Wildfire (The Wild Series): A Novel - Hardcover

Philbrick, Rodman

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 133826690X ISBN 13: 9781338266900

Publisher: The Blue Sky Press, 2019

Synopsis

Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick sends readers straight into the nightmare of a raging wildfire as 12-year-old Sam is trapped by explosive flames and deadly smoke that threaten to take his life. Can he survive?

Flames race toward Sam Castine's summer camp as evacuation buses are loading, but Sam runs back to get his phone. Suddenly, a flash of heat blasts him as pine trees explode. Now a wall of fire separates Sam from his bus, and there's only one thing to do: Run for his life. Run or die.
Lungs burning, Sam's only goal is to keep moving. Drought has made the forest a tinderbox, and Sam struggles to remember survival tricks he learned from his late father. Then, when he least expects it, he encounters Delphy, an older girl who is also lost. Their unlikely friendship grows as they join forces to find civilization.
The pace never slows, and eventually flames surround Sam and Delphy on all sides. A powerful bond is forged that can only grow out of true hardship-as two true friends beat all odds and outwit one of the deadliest fires ever.

At the end of the novel, information about wildfires and useful safety tips add to the reader's understanding of one of the US's most dangerous natural disasters.

About this title

From the Author

Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick has written more than a dozen novels for young readers. In 1993, he published his first children’s book, Freak the Mighty, which became an instant classic, and was made into a feature film. The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg was a 2010 Newbery Honor Book. Philbrick’s other acclaimed novels include Max the Mighty, The Young Man and the Sea, The Last Book in the Universe, and Zane and the Hurricane. Philbrick divides his time between Maine and the Florida Keys. You can learn more about him on his website: rodmanphilbrick.com.

Review

 (Starred Review) KIRKUS
A boy, a girl, a venerable Jeep, and a massive wildfire sweeping across the mountains of Maine. It's the perfect setup for a riveting tale of high suspense.Sam and Delphy are staying at separate summer camps on the same lake when the threat of a wildfire forces evacuation--but both are inadvertently left behind. Using the survival skills he learned from his deceased father, Sam hikes cross-country until he finds a remote cabin and the old Jeep that will prove to be his salvation. Only later, barreling along a narrow logging road, does he encounter Delphy. With shades of My Side of the Mountain for a modern audience, 2010 Newbery Honoree Philbrick (The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg) provides the pair of young adolescents, both white, with just enough modern technology to keep the tale credible. It will take all of their courage and wits to survive being lost in the wilderness, even as they are constantly threatened both by the erratic fire and the danger posed by two out-of-control arsonists. Sam's pithy first-person voice is self-deprecating enough to be fully believable and plays nicely against Delphy's sometimes less confident but heroically determined character. Short chapters, outstanding cover art, and a breathless pace make this a fine choice for reluctant readers. Interesting backmatter regarding wildfires and survival tips rounds out a thrilling tale. Outstanding suspense.                                                                                                                                                              

About this edition

• Publisher: The Blue Sky Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 133826690X
• ISBN 13: 9781338266900
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208