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Wildfire: A Novel
The smell of smoke.
A layer of stinky fog dims the sky. Except along the horizon, which is suddenly flickering orange above the treetops.
Wildfire, moving fast.
Heading in our direction.
Birds, deer, squirrels, and raccoons explode from the surrounding forest, racing to stay ahead of the flames. The message couldn’t be clearer. Run. If you want to live, run.
Rodman Philbrick pulls listeners through a nightmare that has become much too real in the US. In 2017-2018, wildfires broke out in all 50 states. During the 2018 California Camp Fire, CNN reported that at its fastest, flames “spread at more than a football field a second, or around 80 football fields per minute.”
Wildfire. Will it be fact or fiction in your own life some day? For now, join Sam and his friend, Delphy, as they face dangers that have shaken the lives of so many people across our world - with no end in sight.
A layer of stinky fog dims the sky. Except along the horizon, which is suddenly flickering orange above the treetops.
Wildfire, moving fast.
Heading in our direction.
Birds, deer, squirrels, and raccoons explode from the surrounding forest, racing to stay ahead of the flames. The message couldn’t be clearer. Run. If you want to live, run.
Rodman Philbrick pulls listeners through a nightmare that has become much too real in the US. In 2017-2018, wildfires broke out in all 50 states. During the 2018 California Camp Fire, CNN reported that at its fastest, flames “spread at more than a football field a second, or around 80 football fields per minute.”
Wildfire. Will it be fact or fiction in your own life some day? For now, join Sam and his friend, Delphy, as they face dangers that have shaken the lives of so many people across our world - with no end in sight.
Audible Audio
First published September 3, 2019
273 people are currently reading
1980 people want to read
About the author
Rodman Philbrick
60 books372 followersAka William R Dantz, Chris Jordan, W.R. Philbrick.
Rodman Philbrick grew up on the New England coast, where he worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. For many years he wrote mysteries and detective novels. The Private Eye Writers of America nominated two of his T.D.Stash series as best detective novel and then selected Philbrick's 'Brothers & Sinners' as Best Novel in 1993. Writing under the pen name 'William R. Dantz' he has explored the near-future worlds of genetic engineering and hi-tech brain control in books like 'Hunger', 'Pulse', 'The Seventh Sleeper'. And 'Nine Levels Down'.
Inspired by the life of a boy who lived a few blocks away, he wrote 'Freak The Mighty', the award-winning young-adult novel, which has been translated into numerous languages and is now read in schools throughout the world. The book was adapted to the screen in 1998 as 'The Mighty', starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, James Gandolfini, Kieran Culkin, and Elden Henson.
Philbrick, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is the author of a number of novels for young readers, including 'The Fire Pony', 'Max the Mighty', 'REM World', 'The Last Book In The Universe', 'The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds' and 'The Young Man And The Sea'. His recent novels for adults include 'Dark Matter', 'Coffins', and 'Taken'. He and his wife divide their time between Maine and the Florida Keys.
Rodman Philbrick grew up on the New England coast, where he worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. For many years he wrote mysteries and detective novels. The Private Eye Writers of America nominated two of his T.D.Stash series as best detective novel and then selected Philbrick's 'Brothers & Sinners' as Best Novel in 1993. Writing under the pen name 'William R. Dantz' he has explored the near-future worlds of genetic engineering and hi-tech brain control in books like 'Hunger', 'Pulse', 'The Seventh Sleeper'. And 'Nine Levels Down'.
Inspired by the life of a boy who lived a few blocks away, he wrote 'Freak The Mighty', the award-winning young-adult novel, which has been translated into numerous languages and is now read in schools throughout the world. The book was adapted to the screen in 1998 as 'The Mighty', starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, James Gandolfini, Kieran Culkin, and Elden Henson.
Philbrick, a screenwriter as well as a novelist, is the author of a number of novels for young readers, including 'The Fire Pony', 'Max the Mighty', 'REM World', 'The Last Book In The Universe', 'The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds' and 'The Young Man And The Sea'. His recent novels for adults include 'Dark Matter', 'Coffins', and 'Taken'. He and his wife divide their time between Maine and the Florida Keys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
September 11, 2019
I work for Scholastic, but these comments are my own opinions, and not the views of the company.
As I read this book, I was initially concerned about the writing style of this author. He uses a lot of incomplete sentences to get the thoughts of the main character across. While I understand this technique is being used to show the reader that the protagonist is trying to think fast on his feet, it concerns me that kids who read this book will assume that it is all right to use incomplete sentences in their own writing.
I have seen this technique used by other writers recently, and I am wondering if this is it just me who is bothered by this, or are there others who hold my view? Is this a new writing technique that I just don't prefer, or is it completely bad grammar being presented in a kids' book?
After getting past the initial bluntness of the incomplete sentence issue, I am finding this story to be a very action-packed tale of two kids fighting their way out of a forest fire. There is danger around every corner, but through each major event, the kids seem to keep their heads and think through their problems logically.
In the midst of all of the drama, the author takes the time to develop the characters into quite interesting kids who have each seen the harsher side of life. Their initial family problems do not sway them from their goal of reaching safety. This allows the reader to truly see the resiliency of each character.
