The Burning Season

by Caroline Starr Rose

In this coming-of-age survival story in verse, a fire lookout-in-training must find her courage when a wildfire breaks out on her watch.

Twelve-year-old Opal is deathly afraid of fire. Still Opal is preparing to become a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain, deep in the New Mexico wilderness. She, Mom, and Gran live at ten thousand feet in a single room at the top of a fire tower. They are responsible for spotting any hint of smoke before it becomes an uncontrollable blaze.

Instead of training for the lonely life of a lookout, Opal wishes she could be starting seventh grade in Silver City, attending real classes with kids her own age and even going to afterschool clubs like FFA. But Wolf Mountain has other ideas. When Mom makes the long trek to town for supplies and Gran goes missing, Opal is the only one to spot a tell-tale spiral of smoke moving up the mountainside. She’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been as she heads into the woods, beyond Wolf Ridge’s old blackened burn scar, to face down a fire on her own. But when a fire is what took her father away, and Opal herself knows the sting of smoke and lick of flames, how can she be brave enough when it really counts?

Genres: Middle Grade, Novel In Verse, Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Survival, Audiobook

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 13, 2025

About the author

Caroline Starr Rose is a middle grade and picture book author whose books have been ALA-ALSC Notable, Junior Library Guild, ABA New Voices, Kids’ Indie Next, Amazon’s Best Books of the Month for Kids, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books selections. In addition, her books have been nominated for almost two dozen state award lists. Caroline was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author for her debut novel, May B. She spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New Mexico and taught social studies and English in four different states. Caroline now lives with her family in her hometown, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Reviews

[Linda Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT book! Check out my review on Teen Librarian Toolbox:
https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025...

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring middle grade novel in verse about Opal, a 12 year old junior fire watcher in training who is secretly afraid of fire but braves it when her grandmother is in danger. Set in the wilds of New Mexico, this was a tale of bravery and courage and includes a great author's note at the end. Highly recommended for young readers wanting to learn more about the dangers of fire seasons and the ways people work hard to prevent and fight wildfires.

[Erin Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really enjoyed this spare novel in verse that packs a big punch, story- and character-wise. An intriguing premise, about a girl who’s destined to be a 4th generation fire-spotter, having grown up - living with and learning from her Mom and Grandma - at the top of a fire tower deep in the Gila Wilderness.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.
New Mexico
2 burros
Opal’s 12th birthday will learn to be a smokespotter for forest service like her mother and grandmother and great aunt
Parents were smoke jumpers, dad died after she was born
Loves her home in the tower but wants to go to middle school in town - a 2 day hike away
Opal perhaps is afraid of fire? Yes, her secret, does she want to carry on the family work?
What other force of nature births a forest through destruction?
Action packed, tense
Don’t run from fear or push it away
Can’t lose hope, who else is here to keep it?
Maybe brave doesn’t mean you’re not afraid. Maybe brave means trying anyway.
Use my fear to battle back
Interesting author note, some fire towers added to national register of historic places
May we all learn to listen To the land. let us care enough to do so.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

So lovely

2025 Pippi Post Reader Roulette - Read a Book Written in Verse

[Christine Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel in verse that creates the vivid, urgent tone of wildfires. Four generations of strong female characters. Middle-grade survival story. As part of the genre, the young protagonist runs off solo taking risks.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are quickly heading into wildfire season. I feel like anyone who lives on the western side of the Mississippi braces for it every year. So imagine how it felt to read a novel in verse and twelve years old Opal, whose female ancestors have all been fire watchers...
and now Opal is being trained to do the same

only thing is that Opal kind of wants nothing to do with it, as she has been scared of fire since getting too closely caught in a blaze......and losing her father to a wildfire.

As one might imagine, Opal does have to face her fears and does so in a pretty impressive way. she is a strong protagonist that both boy and girl readers will root for. As will fans of Gary Paulsen's books (and pay attention for a shout-out to them!)

This book is a very solid 3.5 stars for me, a quick read that I will be recommending a lot this year.

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventure/survival story lovers are gonna eat this up. (its me, im survival story lover) And I love the emphasis on how our good intentions led to creating the wildfire monsters we have today.

[Tyffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story! I really felt the suspense the entire story. I didn’t realize how hard this life style could be. Very scary, but noble. Great read!!

