On Fire

by Ouida Sebestyen

Involved in a dangerous strike in a frontier mining town in 1911, twelve-year-old Sammy finds his feelings changing toward the older brother he has always idolized.

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1985

About the author

Ouida Sebestyen, nee Dockery, was born February 13, 1924, in Vernon, TX. She married Adam Sebestyen in 1960 and had one son. She attended the U. of Colorado. She began writing at age eighteen, but did not publish her first book, Words by Heart until 1979. Part of this novel had originally appeared as a short story in the magazine 'Ingenue' in 1968. The book was well received, and Ms. Sebestyen has continued to write fiction for young adults. She draws her inspiration, and often her setting, from the American West, especially its contrasting harshness and beauty, and the demands it places upon an individual's survival. While not all her novels are set in a sharply defined Western setting, throughout all of her books she focuses on characterization and detail, with an emphasis on human emotions and development. Her work is noted for its honesty and provocative story lines that do not always provide a conventional happy ending.

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it lacks the impact of her novel Words by Heart. At times this book was confusing, and if it was confusing for me - an adult - I'm sure the YA audience would struggle. The book seemed too short - many parts of the book needed further development. I enjoy how Sebestyen shows the growth of her characters.