As I read this book, I was initially concerned about the writing style of this author. He uses a lot of incomplete sentences to get the thoughts of the main character across. While I understand this technique is being used to show the reader that the protagonist is trying to think fast on his feet, it concerns me that kids who read this book will assume that it is all right to use incomplete sentences in their own writing.
I have seen this technique used by other writers recently, and I am wondering if this is it just me who is bothered by this, or are there others who hold my view? Is this a new writing technique that I just don't prefer, or is it completely bad grammar being presented in a kids' book?
After getting past the initial bluntness of the incomplete sentence issue, I am finding this story to be a very action-packed tale of two kids fighting their way out of a forest fire. There is danger around every corner, but through each major event, the kids seem to keep their heads and think through their problems logically.
In the midst of all of the drama, the author takes the time to develop the characters into quite interesting kids who have each seen the harsher side of life. Their initial family problems do not sway them from their goal of reaching safety. This allows the reader to truly see the resiliency of each character.
June 29, 2022
True to form, Rodman Philbrick wastes no time vaulting into the action of this book. Some guys attend summer camp to play sports or be with friends, but twelve-year-old Sam Castine is at Camp Wabanaski in Maine's Great North Woods so his mother can go through rehab for drug addiction. He doesn't blame her for developing a dependency on prescription pain meds after an accident that left her in constant pain. All this happened not long after her husband, Sam's father, died in a civilian car crash with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Sam has reason to feel sorry for himself, but any such thoughts scamper away as reports intensify that a wildfire is headed for Camp Wabanaski. Camp counselors hurriedly help kids board buses to evacuate. Sam should have been safe with his fellow campers, but he sneaks back to the cabin to grab his cell phone...seconds before the forest canopy explodes in a shower of flame.
Separated from the buses by a curtain of fire, Sam can hardly believe his foolishness. Why did he risk his life for a phone? His father taught him about wildfires and nature's other dangers in the years before leaving for Afghanistan on work assignment; what would he say if he saw Sam now? Sam sprints away from the fast-moving blaze, barely able to stay ahead. He'd be consumed in seconds if not for a few lulls in the wind that's driving the fire. The camp counselors—if they've noticed he's missing—probably assume he's dead, so how long before anyone searches for him in the roaring inferno? By a stroke of luck, Sam stumbles onto an abandoned cabin stocked with food, water, and something even more important: an old-fashioned army Jeep. As flames engulf the cabin, Sam gases up the vehicle and speeds away, heart pounding as he avoids immolation by mere moments.
The fire spreads at a rate of a hundred yards per second or more, but the Jeep can outpace it. All Sam has to do is locate a main road and he'll be home free, able to get in contact with his mom and let her know he's okay. How will she react if told he burned to death in a wildfire? If only his cell phone weren't hopelessly damaged, he could call her now. But Sam's journey isn't destined to end soon. A frantic girl emerges hobbling from the woods, begging for a ride. Fourteen-year-old Delphy Pappas was spending summer at Camp Calusa, but the fire caught her alone in the wilderness. She twisted an ankle running to catch up when she heard the Jeep's motor at a distance. With the fire marching inexorably toward them, Sam drives off with Delphy in the front seat, but they won't have an easy time making it back to civilization. Car problems, hunger, dehydration, a run-in with a moose, and a pair of criminals roaming the woods all conspire to cast doubt on whether Sam and Delphy will survive. They've both gone through their share of family drama and heartache, but better days lie ahead if they can match wits with the wildfire and win. How will the showdown conclude? I hope you'll read this book and find out.
"More than anything I want a happy ending."
—Wildfire, P. 84
Rodman Philbrick is among my favorite authors. The potent emotion and unpredictability of Freak the Mighty, Max the Mighty, and The Last Book in the Universe puts him on equal footing with some of the greatest to write juvenile fiction. Because of that, I'm surprised by the lack of depth in Wildfire. It's exciting, suspenseful, and thoughtful at times, but nowhere near the author's best work. It does show, however, that kids are capable of saving themselves from crisis without adult help; Sam and Delphy have to tap into deep reserves of courage and cleverness to evade horrifying death. Kudos to Zlatina Zareva, cover artist for the original hardcover edition of Wildfire. She depicts the story's urgency well, coaxing prospective readers inside for a look around. If you like Rodman Philbrick's fast-paced style, Wildfire will be a winner for you. I certainly enjoyed it.
Separated from the buses by a curtain of fire, Sam can hardly believe his foolishness. Why did he risk his life for a phone? His father taught him about wildfires and nature's other dangers in the years before leaving for Afghanistan on work assignment; what would he say if he saw Sam now? Sam sprints away from the fast-moving blaze, barely able to stay ahead. He'd be consumed in seconds if not for a few lulls in the wind that's driving the fire. The camp counselors—if they've noticed he's missing—probably assume he's dead, so how long before anyone searches for him in the roaring inferno? By a stroke of luck, Sam stumbles onto an abandoned cabin stocked with food, water, and something even more important: an old-fashioned army Jeep. As flames engulf the cabin, Sam gases up the vehicle and speeds away, heart pounding as he avoids immolation by mere moments.
