12-year-old Fumiko is fascinated by the Moga girls, modern young women
with short hair and casual dresses who are making their way in 1920s
Tokyo. Her parents, however, expect a traditional life for her. But none
of that matters when the Great Kanto Earthquake strikes the city on
September 1, 1923. Can Fumiko withstand the fires and confusion that
follow the shaking earth, and how will the tragedy change her future?
Readers can learn the real story of the Great Kanto Earthquake from the
nonfiction back matter in this Girls Survive story. A glossary,
discussion questions, and writing prompts are also provided.