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brave fire lookout-in-training takes on a wildfire in search of her grandmother.
🔥
Opal is afraid of fire, but can’t change the destiny that’s already been laid out for her. She’s a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain where she, her mom, and grandmother live at the top of a fire tower in a single room. Opal would much rather be attending school with kids her age and joining clubs. When Opal’s mom heads off on her trek for supplies and her grandmother goes missing, Opal summons her courage and fear of fire to find her at all costs.
🔥
This MG adventure novel in verse is a quick read that’s based on several real people and events (be sure to read the Author’s Note). It would be great to pair with Spark by Chris Baron, Two Degrees by Alan Gratz or Controlled Burn by Downing.

CW: Fire, parental death (recounted), injury, hospitalization, grief

[Summer Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy books in verse, and I've always been fascinated with fire lookouts and their towers, so this book was right up my alley.

I did have to suspend my disbelief about Opal and family living full time in their tower - unlikely and very difficult in winter with no insulation. But I liked the multi-generational aspect of this story and the arc of Opal's character.

The climax was exciting and well-written, but not something that is generally recommended when dealing with a fire as an amateur!

[Emily McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick verse novel about a girl who lives year round as a fire look-out in New Mexico. I appreciate books that teach readers about a unique or unusual place/time/experience, so despite a bit too much drama for my taste (and my weariness for verse novels), I’d recommend this for kids who like survival stories or the outdoors.

[Caroline Moy · Rating 4 out of 5]

picked up this book at a mini library leading up to the beach because it was about the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, it was written entirely in verse and followed the newly 12-year-old Opal who began training from her gran in forest fire lookout, really enjoyed the dynamics in this book and there was relatively good tension buildup, also learned a lot at the end of the book about fire management and might read more into the subject

[Maggie Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle Grade Novels in Verse are quickly moving up my list of genres I never turn down. The emotions match the pace and thought process of the characters. This one has history, climate issues, some suspense, and sense of belonging and/or being left out all tied into the story arc.

[Mrs. Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent adventure story in verse!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fire lookout-in-training must find her courage when a wildfire breaks out on her watch in this riveting survival story in verse perfect.

[Luminous Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel in verse follows the story of twelve-year-old Opal, a junior fire watcher in the wilds of New Mexico. A fascinating look into the history and legacy of those who have protected the land through generations, Opal's story is one of family, bravery, survival, and confronting fears.

[Jennifer K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 definitely do the audio!

[Megan Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was the same author as Blue Birds! I absolutely LOVED that book, so I’m not surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.

This is a great story about a fire lookout in training and how she fears fire tremendously. How do you watch for fires when you fear them? How can you know that this is the path for YOU if you’re told it is because generations have done it?

An incredible look at nature and our part in it. Loved it.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all: the cover? Beautiful.

The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose introduces readers to Opal, a 12-year-old girl who lives at a fire tower with her mother and grandmother. Opal is about to start training to become a fourth-generation lookout, someone responsible for giving our warnings of any fires before they spread into something uncontrollable and dangerous. The only problem? Ever since she faced her first big wildfire years earlier, Opal has been terrified of anything to do with fire watching.

