This informational text is packed with facts and sidebars about historical and modern-day disasters such as the Space Shuttle Challenger, the Great Smog of London, the Pacific Garbage Patch, the Library of Alexandria, Chernobyl, and more. Featuring TIME© content and images, the high-interest content will engage students in reading as they build their comprehension, vocabulary, and reading skills. Text features, a Reader's Guide, and the extended Try It! activity increase understanding of the material, and develop higher-order thinking. Check It Out! offers print and online resources for additional reading. Keep students reading from cover to cover with this captivating text!