The fire spreads at a rate of a hundred yards per second or more, but the Jeep can outpace it. All Sam has to do is locate a main road and he'll be home free, able to get in contact with his mom and let her know he's okay. How will she react if told he burned to death in a wildfire? If only his cell phone weren't hopelessly damaged, he could call her now. But Sam's journey isn't destined to end soon. A frantic girl emerges hobbling from the woods, begging for a ride. Fourteen-year-old Delphy Pappas was spending summer at Camp Calusa, but the fire caught her alone in the wilderness. She twisted an ankle running to catch up when she heard the Jeep's motor at a distance. With the fire marching inexorably toward them, Sam drives off with Delphy in the front seat, but they won't have an easy time making it back to civilization. Car problems, hunger, dehydration, a run-in with a moose, and a pair of criminals roaming the woods all conspire to cast doubt on whether Sam and Delphy will survive. They've both gone through their share of family drama and heartache, but better days lie ahead if they can match wits with the wildfire and win. How will the showdown conclude? I hope you'll read this book and find out.
"More than anything I want a happy ending."
—Wildfire, P. 84
Rodman Philbrick is among my favorite authors. The potent emotion and unpredictability of Freak the Mighty, Max the Mighty, and The Last Book in the Universe puts him on equal footing with some of the greatest to write juvenile fiction. Because of that, I'm surprised by the lack of depth in Wildfire. It's exciting, suspenseful, and thoughtful at times, but nowhere near the author's best work. It does show, however, that kids are capable of saving themselves from crisis without adult help; Sam and Delphy have to tap into deep reserves of courage and cleverness to evade horrifying death. Kudos to Zlatina Zareva, cover artist for the original hardcover edition of Wildfire. She depicts the story's urgency well, coaxing prospective readers inside for a look around. If you like Rodman Philbrick's fast-paced style, Wildfire will be a winner for you. I certainly enjoyed it.
January 23, 2022
WILDFIRE
Rodman Philbrick
I guess if you are going to write for middle schoolers you should write short readable works that get to the point quickly. If that is the fact, this is a winner for sure. The action starts at the end of the first page and the reader is caught up in everything that is happening through the hopes and dreams of the main character, Sam.
Sam has been sent to summer camp in Maine's Great North Woods while his mother is in rehab for drug addiction. Sam's father was killed in Afghanistan while there as civilian support personnel. Fir 12, Sam seems pretty mature and has his head on straight as he tries to save his own life and worries that his mother will have checked herself out of rehab when she hears he is lost.
Sam's camp is caught in the path of a raging forest fire that is moving quickly and burning everything in its path. Sam was ready for evacuation but snuck off the bus because he forget his cell phone and the bus left him there. Now he is running through the woods doing his best to stay alive. So really not the best decision Sam has ever made, but he pushes ahead.
He ends up finding a girl and a jeep and they continue to race ahead of the fire. The ending is predictable, but this is a middle school read! The action is nonstop and quite accurate as near as I can tell. But I was entertained and enjoyed the action and the ride.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Rodman Philbrick
I guess if you are going to write for middle schoolers you should write short readable works that get to the point quickly. If that is the fact, this is a winner for sure. The action starts at the end of the first page and the reader is caught up in everything that is happening through the hopes and dreams of the main character, Sam.
Sam has been sent to summer camp in Maine's Great North Woods while his mother is in rehab for drug addiction. Sam's father was killed in Afghanistan while there as civilian support personnel. Fir 12, Sam seems pretty mature and has his head on straight as he tries to save his own life and worries that his mother will have checked herself out of rehab when she hears he is lost.
Sam's camp is caught in the path of a raging forest fire that is moving quickly and burning everything in its path. Sam was ready for evacuation but snuck off the bus because he forget his cell phone and the bus left him there. Now he is running through the woods doing his best to stay alive. So really not the best decision Sam has ever made, but he pushes ahead.
He ends up finding a girl and a jeep and they continue to race ahead of the fire. The ending is predictable, but this is a middle school read! The action is nonstop and quite accurate as near as I can tell. But I was entertained and enjoyed the action and the ride.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
January 20, 2022
I know this is just a middle grade book but wow, the story sure got my adrenaline pumping especially in that first chapter! The author doesn't mess around but jumps into the action and the blazing roaring fire right from the start! And poor Sam is off running for his life. And there is nothing scarier than a fierce fire right on your heels chasing you and you have no idea where you are going because you are unfamiliar with the wooded area you are in.
The action stays pretty high throughout the book and the entire story takes place over the course of 6 days. There are short little breaks but mostly its nonstop action. And some of it is puzzle solving too. Plus the story builds to a climax as well.
Great writing! Lots of descriptions and the two characters talk about a few different issues as well.
After reading this I will definitely have to read something light and fluffy as this was indeed intense!
The action stays pretty high throughout the book and the entire story takes place over the course of 6 days. There are short little breaks but mostly its nonstop action. And some of it is puzzle solving too. Plus the story builds to a climax as well.
Great writing! Lots of descriptions and the two characters talk about a few different issues as well.
After reading this I will definitely have to read something light and fluffy as this was indeed intense!
June 14, 2019
There is no walking away from this book. Once you start you are hooked by the drama of escaping a raging fire. The characters are so compelling in their efforts you have to stay with them to the end. Even though it is written for the middle grades, it is a tension that keeps adults glued to the page. A must read for anyone who likes an action-packed adventure story that keeps you on your toes to the end!