This is a great book to introduce kids to the concept of identity - Opal's future has almost entirely been written out for her since she was born, and now she struggles with wanting to change the destiny her parents have already decided on for her. As a novel in verse, it is also a fairly quick read for most students and will hold their attention well. And at least in my school, my students absolutely love and devour any kind of survival story. Opal's story is left open near the end, and I'd be curious to follow her journey in a sequel, or to learn more about her ancestors in a prequel.
Thanks to NetGalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for the advanced copy to review!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this novel in verse, Opal is turning twelve, which means that she will begin to take lessons on how to be a smoke spotter from her grandmother, and become the fourth generation of women in her family to keep an eye on the Mangas Mountains from the Wolf Mountain station. Her great aunt Dor was the first female lookout in 1915, and Opal's grandmother and mother have both held the position. Her father was a smoke jumper who died when Opal was five. It's lonely at the top of the mountain, living in a 15" by 15" cabin, and even getting supplies requires a two day hike to nearby Cielito... and everything must be brought back in a backpack! Opal has two friends in town, twins Jacob and Vince Trujillo, whose father Mark works for the forest service, and after spending time with them, she would love to live with the family and attend La Plata Middle School. Her mother doesn't want to send her just yet, and picks up homework when she goes into town. Opal also can use the satellite phone to talk to a retired teacher for help. After her birthday cake, her mother sets off to Silver City, leaving Opal to begin her training. Her grandmother shows her to always hold onto the binocular straps, and how to use equipment and make reports. Opal is worried about fire, since her family had to be evacuated, and she's been too close to the fires several times, but she understands the seriousness of her family's responsibilities. When her mother doesn't make it to town for several days, her grandmother says it is likely because of the rain, but it is still a concern. When Opal accidently breaks the binoculars, she doesn't want to tell her grandmother. When she finally does, her grandmother takes a walk to cool down... and doesn't come back by nightfall. Not only that, but Opal has seen some smoke, and the last batteries for the phone have died. Not only that, but there is a storm approaching. Opal sets off with some supplies to look for her grandmother, and finally finds her. She's hurt her ankle in the stream, and Opal manages to contact Mark, who sends someone up to help. Worried about the fire, she tries to get back to report, and worries that the fire will get to her grandmother. After a fall that causes her to lose her backpack, she ends up fighting small fires by herself before help arrives. Will this quick thinking convince her mother that she should be allowed to go to middle school, or encourage her mother to keep her on Wolf Mountain.
Strengths: This is based on several real people and events, but with some poetic license. I loved that there was a great-aunt who was a pioneer in the Forest Service, and that the family felt strongly about keeping the area safe. Of course Opal wants to do that... but she also would like to be able to walk to the library and check out a pile of books or hang out with friends. There are lots of details about previous fires, and about how forest management has changed over the years; this is something more tweens need to know. Of course everything goes wrong at once; I was just surprised there wasn't a bear attack thrown in there! The best part of the book was Opal fighting the fires on her own. It was very intense. This ends on a happy note, and it was interesting to see all of the people behind the scenes who were helping Opal and her family. The author's notes on the area and fires were very interesting as well.
Weaknesses: I would have loved more details about the cabin and living on the top of a mountain! How did the grandmother bake that delicious chocolate cake? Since my daughter once lived off the grid in a tiny house, I know many of the accomodations that would have to be made, but young readers may not and would be enthralled with details about composting toilets and solar heated showers!
What I really think: Add this to the list of books that make it impossible for me to go out into any kind of wilderness without extreme back up, along with Downing's Just Keep Walking, Philbrick's Wild River, Behren's Alone in the Woods, and Goeble's Back Country. Books about forest fires that would go nicely with this book include Downing's Controlled Burn, Vrabel's When Giants Burn, and Marrin's nonfiction When Forests Burn.

[Rachel Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, did The Burning Season make me so mad. I had high hopes for this book when I first heard about it, the story of 12-year-old Opal and her fire-watching family, learning the ropes of how to live in a fire lookout in the New Mexico wilderness and navigating outdoor life as well as the inevitable tumultuous pre-teen era. But very quickly a number of factors started to irritate me and never let up over the course of the book.

I’ll start with the premise: there’s no way a 12-year-old would be able to handle the things that she did. I have no doubt that Opal would be able to survive in a fire lookout with her mother and grandmother if they had the proper shelter; and I have no doubt that Opal would then be taught the correct training to be a future fire lookout. But it’s the content later in the book that was utterly ridiculous: Opal suddenly needs to be a hero but makes very foolish decisions instead and runs away from her comfort home and people to go tackle a potential fire, with no actual training on how to extinguish a fire and clearly no wilderness survival skills because she gets injured and leaves her backpack behind, even though it had next to nothing in to begin with. On top of this Opal’s mother also sets off on a reckless hike through the forest in a storm, and her Gran leaves Opal alone without saying a word to her about it (or why she even left!?) and also gets injured and has to be rescued. All three of them were so stupid and irresponsible in the wilderness, and it made me wonder if author Caroline Starr Rose has ever actually been in a remote wilderness area and has any clue what to bring in a survival situation. I don’t even consider myself that well prepared for a wilderness emergency, but my god, that was annoying.

And then of course is the verse-novel style. Is this the new trendy sort of young adult book these days? I’ve read four of them recently and they’re all terrible. The problem with this book, and verse-novels in general, was that the plot, background and context made zero sense in this format, as Opal-as-poet was writing stream-of-consciousness types of poems that only echoed what she was experiencing, not anything to establish any history or relationships between the characters or relationship, or relevant historical information regarding the fire lookout that she’s in and the science or reasoning behind it. The jumbled and disconnected (not to mention pretentious) writing style made the plot and characters absolutely make no sense together.

