Wildfire

July 22, 2019
In this high-octane adventure, Sam Castine, 12, is trapped in a Maine wildfire after he foolishly leaves the safety of his camp’s evacuation buses and dashes back to retrieve his forgotten phone. When a wall of fire blocks his return, he’s forced to flee farther into the wilderness to stay ahead of the blaze. Relying on skills taught to him by his late father, who died in Afghanistan, Sam is driven by his will to survive and reconnect with his mother, who is in rehab for an opioid addiction. By chance, Sam’s path crosses with Delphy Pappas, 14, also fighting to escape the wildfire, and the two join forces to stay alive. Newbery Honoree Philbrick wastes no time in plunging the protagonist into danger, launching into an escapade filled with descriptions that feel immediate and tangible, powerfully conveying the destructive and terrifying reality of an uncontrollable wildfire. Though Sam and Delphy’s repeatedly foiled escape efforts can feel slightly repetitious, multiple dead ends also clarify the impossibility of their situation. Both thrilling and instructive, this tale of friendship amid deadly flames will captivate readers. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from July 1, 2019
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. (Fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 7, 2019

Gr 5-7-An intense tale of survival and action. As Camp Wabanaski evacuates campers from threatening forest fires, Sam Castine separates from his group to run back for his cell phone. It is his primary link of communication to his mother as she works through a rehabilitation program for an addiction to opioids from a severe neck injury. Within minutes, the growing smoke and fire separate him from the evacuation bus, and he is forced to run in the opposite direction. Along the way, Sam calls upon wilderness skills his late father taught him and partners with a young girl named Delphy, who has also strayed away from her camp. The two ramble along in a Jeep on an old logging trail in hopes of reaching a main road. Philbrick's fast-paced plot is filled with vivid details and twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Delphy and Sam face everything from the harsh elements of Maine's forest to losing their direction on the trail, and encountering a group of arsonists who have increased the fire coverage in the region. Subplots include Sam's grief for his father and the uncertainty he faces over his mother's recovery. VERDICT While the broad plot shines a light on the growing national issue of wildfires and our role in their prevention, Philbrick crafts a story that leaves readers open to discussion on many topics. A must-have for all upper elementary/middle grade libraries.-Monica Cabarcas, Albemarle High School, Charlottesville, VA

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.