May 9, 2019
With its short chapters and action-packed plot, this would make a great read-aloud for 6th graders!
April 18, 2022
3.5
This was not what I expected when I picked it up. There are many unexpected changes of direction and a good balance of tense dramatic scenes and quieter moments that keep the tension up well. Sam is knowledgeable and resourceful without being a know-it-all. He is dealing with issues, but they enhance rather than upstaging the survival story. While I wasn't expecting a sidekick, and sort-of resented the presence of Delphy at first, she grew on me and proved a strong edition to the story and to the survival effort. But there are also plot points that felt unnecessary and the end, while foreshadowed throughout, is a little over the top.
This was not what I expected when I picked it up. There are many unexpected changes of direction and a good balance of tense dramatic scenes and quieter moments that keep the tension up well. Sam is knowledgeable and resourceful without being a know-it-all. He is dealing with issues, but they enhance rather than upstaging the survival story. While I wasn't expecting a sidekick, and sort-of resented the presence of Delphy at first, she grew on me and proved a strong edition to the story and to the survival effort. But there are also plot points that felt unnecessary and the end, while foreshadowed throughout, is a little over the top.
January 20, 2022
I read this book aloud to my 2 daughters ages 9 & 10. It's an action packed story about friendship and the fight to survive. My daughters loved it. It has very short chapters so perfect when you have to say 'ok, just 1 more!' Because every chapter ends with a cliffhanger, Haha! And nice for the girls to be able to read one too.
March 16, 2021
It was a good idea for a book it could’ve been good, some parts were good, but I felt like it kind of felt forced. I didn’t enjoy it that much the first time I read it and I was like OK it was pretty good but then BUT then I had to read it again for school and I was just so done. I did not wanna have to read this book again it was not that good the first time and then I had to read it again and got so much more fed up with the characters and scenarios like bro don’t feel bad for yourself you shoulda left your phone there you can buy a new phone not a new life.
Read
October 21, 2019Personally, I didn't like this. The novel starts pretty much right in the thick of the action, with almost no context and certainly no character knowledge or set up. And then it just continues right from there, one action scene after another (all with fortuitous and lucky discoveries), with vague quick character development randomly thrown in. Philbrick has certainly written better books.
That being said, I think the fast paced nature of the book will work for kids who don't necessarily love reading yet (in fact, I know exactly which sixth grader I'm going to hand this to). Plus, it also lends itself to so great discussion matter (survival, current wildfire events, ect). I did appreciate the added information about wildfires, safety, and where to find more information.
That being said, I think the fast paced nature of the book will work for kids who don't necessarily love reading yet (in fact, I know exactly which sixth grader I'm going to hand this to). Plus, it also lends itself to so great discussion matter (survival, current wildfire events, ect). I did appreciate the added information about wildfires, safety, and where to find more information.
April 24, 2024
3.5
Guys, when I tell you this book was nerve-wracking. I read this before going to sleep and then I legit couldn’t fall asleep cause of how nervous this book made me lol. (This is probably more a me thing than a thing with the book)
What I did notice was that it was pretty predicatable that the characters
Guys, when I tell you this book was nerve-wracking. I read this before going to sleep and then I legit couldn’t fall asleep cause of how nervous this book made me lol. (This is probably more a me thing than a thing with the book)
What I did notice was that it was pretty predicatable that the characters
October 23, 2019
Dry for middle grade readers. Fast-paced and hooks you right in. For fans Fuzzy Mud or of any cli-fi thriller
June 27, 2025
"What stops me is a flash of heat. Feels like an oven door has opened over my head. I look up and see something astonishing....
The pines explode and disintegrate. A wave of flame erupts from the base of the tree trunks, setting up a wall of fire.... A wall of fire that wants to kill me.
There's only one thing to do.
Run the opposite way.
Run for my life."
✏️ Review ✏️
Wildfire wastes no time at bringing the reader right into the very epicenter of the action. It's like you're reading the first page... then the second page... then BAM! The action hits you right in the head 😵💫 (I promise it doesn't hurt 🤭). What follows is one long, almost non-stop, intense, fast-paced ride. Whew. *wipes forehead* When this plot gets going, there's no stopping it!
Further heightening the action is Rodman Philbrick's abrupt, no-frills writing style. This stylistic technique makes the story's delivery quite realistic. Not to mention that this subtly integrates a deeper rushed feel to the already intense storyline.
The characters are actually pretty well developed and even feature interesting backstories. The only minor complaint I have is I would have liked to have seen more time dedicated to fleshing out their backstories; but with the plot moving at such a fast speed I suppose there wasn't much time for this.
Wildfire delivers an intense storyline and does a great job at portraying the destruction and devastation caused by wildfires. Just don't plan on reading this book right before bed; you might not be able to sleep.... 😉
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — it's intense and fast-paced balanced by just the right amount of slow (well, comparatively slow) moments.
• The writing style — it's abrupt and straightforward which further realism to the story.
• The characters — they're pretty well developed.
• The ending — it's informative enough without being drawn out too much.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The fact that there's not that much time for the characters' backstories to be fleshed out
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy intense, fast-paced contemporary fiction stories about natural disasters.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.5/5 [rounded down to 3 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 3/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One vain use of God's name and one use of "heck."
— ⚔️ Violence: 2/5
• Trigger warning: Memories of parental death — several brief discussions and mentions of situation and circumstances of death.
