When eleven-year-old Elizabeth's parents don't come home from a community meeting one rainy night, she's left in charge of her four-year-old sister, Amanda.Morning brings a flood that fills the first floor of their house. Elizabeth must make an agonizing decision: whether to stay put where her parents can find her or go in search of them. Dangers loom in either scenario. Then Elizabeth and Amanda rescue a neighbor, seven-year-old Maya, and her cat. Together the three girls and the cat set out in a little red boat, determined to reunite with their parents. As they struggle to find food, survive the flood waters and make their way among the ruins left behind by the rising tides, the quest forces Elizabeth to rise to new levels of courage and resourcefulness she didn't know she had. But will they find their families before it's too late? Even though this book is classified for ages 9-12, younger children might be able to read this as well.