Against the Odds: San Francisco Earthquake 1906

About Against the Odds: San Francisco Earthquake 1906

Decodable tales of survival against the odds for striving readers aged 10–14


Fifteen-year-old Chen lives happily with his family in San Francisco’s Chinatown. One night, he’s woken by violent shaking, and finds himself in the middle of the deadliest earthquake in US history. In his desperate bid to flee the city to safety, Chen becomes separated from his parents. Will he find his family again, and what will become of his beloved Chinatown?

This captivating narrative non-fiction chapter book, tailored for striving readers aged 10–14, has a focus on suffixes, prefixes and word roots. With line art illustrations in every chapter, this action-packed tale is sure to engage from beginning to end.

Each instalment in this collection unravels the extraordinary experiences of young people overcoming incredible challenges. Whether it’s facing the unknown or triumphing against the odds, these stories are both riveting and inspiring.

The Against the Odds series serves as a vital bridge between decodable and mainstream books, empowering readers to confidently understand meaning from text alone. At the back of the book there is a knowledge building section including key vocabulary and facts.