• Prolonged sequences of somewhat intense action-adventure violence including many scenes of peril.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content note: The MMC's mom had a drug addiction and is currently undergoing rehab for that in the story, so there are many discussions of drugs and drug-related topics.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
The pines explode and disintegrate. A wave of flame erupts from the base of the tree trunks, setting up a wall of fire.... A wall of fire that wants to kill me.
There's only one thing to do.
Run the opposite way.
Run for my life."
✏️ Review ✏️
Wildfire wastes no time at bringing the reader right into the very epicenter of the action. It's like you're reading the first page... then the second page... then BAM! The action hits you right in the head 😵💫 (I promise it doesn't hurt 🤭). What follows is one long, almost non-stop, intense, fast-paced ride. Whew. *wipes forehead* When this plot gets going, there's no stopping it!
Further heightening the action is Rodman Philbrick's abrupt, no-frills writing style. This stylistic technique makes the story's delivery quite realistic. Not to mention that this subtly integrates a deeper rushed feel to the already intense storyline.
The characters are actually pretty well developed and even feature interesting backstories. The only minor complaint I have is I would have liked to have seen more time dedicated to fleshing out their backstories; but with the plot moving at such a fast speed I suppose there wasn't much time for this.
Wildfire delivers an intense storyline and does a great job at portraying the destruction and devastation caused by wildfires. Just don't plan on reading this book right before bed; you might not be able to sleep.... 😉
"I've got no idea where I am in the world. Somewhere inside the smoke, running from the heat....
Smashing through low pine branches that reach out like scratchy hands. Fighting though sap-drenched undergrowth that grabs my feet. Somewhere along the way, I drop [my] bulky backpack. Too heavy, too awkward. Keep light, keep moving. Faster. Gotta go faster.
run
gasp
run
gasp
Don't think, don't try to figure anything out, because it takes too much energy. If you want to live, you gotta run, boy, run."
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📊 A Quick Overview 📊
👍🏼 What I Liked:
• The plot — it's intense and fast-paced balanced by just the right amount of slow (well, comparatively slow) moments.
• The writing style — it's abrupt and straightforward which further realism to the story.
• The characters — they're pretty well developed.
• The ending — it's informative enough without being drawn out too much.
👎🏼 What I Did Not Like:
• The fact that there's not that much time for the characters' backstories to be fleshed out
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
❓ To Read or Not To Read? ❓
— Would I recommend this book? Yes.*
— To whom? To those who enjoy intense, fast-paced contemporary fiction stories about natural disasters.
*(Note: I leave it up to each individual to decide the maturity and discernment level required to read the books I recommend, based on my content warnings below [in my Book Breakdown]. My content warnings [if any] should always be considered alongside my recommendations when deciding who these books are best suited for.)
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📖 BOOK BREAKDOWN 📖 (Overall: 3.5/5 [rounded down to 3 on Goodreads])
~Fundamentals: (1=worst; 5=best)
— 📈 Plot: 4/5
— 📝 Writing: 3.5/5
— 👥 Characters: 3/5
~Content: (0=none; 1=least; 5=most)
— 🤬 Language: 1/5
• One vain use of God's name and one use of "heck."
— ⚔️ Violence: 2/5
• Trigger warning: Memories of parental death — several brief discussions and mentions of situation and circumstances of death.
• Prolonged sequences of somewhat intense action-adventure violence including many scenes of peril.
— ⚠️ Sexual: 0/5
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
📣 Random Comments 📣
• Content note: The MMC's mom had a drug addiction and is currently undergoing rehab for that in the story, so there are many discussions of drugs and drug-related topics.
📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
💬 Favorite Quotes 💬
• (None)
Read
December 11, 2019this book was a good book and it was intense
May 18, 2023
Wildfire was a really great book! It took me less than a full afternoon to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was just a really well written books! I kept thinking about Lost On A Mountain In Maine, just because it is a teen lost in a similar situation. 10/10 Great book!
August 10, 2020
This is juvenile fiction, a quick read that young boys would most likely enjoy. The main character is a 10 year old boy who is at camp when a wildfire breaks out and everyone needs to evacuate. Before boarding his bus, he goes back to the cabin for his cell phone and is separated from his group. He must figure out how to survive on his own.
September 8, 2019
I have to start by saying that FREAK THE MIGHTY by Rodman Philbrick is one of my absolute favorite books of all times. That book holds such a special place in my heart that I literally cried happy tears when I found it at a library sale. Needless to say, I had super high hopes for WILDFIRE. It actually breaks my heart to say that I did not enjoy it. Here’s why...
Some books get right into the action and that’s great. This book gets you right into the action, but at the expense of really getting to know the characters. I felt like I needed more background on Sam, especially because it was briefly mentioned that his mom was in rehab. I’m fine with not getting all the facts right away and I enjoy guessing and predicting. So I was waiting for Sam’s internal struggles to be explored in greater detail. Sam meets Delphy, an older girl, in the midst of a raging wildfire when they are the only two kids who didn’t evacuate with the rest of their groups. Like Sam, Delphy has issues that weren’t explored deeply enough in the book. Delphy tells Sam she was in a “fitness” camp and seems to be self-conscious about her body, but that isn’t explored much either. There is a ton of external conflict in this story, but the internal conflict was just glossed over. I also would have liked to hear more about Delphy’s story and wished the book was told in the alternating perspectives of Sam and Delphy. I also wish there were more flashbacks so I could understand what Sam was going through as his mom struggled with addiction.
