The author recounts the events that happened in natural disasters in this book. Aside from merely telling of the disaster, the author includes testimony from actual survivors of the event. Many of these people she interviewed first hand, while others she used portions of letters or diaries that the survivors kept. By doing this, the reader has a sense of what it was like to be present at the time of the disaster. Included are tales of earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, fires, and droughts. The author includes her sources as well as those she suggests for further investigation. Photographs are included of many of the natural disasters and their aftermath.

Accurate information presented in age-appropriate language for teen-age girls (as the sub-title suggests, the audience for this book is likely to be girls twelve and older). This is an excellent book that deserves a more appealing cover. The black and white photos are informative, but a bit off-putting (clinical and scary). The question and answer format works very well. Highly recommended.

I happened to come across this fine book in the doctor's office and have since gotten copies for friends with breast cancer who have daughters. In fact, the book is helpful for ALL women, with or without cancer, with or without daughters. At a time of information overload, Vogel does readers the great service of sifting, evaluating, and organizing the latest information and then presenting facts in an easily readable, easily accessible manner. This book is enormously valuable. I cannot understand why it's not in every doctor's office and in every home that may be living under the threat of cancer.

Although Vogel's book was designed to explain the facts about breast cancer to young girls, older audiences should find this book useful as well. When I was called in for an ultrasound, following a suspicious mammogram, I turned to Vogel's book -- the only one in our house on the subject -- to discover what might be happening to me. Her clear explanations, along with the helpful illustrations, helped me understand my options. I recommend this book as a reference for any household that includes women of any age.