I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

Lauren Tarshis begins the book in medias res, which is Latin for “in the midst of things.” Why do you think she did this?

Pick one of Grandpop’s stories of survival and draw parallels to one of Leo’s.

Books like those in the I Survived series blend historical fact with fiction. From an educational standpoint, how does creating a fictional story around a true event help young readers learn about history?

In your opinion, which of the two characters, Leo or Morris, is more like Grandpop?

Describe Wilkie’s character arc in the book. What moments in the book mark his development? Is there a definitive moment of change? How does his story connect to the themes of the book?

Why do you think it was so easy for Leo to let go of the gold nugget at the end of the book?

How do the children’s economic conditions play into the story of survival?

Why do the children decide to rescue Fletch at the end of the book?