Wildfire
The Wild Series Book 1
ISBN 9781338713640
eISBN 9781338266917
ASIN B07M86DLNP
I was recently having a discussion with a young man in his early 20’s and asked about his favourite book, because that is what bibliophiles do. He immediately said Freak the Mighty by Philbrick. This is the eighth volume I have read by the author over the last few months. And it was something completely different!
The description of this volume state:
“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 the author we are informed:
“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, Zane and the Hurricane, and Wildfire. Philbrick divides his time between Maine and the Florida Keys. You can learn more about him on his website.”
At the time of writing this review according to Goodreads there are 10 editions of this volume available. It was published in 2019, reprinted in 2021 and 2025. It is first in the wild series. It is an excellent read!
I did not know anything about this book other than it is the first in a trilogy. It was an great Middle Grade novel. It is not a school story, but the main protagonists are school aged. It again reminds me a lot of the works of Andrew Clements, Arthur Slade or Gordon Korman. The more of Philbrick I read I am being reminded more and more of Madeleine L’Engle who wrote adult fiction, nonfiction, children’s fiction, teen fiction, and even theology.
This story starts with a kids summer camp being evacuated. Sam Castine goes back to retrieve his cell phone and ends up separated from the evacuation. But he is not willing to give up. After the first day and night escaping Sam encounters Delphy. They have an old battered jeep and are following a logging trail. As the days pass they encounter more and more obstacles. The whole story takes placed over a few days. It is intense and thrilling.
Philbrick writes midgrade literature, young adult books and adult fiction. And some are even published under other pen names. I just randomly picked this as the next volume to read. It was a tossup between this and Cherry Street book 1. I have friends who call me a ‘completionist’ in that I find an author I really like and try to read everything they have in print, or have published.
I was hooked almost as soon as I started this volume. I had not read the description or any reviews I just dove in. It is a book that will hook even reluctant readers.
This was an excellent story. It is a quick intense read. And one I can easily recommend.
Note: while reading this I found out that there is a fourth volume releasing in about 6 weeks. Wild Blizzard.
Books by Rodman Philbrick:
Max the Mighty Series:
Freak the Mighty (1993)
Max the Mighty (1998)
…
House on Cherry Street Series: (with Lynn Harnett)
1. The Haunting (1995)
2. The Horror (1995)
3. The Final Nightmare (1995)
…
Werewolf Chronicles Series: (with Lynn Harnett)
1. Night Creature (1996)
2. Children of the Wolf (1996)
3. The Wereing (1996)
…
Visitors Series: (with Lynn Harnett)
1. Strange Invaders (1997)
2. Things (1997)
3. Brain Stealers (1997)
…
Wild Series:
1. Wildfire (2019)
2. Wild River (2021)
3. Wild Wave (2024)
4. Wild Blizzard (2026)
…
Other Books:
Shooting Star (1982)
The Black Moon (1989)
Brothers and Sinners (1993)
The Fire Pony (1996)
Abduction (1998) (with Lynn Harnett)
The Mighty (1998)
Dark Matter (2000)
Rem World (2000)
The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds (2001)
Coffins (2002)
The Young Man and the Sea (2004)
Lobster Boy (2005)
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg (2009)
Listening To Kids In America (2011)
Zane and the Hurricane (2014)
The Big Dark (2016)
Who Killed Darius Drake? (2017)
We Own the Sky (2022)
…
Written as William R Dantz:
Pulse (1989) (as by William R Dantz)
The Seventh Sleeper (1991) (as by William R Dantz)
Hunger (1993) (as by William R Dantz)
Nine Levels Down (1995) (as by William R Dantz)
Written as by W R Philbrick:
The Big Chip (1990) (as by W R Philbrick)
…
J.D. Hawkins Series:
1. Shadow Kills (1985)
2. Ice for the Eskimo (1986)
3. Paint It Black (1989)
4. Walk on the Water (1991)
…
T.D. Stash Series:
1. The Neon Flamingo (1987)
2. The Crystal Blue Persuasion (1988)
3. Tough Enough (1989)
…
Written as by Chris Jordan:
Randall Shane Series:
1. Taken (2006)
2. Trapped (2007)
aka Lost
3. Torn (2009)
4. Measure of Darkness (2011)
…
No comments:
Post a Comment