Beyond Me

On Mar. 11, 2011, an earthquake off the northeast coast of Japan, followed by a tsunami and an explosion at a damaged nuclear power plant, caused devastation throughout the country. Through the eyes of fifth grader Maya, who lives outside of Tokyo, this novel in free verse recounts the stressors of the event, its aftermath, and its ongoing reverberations. As the story begins, Maya plays freely in the wind and plans to perform a choir piece at school, but her daily life undergoes a dramatic change when the earthquake hits. After the event, the girl spends much of her time sheltering under a table and observing her parents, who try to help those affected, and her grandparents, who calmly tend their garden and vegetable stand. Donwerth-Chikamatsu (Somewhere Among) adapts font color, size, and word placement to reflect Maya's physical experiences: one page includes only the enlarged phrase "Earth/ drops/ below me," while others highlight times in the margin ("07:44 Earth shudders"), giving a feel to its passing. As the story shows the country's unsteadiness and Maya's creative strategies for overcoming her sense of helplessness, it offers a compassionate window into how adults and children cope with calamity. Ages 8-12. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (June)

Gr 4-8--This novel begins on March 9, 2011--just a few days before a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of Japan caused a tsunami. Eleven-year-old Maya is used to earthquakes (they happen all the time), and the kids at her school know just what to do in those cases. But this earthquake is different. It catches them by surprise, and the aftershocks and tsunamis mean that the danger isn't over after the initial quake. Living in Tokyo, Maya and her family are far from the most affected region of the country; despite her own feelings of hopelessness, she finds ways to make a difference for those in the northwest who were hardest hit by the disaster. The verse format, with fonts and text size changes signifying geological action, immerses the reader in Maya's situation. Her fear and uncertainty are well realized in the text. Readers watch as many aspects of life continue as normal in an otherwise abnormal world, while Maya finds ways of coping with her fears and connecting with her community. VERDICT Maya's story is realistic and relatable for young readers experiencing anxiety from world events.--Mindy Rhiger, Hennepin County Lib., MN