As a child, I was a huge fan of the Dear America series. I remember hiding wherever I could with those books so that I wouldn't be bothered by the mundane things like chores, etc. This book is a continuation of the series, and perhaps I may have liked it as a child, I don't know. But I remember those books of old having great plots and memorable characters - and this book paled in comparison. I thought the aftermath of the earthquake was the whole point of the book, when in reality the earthquake should have been. That was a HUGE event in history, and not much time was spent on it. I miss the old days and the old books.