I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964

I Survived the Great Alaska Earthquake, 1964 is a 2023 children’s historical fiction novel by American author Lauren Tarshis. Eleven-year-old Jackson Barrett adjusts to life in the seaside town of Valdez, Alaska, after his family’s off-grid cabin burns down, forcing them to seek help from his Uncle Solly. With school problems and friendships on his mind, Jackson is surprised when he suddenly faces a much bigger challenge: surviving a massive earthquake. As Jackson endures the earthquake and its consequences, he realizes that community and friendship are just as important as being tough and self-sufficient. The novel explores themes of The Survivalist Mindset, The Strength of Family Bonds in Times of Crisis, and Individualism Versus Community. 

This guide refers to the Kindle edition of this book.

Plot Summary

In Chapter 1, 11-year-old Jackson Barrett is in Valdez, Alaska, when a huge earthquake begins. A fissure opens in the road, and he falls forward into it. 

Chapter 2 begins three weeks before the earthquake, as Jackson and his family are ice fishing near their cabin in the remote Alaskan wilderness. When they arrive home, they realize a grizzly bear has invaded their property. In Chapter 3, the frightened family waits outside as the bear ransacks their cabin, eating their food. It knocks over the fire embers, and the cabin ignites. 

In Chapter 4, Jonathan watches in horror as their family’s home and belongings burn, but his mom and dad remind him that they must work with their emergency supplies to survive the night. In Chapter 5, the family begins the three-day trek to the village of Glennallen, where they will call their friend, Uncle Solly, for help.

Chapter 6 begins four days later in Valdez, Alaska where Jackson is staying with Uncle Solly. He is thrilled to be at his friend’s house, but disappointed when he learns that he has to attend the local elementary school until summertime. 

In Chapter 7, Jackson’s classmates welcome him to class, and he explains that he grew up homeschooled in an off-grid cabin. In Chapter 8, his teacher, Miss Lawrence, comforts Jackson when he feels nervous, but he doesn’t want her help, since he is trying to be tough. In Chapter 9, he impresses his new classmates with a story about wolves and bears but feels socially overwhelmed and misses his alone time. In Chapter 10, Jackson decides to isolate himself from his classmates, since he doesn’t expect that he’ll be able to continue the friendships, and their interests are so foreign to him. When Jackson overhears his classmates talking about him, he is sad that they think he doesn’t like them. When his classmates arrange to wait for the ship, the Chena, at the Valdez docks, they don’t invite him along.

In Chapter 11, Jackson goes to the docks to run an errand for Uncle Solly, hoping that he doesn’t run into his classmates on the way. Jackson sees his classmates by the docks and wishes he could enjoy their close friendship, which reminds him of a close-knit wolf pack. When the ground starts shaking, Jackson realizes that an earthquake has begun. 

In Chapter 12, Jackson kneels on the ground, watching in disbelief as the town around him slides into the harbor. A fissure opens in the ground close to him, and he is thrown inside. In Chapter 13, Jackson is frightened as he realizes he is six feet below the ground in a dark crevasse. A blast of ocean water shoots him up, and he lands back on the ground, injuring his ankle and leg. In Chapter 14, Jackson hears his classmates calling to him, and they soon arrive to help him. He is amazed by their kindness as they lift him onto Chris’s back and carry him away from the tsunami danger zone.

Chapter 15 begins four months later, and Jackson is fishing in the Copper River near his old cabin site. His ankle is healing and while he still has bad memories of the terrible earthquake, he is glad his parents, Uncle Solly, and friends survived. Jackson and his parents will move to Valdez and help the town rebuild, and Jackson looks forward to making lasting friendships with his classmates.