Trails Through the Fault Lines

This story draws us into the life of several teens who must help the experts when earthquakes and volcanic activity increases in Hawaii, California, and New Mexico. Amber from California works with her mother on earthquake science. Alex in Hawaii helps his father exploring volcanoes. The two of them are sent to New Mexico to help research the escalating shaking along all the fault-lines and affecting all dormant volcanoes. We fallowing their descent into danger and risk with each passing hour.

I greatly enjoyed the earthquake and volcano science. We hear dialog on every page about earth and environmental science. It worked for me. I found it fun. Amber and Alex are experts, in their own ways, despite their youth. As the days go by under pressure, and at danger from nature and people, they develop a closeness that affects their relationship. As their parents are separated from them by the changing earth and research needs, they come to depend more and more on each other. I liked the humor of the teens. They are unhappy teenagers, but not obnoxious. I like that they are insecure and inexperienced. That is what most real teens are like.

Who would enjoy this story? If you are like me, and like science in your science fiction, and can tolerate talk about science facts on most pages, you should appreciate this story. I think it is suitable for middle school readers and up. The book could use another edit, to remove typos and misspellings. If you like realistic science fiction with science, give it a try, you might like it.