Over the years the earth has moved many times under San Francisco. But it has been thirty-eight years since the last strong earthquake. People have forgotten how bad it can be. But soon they will remember. Based on actual events of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and told from the alternating perspectives of two young friends, the earth dragon awakes chronicles the thrilling story of the destruction of a city, and the heroes that emerge in its wake. “Provides a ‘you are there’ sense of immediacy and will appeal to readers who enjoy action-packed survival stories.” - ALA Booklist “[The] ‘natural disaster’ subject is both timely and topical, and Yep weaves snippets of information on plate tectonics and more very neatly around his prose.” - School Library Journal Over the years the earth has moved many times under San Francisco. But it has been thirty-eight years since the last strong earthquake. People have forgotten how bad it can be. But soon they will remember. Based on actual events of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and told from the alternating perspectives of two young friends, the earth dragon awakes chronicles the thrilling story of the destruction of a city, and the heroes that emerge in its wake. Laurence Yep is the acclaimed author of more than sixty books for young people and a winner of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award. His illustrious list of novels includes the Newbery Honor Books Dragonwings and Dragon's Gate ; The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 , a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee; and The Dragon's Child: A Story of Angel Island , which he cowrote with his niece, Dr. Kathleen S. Yep, and was named a New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing" and a Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book. Mr. Yep grew up in San Francisco, where he was born. He attended Marquette University, graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and received his PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He lives in Pacific Grove, California, with his wife, the writer Joanne Ryder. The Earth Dragon Awakes The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 By Laurence Yep HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2008 Laurence Yep All right reserved. ISBN: 9780060008468 Chapter One Early evening Tuesday, April 17, 1906 San Francisco It is early evening in San Francisco. Streetlights come on. People hurry home. No one knows about the danger below. Underneath their feet, the earth begins to stir. 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 1906 Travis household Sacramento Street area At that moment, the Travis family is too busy to worry. Henry's parents are going to the opera. Henry's mother calls from upstairs, "Ah Sing, have you seen my silk shawl?" Mr. Travis bellows, "Ah Sing, I need a new shirt. You've shrunk another one." Mrs. Travis pats her husband's belly affectionately. "Don't blame Ah Sing, dear. It's time for a diet." "I am not fat," Mr. Travis protests. "My stomach is as solid as the earth." His belly shows through the open hole on his shirt. It jiggles when he moves. "It's all Ah Sing's fault. He does something to my shirts. And that's why I keep losing buttons." "Don't change shirts, dear," Mrs. Travis says. "We don't have time. Mr. Caruso will be so disappointed if you show up late for his Don José." "I would rather go to the roller-skating carnival," Mr. Travis grumbles. "They're giving out a thousand-dollar prize for the best costume." "I wish we could go roller-skating, too," says Henry. He was eager to try out his new skates. He'd gotten them for Easter two days before. "We'll have a picnic next Sunday," Mrs. Travis suggests. "Enrico Caruso should be grateful if I don't go tonight." Mr. Travis yawns. "I'm so tired from work. I'll just nap there. Even his bellowing won't keep me awake." "If his singing doesn't, my elbow will," teases Mrs. Travis. "I had Ah Sing sharpen it today." She jabs him in the side. Mr. Travis rubs his ribs. "That's why I need padding there." "Maybe I could go to the skating carnival with Ah Sing," Henry says hopefully. "I know you're dying to try your new skates," his mother says, "but the carnival's not for children." Ah Sing and his son, Chin, come upstairs. Ah Sing is the Travises' houseboy. He cleans and cooks and helps around the house. Chin has the cloak. Ah Sing has the sewing basket. "Henry, help Ah Sing find the button," Mr. Travis orders. Ah Sing has helped Mr. Travis get ready many times. "I got plenty," Ah Sing says. "I sweep. I find. I keep." From his pocket, he takes out a matching button. On his coat, he has stuck a needle with thread. It is the right color. Ah Sing is like the captain of a ship in a storm. He tells Henry and Chin to hold Mr. Travis's shirt closed while he sews the button on. Henry winks at Chin. Chin is nine and Henry is eight. They have become good friends. Though Chin has been in America for only two years, he already speaks English better tha