Magnitude

Magnitude by Jennifer Nielsen

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 realises 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.