Wildfire: A Novel

First 5th grade book club book of 2021-2022. This is action-packed, appropriate for a mature 5th grader and up (an unseen mom has an opioid addiction, Dad is dead, lots of body-image talk). It ends very abruptly; I could have used a few more chapters.

This book definitely kept me reading. One of my biggest fears is fire. The main character makes a bad decision to go back to his cabin from which they are being evacuated, because he left his phone. That one decision led to him being left behind. He found his phone but on the way back to the bus he finds himself surrounded by fire. He runs to save his life. Along the way he finds a jeep and then a girl who is also trapped in the fire. Together they must find a way out to survive.
This definitely would have been my nightmare. The fact that Sam's father is ex-military and has taken Sam camping and taught him survival skills may just get him out of this alive. I loved when I started feeling really comfortable with their situation the show more author through in a black bear and a pair of people helping set more fires. This is one of this year's Sunshine State Reader books. I try to buy them every year. I had forgotten how awesome this author's books are as it has been awhile since I have read any of them. This is one I will promote with all my heart to my students. show less

Sam Castine is at summer camp while his mother is in rehab for opioid addiction. His father was killed three years before in Afghanistan. When the fire starts, Sam is determined to get his phone before leaving camp because he has to let his mother know that he is all right, but by the time he heads back to the bus from his cabin, the fire has blocked his path and he must run for his life. Alone in the woods, he meets Delphy who was away from her camp when the fire started. Together the two must find a way to survive the fire or die trying.

Throughout Wildfire, Sam is aided by advice his father gave him about life in the outdoors, making it almost seem as though his father was helping him along the way. Choices and decisions are show more emphasized as Sam and Delphy search for a way to survive the devastating wildfire. Overall, a good story of survival in the midst of tragedy. show less

My Review: A thrilling and edge-of-your-seat survival story that blends natural disaster with human bravery and friendship. Great for students who love action, suspense, and stories about overcoming against the odds.

Twelve year-old Sam Castine Is trapped deep in the Maine wilderness after trying to retrieve his forgotten cell phone during a frenzied, smoke-filled evacuation of his summer camp. With wildfires raging, Sam gets left behind.

This is an action packed survival story centered around two characters, working together to escape. Delphy was also left behind as well due to being away from her all girls camp in order to send some text messages. Sam and Delphy know they messed up but are smart and resourceful as they struggle to survive the disaster that has engulfed them.

If it is an action packed story you crave, then Wildfire is perfect.

Wildfire is reminiscent of Hatchet and the real-life saga Lost on a Mountain in Maine.

Philbrick one of my show more favorite authors, transforms a raging inferno into an impressively plotted escape story full of heart.

This book will appeal to all middle grade readers. show less

Great for fans of survival stories. This is a super fast paced page turner about escaping a forest fire, a parent dealing with addiction, and hints of thriller elements/intrigue about how the fires started. The action starts on the first page and doesn't let up until the finish, where there are some tips for dealing with fires in real life.

I really liked Wildfire. For me, I got this book about 4 months early, so I got to read it before everyone else. I liked it because it was always keeping me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next. There was something new in each chapter. It was amazing because there wasn't really a villain in the story, but a challenge to overcome. Then there is a surprise that was really interesting. I give Wildfire 4 1/2 stars.