The day before Crystal Brave's thirteenth birthday celebration, herparents leave for the Taum Sauk Mountain to study petroglyphs,planning to return the next day. All plans are disrupted by thelong-predicted New Madrid earthquake. The devastation inSoutheast Missouri cuts off all communication, leaving Crystaldesperate to find out if her parents are safe. True to Brave familytradition, Crystal takes the courageous step of going to find themherself. With the special relationship between her and a horse and adog, the generous mentorship of those she meets along her journey,and strength from the love for her family, Crystal faces some of herworst fears, earning passage into her teen years and learning themeaning of her family name.