tippettreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
annafrischmon's review against another edition
4.0
Declan and I randomly remembered this book we read when we were young. It’s good I think. Hard to put down.
readingpro's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Death
samanthamurk's review against another edition
4.0
Fiction, YA, Adventure
this was an oregon battle of the books book in 4th grade. I remember loving it but it did scare me and I was already a little scared of the coast, I always keep an eye on it just in case….. aanyyywaaayyys loved this book for some reason the scene of the finding the old fridge with a coke in it is a very vivid memory. Basically the plot is that a boy, who has never seen the ocean before, travel to the oregon coast and there is a tsunami while his parents are out on a boat and he and his little sister are at the hotel.
-July 2022
this was an oregon battle of the books book in 4th grade. I remember loving it but it did scare me and I was already a little scared of the coast, I always keep an eye on it just in case….. aanyyywaaayyys loved this book for some reason the scene of the finding the old fridge with a coke in it is a very vivid memory. Basically the plot is that a boy, who has never seen the ocean before, travel to the oregon coast and there is a tsunami while his parents are out on a boat and he and his little sister are at the hotel.
-July 2022
tcbueti's review against another edition
3.0
What would you do if you were babysitting on vacation and disaster struck? If your parents had said "Don't leave the hotel room", but had also gone over the tsunami warning signs posted on the beach: "Get to higher ground"?
The compelling description of escaping a tsunami as it strikes the Pacific northwest makes this one hard to put down. The side plot of gaining the courage to stand up to a bully was pretty well done. The main character never felt that fleshed-out to me--I kept thinking he was a girl--although his little sister, BeeBee, is funny (obsessed with money, names her teddy bear after Bill Gates). Sometimes characters and dialogue seem to exist just to get some info on the page. Nevertheless, I could see this one grabbing reluctant readers and taking them for quite a ride.
And Kehret discusses, in an afterward, the problem of warning people: how can you warn without causing panic? (Use the sound of mooing cows as a signal!?) What if the event blows over--will the public ignore the warnings next time?
Pair with her memoir "Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio" for an interesting discussion of young people confronting adversity.
The compelling description of escaping a tsunami as it strikes the Pacific northwest makes this one hard to put down. The side plot of gaining the courage to stand up to a bully was pretty well done. The main character never felt that fleshed-out to me--I kept thinking he was a girl--although his little sister, BeeBee, is funny (obsessed with money, names her teddy bear after Bill Gates). Sometimes characters and dialogue seem to exist just to get some info on the page. Nevertheless, I could see this one grabbing reluctant readers and taking them for quite a ride.
And Kehret discusses, in an afterward, the problem of warning people: how can you warn without causing panic? (Use the sound of mooing cows as a signal!?) What if the event blows over--will the public ignore the warnings next time?
Pair with her memoir "Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio" for an interesting discussion of young people confronting adversity.
amyelizabeth32's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. It was one of those books that is good, but I just wanted more. More action, more excitement. And most importantly for me, MORE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND BACKSTORY. I want to learn more about the hotel. More about Daren. More about BeeBee!
kslhersam's review against another edition
4.0
Isaac picked this for our book to read together. He really likes Peg Kehret books because he says they are exciting. This one certainly was. There was an earthquake, a fire, and then a tsunami. And the 12 year old boy had to babysit his little sister through the whole thing.
Nice middle grade read.
Nice middle grade read.
andeez's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this story - but I know 5th graders who love it! The adventure, the suspense, and the fact that it takes place on my beloved Oregon Coast make this a great read. The short length isn't too overwhelming for reluctant readers. A great book to recommend and an exciting read-aloud.
amengelking's review against another edition
4.0
Action packed excitement! Fun read-aloud to the kids.
gretacwink's review against another edition
3.0
There was some intense stuff in here. I also love that it’s subtly chock-full of survival lessons — I was always the kid with a plan for fight or flight.