Another criticism I have is that I felt like the two motorcycle guys were stereotyped. I was secretly hoping that they weren’t the bad guys at all, and that their actions were just misunderstood. I was hoping there would be a little lesson on stereotyping or judging others as I was hoping the motorcycle guys might even play a role in rescuing Sam and Delphy. But they were just as Sam and Delphy originally perceived them, so no surprises there and no lessons learned.
I probably would not have finished reading the book if it were not for FREAK THE MIGHTY being my all time favorite book. FREAK will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, WILDFIRE will not.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy to review and share with #LitReviewCrew. This was my honest review.
Some books get right into the action and that’s great. This book gets you right into the action, but at the expense of really getting to know the characters. I felt like I needed more background on Sam, especially because it was briefly mentioned that his mom was in rehab. I’m fine with not getting all the facts right away and I enjoy guessing and predicting. So I was waiting for Sam’s internal struggles to be explored in greater detail. Sam meets Delphy, an older girl, in the midst of a raging wildfire when they are the only two kids who didn’t evacuate with the rest of their groups. Like Sam, Delphy has issues that weren’t explored deeply enough in the book. Delphy tells Sam she was in a “fitness” camp and seems to be self-conscious about her body, but that isn’t explored much either. There is a ton of external conflict in this story, but the internal conflict was just glossed over. I also would have liked to hear more about Delphy’s story and wished the book was told in the alternating perspectives of Sam and Delphy. I also wish there were more flashbacks so I could understand what Sam was going through as his mom struggled with addiction.
Another criticism I have is that I felt like the two motorcycle guys were stereotyped. I was secretly hoping that they weren’t the bad guys at all, and that their actions were just misunderstood. I was hoping there would be a little lesson on stereotyping or judging others as I was hoping the motorcycle guys might even play a role in rescuing Sam and Delphy. But they were just as Sam and Delphy originally perceived them, so no surprises there and no lessons learned.
I probably would not have finished reading the book if it were not for FREAK THE MIGHTY being my all time favorite book. FREAK will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunately, WILDFIRE will not.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy to review and share with #LitReviewCrew. This was my honest review.
August 22, 2019
Book 65 for #30booksummer was 🔥 and nonstop action; thanks to @scholasticinc for the free copy!
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Our 9/3, this is a MUST-BUY for elementary and middle school collections. It’s a fabulous readalike to the I Survived series and will be a good book to highlight signs of #climatechange. The action starts with the first line: “we wake with the smell of smoke” and doesn’t let up until the end. I read it in one quick sitting and I bet most students will, too.
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Sam is at summer camp in Maine while his mom is in rehab for an opioid addiction. His father died in Afghanistan driving a truck. When a wildfire breaks out, Sam runs away and soon finds himself lost in the vast Maine woods. Adventure and calamity ensue and soon Sam is joined by Delphy, a resourceful, strong older girl. Can they survive the wildfire?
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An afterword by the author discusses the devastating effects of wildfires and the increasing incidence of “more fires, longer fires and bigger fires.” The editor’s note that precedes the novel was written at the height of the #campfireparadise in CA in 2018 and makes clear the connection between these deadly fires and our changing climate. (Did you know that in 2017 over 71,000 fires burned ten million acres in America?)
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#librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #mglit #mgbooks #ilovemg #wildfire #rodmanphilbrick #kidlitexchange #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview
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🔥
🔥
Our 9/3, this is a MUST-BUY for elementary and middle school collections. It’s a fabulous readalike to the I Survived series and will be a good book to highlight signs of #climatechange. The action starts with the first line: “we wake with the smell of smoke” and doesn’t let up until the end. I read it in one quick sitting and I bet most students will, too.
.
🔥
🔥
Sam is at summer camp in Maine while his mom is in rehab for an opioid addiction. His father died in Afghanistan driving a truck. When a wildfire breaks out, Sam runs away and soon finds himself lost in the vast Maine woods. Adventure and calamity ensue and soon Sam is joined by Delphy, a resourceful, strong older girl. Can they survive the wildfire?
.
🔥
🔥
An afterword by the author discusses the devastating effects of wildfires and the increasing incidence of “more fires, longer fires and bigger fires.” The editor’s note that precedes the novel was written at the height of the #campfireparadise in CA in 2018 and makes clear the connection between these deadly fires and our changing climate. (Did you know that in 2017 over 71,000 fires burned ten million acres in America?)
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🔥
🔥
#librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #mglit #mgbooks #ilovemg #wildfire #rodmanphilbrick #kidlitexchange #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview
October 9, 2019
My 9yr old son recommended this book to me after getting it at the school's book fair. He loved it. I, on the other hand, had some mixed feelings about it. The book is well written for the 8-15 year old group, and yes, it keeps you engaged the entire time. For a children's book, it is much more suspenseful and intense than I expected. I was surprised my son didn't get scared or disturbed reading it at night, but then, I'm the one terrified of fires. The book has references to opioid addiction and can be triggering for some people, though, it's reflected upon with honesty, respect, pain and hope. It is a great book, but not a light read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2019
After some inane decisions, Sam and Delphy are trapped in the middle of a wildfire. This was a quick read which I chose because the setting was Maine. The author was point on about Mainers being proud of their origins and depicting people born elsewhere as "from away" or as we also say "biscuits". I do think his characterizing of the Arson Brothers as committing their crime because of people from away buying land in Maine was a bit much. The afterword about the fires of 1947 also sparked (pun intended) my memories of being a child moving into a new home in South Portland and the smoky smell of those fires wafting through the neighborhood.
