Author(s): Alan Gratz

Realistic | Waikato Book Battle 2024

Fire. Flood. Ice. Three forces of nature. Three kids swept up in a looming global catastrophe. Can they survive? In California, Akira Kristiansen is driving through the mountains with his dad when a wildfire sparks — and grows scarily fast. In just moments, Akira and his family have to evacuate but which way is safe with fire all around them? In Churchill, Manitoba, Owen Mackenzie is running a tour for travellers who've come to see the polar bears. Lately the bears show up more and more as the ice thins. When Owen and his friend see a bear much too close for comfort, they end up in a fight for their lives. In Miami, a hurricane bears down on Natalie Torres. That's not so uncommon ... but everyone's saying this could be it. The Big One. Natalie and her mum don't have anywhere to run to, so they hunker down to ride out the storm. Separated by hundreds of miles, Akira, Owen, and Natalie each struggle to survive against seemingly insurmountable odds. What ultimately connects the three kids is both surprising and hopeful: a commitment to changing the world, however and wherever they can.