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 world's most
dangerous natural disasters.