January 3, 2020
@kidlitexchange #partner thank you to author #rodmanphilbrick and publisher #blueskypress @scholasticinc for sharing a review copy of Wildfire with the #kidlitexchange network. All opinions are my own. This book came out in September!
Wildfire was such a fast-paced read- I finished it this weekend! Sam is at summer camp, and just like that, a forest fire threatens to overtake the camp and surrounding area. Sam forgets his phone in his bunk and runs to get it- and gets left behind during evacuation! He’s got to survive on his own and figure out a way out of the forest- if he can.
I loved that the story was told in present tense- it definitely matched the pace of the action in the book. Sam encounters one obstacle after another while he tries to find a way out of the fire-blazed forest, and he uses all of the survival tips his father imparted to him before he died in Afghanistan. Sam’s mother is in rehab for addiction, and his parents are at the forefront of Sam’s mind as the fire rages around him. Not only does Sam have to think quickly on his feet, he is also worrying about his mom and trying to remember everything his father has taught him about survival. Then he meets Delphy, and with her quick thinking and humor, has hope that they might be able to outrun the fire. Not only do Sam and Delphy work together to problem solve in order to stay ahead of the raging fire, they also lift each up, give each other courage, and keep each other motivated. Sam and Delphy take daring risks to outsmart the fire- risks such as driving a Jeep to building incline planes and levers in order to survive, but they also form a friendship- keeping each other laughing in the face of danger, motivating each other, and giving each other hope. This story has just enough complications to keep the reader wanting more and rooting for Sam and Delphy.
I also loved that there’s a note at the end from Rodman Philbrick about how prevalent wildfires are in the US and around the world, and how climate change is a big factor in the growing prevalence of wildfires. He then outlines what you can do to prepare for fire. Definitely add this to your book list or classroom library if you want to know how it ends! Highly recommend!
Wildfire was such a fast-paced read- I finished it this weekend! Sam is at summer camp, and just like that, a forest fire threatens to overtake the camp and surrounding area. Sam forgets his phone in his bunk and runs to get it- and gets left behind during evacuation! He’s got to survive on his own and figure out a way out of the forest- if he can.
I loved that the story was told in present tense- it definitely matched the pace of the action in the book. Sam encounters one obstacle after another while he tries to find a way out of the fire-blazed forest, and he uses all of the survival tips his father imparted to him before he died in Afghanistan. Sam’s mother is in rehab for addiction, and his parents are at the forefront of Sam’s mind as the fire rages around him. Not only does Sam have to think quickly on his feet, he is also worrying about his mom and trying to remember everything his father has taught him about survival. Then he meets Delphy, and with her quick thinking and humor, has hope that they might be able to outrun the fire. Not only do Sam and Delphy work together to problem solve in order to stay ahead of the raging fire, they also lift each up, give each other courage, and keep each other motivated. Sam and Delphy take daring risks to outsmart the fire- risks such as driving a Jeep to building incline planes and levers in order to survive, but they also form a friendship- keeping each other laughing in the face of danger, motivating each other, and giving each other hope. This story has just enough complications to keep the reader wanting more and rooting for Sam and Delphy.
I also loved that there’s a note at the end from Rodman Philbrick about how prevalent wildfires are in the US and around the world, and how climate change is a big factor in the growing prevalence of wildfires. He then outlines what you can do to prepare for fire. Definitely add this to your book list or classroom library if you want to know how it ends! Highly recommend!
September 23, 2019
I enjoy reading survival stories and this one hits rather close to home. With wildfires rampaging across the country every year stories like this one become more relevant every year, as Philbrick talks about in his author's note at the end of the book. This one focuses on the experiences of a 12-year-old boy named Same who is being evacuated from summer camp as the story opens. When he goes back to his cabin for his cell phone, he gets cut off from the buses and is forced to flee in a different direction. He finds himself lost in the words barely managing to escape the fire. After discovering an old army Jeep at an abandoned lumber camp, Sam seems to have a chance to escape the fire, if he can figure out how to drive it and find a road to take him to the nearest town. He doesn't expect to come across another survivor along the way. I really enjoyed this story, mostly because I adore survival stories. Not because of the tragedy, but because of the courage and ingenuity that the characters exercise to get out of the mess they are in. While Sam driving the Jeep wasn't entirely believable, it wasn't entirely unbelievable either since his father had shown him how to drive one previously. The excitement carries through the whole book with the two kids seemly escaping the fire only to find themselves in danger once again. Middle grade readers who enjoy books like Hatchet by Gary Paulsen are likely to enjoy this one as well.
