenseful as she takes the reader on the final journey of the 'unsinkable ship.'" -- School Library Connection

Praise for Uprising:

* "A riveting, seamless combination of fact and historical fiction." -- School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Lines of Courage:

"A powerful, absorbing story that shines a light on an often overlooked chapter in human history." -- Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

Praise for Words on Fire:

* "Gripping... Audra's story deserves a place on the shelf next to Lois Lowry's Number the Stars and Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief." -- Booklist, starred review

"[This] adventure about a little-known place and time... delivers action and suspense." -- Kirkus Reviews

"There is much on offer in this novel: family love, patriotism, magic, and the importance of books... Highly recommended." -- School Library Connection

Praise for Resistance:

A Sydney Taylor Notable Book

"The edge-of-your-seat climax places readers amidst the gritty, horrifying street battles of the Warsaw Ghetto and pays tribute to those who sacrificed themselves so others would live... Historical fiction at its finest, this informs, enlightens, and engages young readers." -- School Library Journal

"Suspense mounts continually as Chaya survives her ordeals, gaining strength and faith in her mission. The courage and self-sacrifice of many characters is inspiring." -- Publishers Weekly

"Fast-paced and suspenseful." -- School Library Connection

Praise for A Night Divided:

ILA-CBC Children's Choices List selection

"Absorbing and deeply suspenseful, with plenty of ticking-clock tension... an eye-opening glimpse of history." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A marvelously crafted historical novel about courage, perseverance and the will to survive, A Night Divided excels in every regard." -- Reading Eagle

"Distinct supporting characters... demonstrate the harrowing choices people made to survive, encouraging readers to consider what they would have done if fate and history had cast them into the story... The novel's strong setting and tense climax will keep readers engrossed and holding their breath until the last page." -- School Library Journal

"History buffs will drool over the magnificently told tale, but even reluctant readers will become immersed in the tension-filled exploits." -- Voice of Youth Advocates

"Like Anne Frank before her, Gerta is small but mighty, a hardheaded heroine who dreams up big ideas and refuses to give up in the face of adversity and danger." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for the Ascendance Series:

A New York Times Notable Children's Book

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

A Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Children's Book

A Cybils Award Winner

* "An impressive, promising story." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"[A] pageturner." -- The New York Times Book Review

"A swashbuckling origin story... chock-full of alluring details for adventure-loving boys." -- Los Angeles Times

"Gripping." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Should appeal to fans of... Suzanne Collins... [A] surefire mix of adventure, mystery, and suspense." -- The Horn Book