I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980

In the book, Jess’s secret handshake with Sam and Eddie Rowan becomes a motif for The Power of Friendship. Jess shows her close bond with the Rowan twins by performing the secret handshake whenever there is a need for them all to support or motivate each other. For instance, when the three plan to explore Skeleton Woman’s shack for the first time, they perform their handshake to express solidarity and renew their courage. The narrative states, “Eddie held out his hand, palm up. Jess and Sam laid theirs on top of his. It was a three-way secret handshake they’d made up back in kindergarten. ‘All for one,’ Sam said. ‘And one for all,’ Jess and Eddie chorused” (14). By using this famous phrase from Alexandre Dumas’s The Three Musketeers, the three friends affirm that they are a team and will always stick together, just like the characters in the famous story. As Tarshis explains, “The book was about three best friends who’d do anything for each other” (14).

The secret handshake also appears when the children show each other emotional support. For example, when Jess feels guilty over losing her dad’s camera, Eddie and Sam do the handshake to encourage her and cheer her up.