February 23, 2020
This is a good, engaging middle-grade read for kids who, once upon a time, I might have handed a book like Hatchet. Here we have a twelve year old boy and a fifteen year old girl who each get separated from their summer camp groups in Maine during the outbreak of a huge wildfire. They luckily find one another early on in the story and the narrative takes us on their journey to find a way to safety as the fire, often just on their heels, rages and consumes the forest.
The action of the story starts immediately, right from chapter one. The book has very short chapters, each one ending with a little bit of a cliffhanger which is picked up at the start of the next chapter. The two protagonists are the only major characters in the story, and though their relationship is fairly simple, the author does give each of them a little back story to help them bond and counterbalance this mostly action-based plot. Plenty of "signposts" abound throughout the book, and a short afterword at the end provides information about wildfires, a timely environmental issue. I would recommend this book to many of my students this year.
The action of the story starts immediately, right from chapter one. The book has very short chapters, each one ending with a little bit of a cliffhanger which is picked up at the start of the next chapter. The two protagonists are the only major characters in the story, and though their relationship is fairly simple, the author does give each of them a little back story to help them bond and counterbalance this mostly action-based plot. Plenty of "signposts" abound throughout the book, and a short afterword at the end provides information about wildfires, a timely environmental issue. I would recommend this book to many of my students this year.
June 1, 2020
A slim but action-packed novel inspired by the wildfires of Maine in 1947. Sam and Delphy are running for their lives when they both get separated from their summer camp evacuations due to out of control wildfires. Starting off as complete strangers they have to put their faith in one another to problem solve one danger after another (moose, arsonists, bears and the ever-encroaching wildfire). This is a great story with a lot of survival tips thrown into the plot. Would pair well with The Trail, Hatchet, Holes and Lost Trail: Nine Days Alone in the Wilderness.
As a hook for my students, the main character is from Westbrook.
Grades 5 and up.
As a hook for my students, the main character is from Westbrook.
Grades 5 and up.
March 4, 2022
This cover is gorgeous. We’re getting that out of the way.
This felt like a middle-grade version of April Henry's Playing With Fire
Both stories started out in conflict and we got glimpses of how the characters dealt with their inner issues while trying to survive. I’m glad Sam and Delphy were just friends and survival buddies. Props to them and their skills because I would’ve been burned alive on page one.
This felt like a middle-grade version of April Henry's Playing With Fire
Both stories started out in conflict and we got glimpses of how the characters dealt with their inner issues while trying to survive. I’m glad Sam and Delphy were just friends and survival buddies. Props to them and their skills because I would’ve been burned alive on page one.
September 10, 2024
I think that the book Wildfire should be rated a 5 star because the book never gets boring and there is constant action. I think that the book should be for ages 11 to 15 because it will keep you entertained while reading. I think some adults and young adults could read it because it doesn't have anything childish in it and it's a pretty serious book which I think most adults and young adults would like. The book also gives good visuals so you know what everything looks like. My favorite part of the book is in the beginning where he gets left behind and can't see anything around him. In my opinion I don't think that anything should be changed but I wish the author wrote more books just like this one.
October 12, 2019
This wasn't what I was expecting. There's a lot of action, and the story jumps right in. I thought there would be a bit of story before the fire. The story is about two children getting out and away from a forest fire. They find help along the way, but there is also some trouble. I was interesting to see how they handled everything they went through. I didn't like the villains and who they were and why they did the things that they did. I was hoping that would be different.
January 10, 2022
By amazing coincidence, we watched a wildfire movie while I was reading this book. Philbrick captures the power and terror of wildfires in words as well as the movie did in pictures. It is a book worth reading. Not only is it action packed and a fast thriller, there are lots of tips on how to stay alive if ever caught in such a fire. The back story at the end of the book about an actual fire and how fast they can move really helps bring home how dangerous they are.
July 18, 2021
Middle Grade (4-8)
Sunshine State nominated book 2021-22
Audiobook
Jumps right into the action and never stops. Short chapters and nonstop action make it a good choice for reluctant readers and for read-alouds. With both a boy and girl at the center of the action, it has broad appeal for fans of survival stories.
As other reviewers have said, character development is lacking but readers looking for action probably won't miss it. The idea that a 12-year old would sneak away in an emergency situation to go back for his phone (*facepalms*) is not a stretch, but the idea that he could is scary for parents. The kids are smart and resourceful and persist through unbelievable odds. At the end of the book, there is factual information about wildfires and how to survive them. Suggest to fans of I Survived and Hatchet.
Sunshine State nominated book 2021-22
Audiobook
Jumps right into the action and never stops. Short chapters and nonstop action make it a good choice for reluctant readers and for read-alouds. With both a boy and girl at the center of the action, it has broad appeal for fans of survival stories.
As other reviewers have said, character development is lacking but readers looking for action probably won't miss it. The idea that a 12-year old would sneak away in an emergency situation to go back for his phone (*facepalms*) is not a stretch, but the idea that he could is scary for parents. The kids are smart and resourceful and persist through unbelievable odds. At the end of the book, there is factual information about wildfires and how to survive them. Suggest to fans of I Survived and Hatchet.
April 9, 2025
The plot was pretty good. It was very action packed, lots of ups and downs and it was never boring. The only thing I dislike is the writing style. Its not something I can describe, but it feels like incomplete sentences? I don't know it just didn't feel like a good way to write the book. Other than the writing style, it was a good book though!
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