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.