Earthquakes are among the heaviest hitters in the world of natural phenomena that shape our planet. Not only can they cause massive amounts of damage on their own, they can also cause other disasters, such as tsunamis and avalanches. Daring readers will learn how and why earthquakes occur. They'll encounter key science concepts such as the tectonic plates theory and the Richter scale. Graphic organizers and interesting sidebars summarize difficult concepts into easy-to-comprehend sections while vivid photographs capture readers' attention.