Magnitude
Jennifer A. Nielsen
- Published
- 2026
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Educational value
History, science, culture, how the world works
A note for parents
This historical fiction novel centers on survival during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, featuring intense scenarios like being trapped in rubble, fires, and gang pursuit that create significant emotional intensity and some peril, though likely not graphically depicted given the juvenile/YA audience. The story emphasizes courage, friendship, and resilience in the face of disaster, with protagonists working together and searching for family. Jennifer A. Nielsen is a well-known author for this age group, and the educational value of learning about this historical disaster is a clear strength. The scary and mature elements (natural disaster, being buried, danger) are substantial but appropriate for upper middle-grade to early teen readers who enjoy historical survival stories.
Analyzed by AI · 1 hour ago
Parent age guide
Is “Magnitude” right for your kid?
Ready from about age 13.
From about 10, okay with a grown-up nearby.
For younger readers
- Scary or mature content is strong (4/5) — a bit much at 12; fine with a grown-up nearby.
Based on this book's content report card and typical guidance by age. You know your reader best.
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From the publisher
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iceberg and The Free State of Jax comes the harrowing story of the fight for survival during the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and the desperate race to find survivors. San Francisco, 1906. When Cora leaves her house in the early morning hours of April 18th, she... From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Iceberg and The Free State of Jax comes the harrowing story of the fight for survival during the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 and the desperate race to find survivors. 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 realizes 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 Zhi, 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, Zhi, 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. From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a thrilling, suspenseful story about courage, friendship, and the strength it takes to survive one of the most terrible natural disasters this country has ever seen.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
- Young Adult
ISBN 9781546166115 · Scholastic Press