Also, why are so many of these YA novels I’ve been reading by authors who are so clearly conservative Christians. Many of the recent ones I’ve read, while thankfully avoiding too strong of religious undertones in the actual book, go all out in the acknowledgments about how Jesus is everything to them. Spare me.

[Faith Elizabeth Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unpopular bookish opinion: I don't care for most novels in verse. 

I've always been a lover of poetry, but verse novels didn't feel like poetry to me, so for a long time I didn't even see the point.

Then Caroline Starr Rose won me over.

Her book, May B., was a verse novel with a really good reason for being told that way.

The main character struggles to read, and her story is small but dramatic and poignant, with a wide emotional arc. All those reasons made its format make sense, and the writing was beautiful. I loved it.

I felt the same way about Rose's second verse novel, Blue Birds, about the friendship between a Roanoke girl, Kimi, and English settler, Alis. Because the girls don't speak one another's languages, the sparse verse made total sense to me and allowed me to fall into the story without being distracted by the format. 

So of course when I found out Caroline Starr Rose had a new verse novel coming out, you know I jumped right on the chance to read it! The Burning Season is possibly my favorite of her verse novels, with a realistic and relatable main character in a setting and situation very different from my life.

Like Rose's previous novels in verse, The Burning Season makes perfect sense in this format. The verses are an excellent medium to tell a fairly "small" story, of a girl training to become a Wildfire spotter despite her deep fear of fire. The swings from quiet introspection and normal life hopes to the high drama of raging fires and missing family members are perfectly mirrored by the shape and structure of each poem.

Additionally, the sense of place in this novel is as much a part of the story as the plot. The poems bring the Gila Wilderness to life with a subtlety and clarity that perhaps only a poem can provide.

So if you're not a big fan of novels in verse…you're not alone. But give this one a try.

[Jessica Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Caroline Starr Rose's published books, and I almost always say this about her work, but this is my new CSR favorite. The Burning Season is about Opal, a young girl who is a fourth generation fire lookout in the Gila Wilderness. While she loves her home and is inspired by her mother and grandmother, she longs to go to public school instead of living in an isolated room year-round.

This novel-in verse is a master class in pacing, plotting, and emotional arcs. I finished it in one sitting for a reason--I couldn't put it down. Each poem has purpose, to both deliver on escalating danger, vulnerability, emotional growth, and to deliver tidbits about fire management and humanity's role in protecting nature (these last parts are done subtly and are woven into the story in a way that makes them seem effortless rather than didactic, and there is also a section after the final pages that offers valuable details about those things).

12-year-old Opal is sensitive and brave, and when she begins her lookout training with her grandmother, the reader truly feels her inner conflict~ because Opal is afraid of fire. She lost her father to a wildfire, and can't help but be scared of the thing that brought so much grief to her family.

The climax builds tensely as Opal is separated from her mother and grandmother, and when a wildfire breaks out, she knows that her time has come to help save the life she's been building all these years. Each scene is so visceral and well-done. I'm constantly impressed by verse authors, who manage to pack so much into so little text. In a word, this story is beautiful. Meaningful. Thrilling. Important.

Please read it.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and Caroline Starr Rose for the opportunity to read The Burning Season in exchange for an honest review.

The Burning Season is a middle grade novel-in-verse that follows twelve-year-old Opal. Having just had her birthday, she is ready to follow in her mother's and grandmother's footsteps as a lookout for forest fires. Opal's post is on Wolf Mountain, in the wilderness of New Mexico. The story references and actual fire that occurred a few years ago in the Gila National Forest. 

Opal aims to be posted as a lookout, now that she is twelve, and seeks to demonstrate her level of responsibility. With her mom having left to get supplies in town, it's just Opal and Gran, and they will be relying on her more than ever. When she messes up, big-time, it might cost the trust she gained with her family, as well as the surrounding forest.

This is an easy to read novel, being a HiLo. It makes for a unique read with a perspective that young readers perhaps have not been exposed to. The life of being on watch for fires is truly its own thing. Someone must help keep people and the forest safe from fires, and this novel sheds some light on what it might be like being a young person living in the middle of a forest, only seeing other people or visiting a regular town every once in a while. The story resonates with today's world as there are so many fires affecting the United States. This story may be even closer to home for some readers than they anticipate.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In sparse verse The Burning Season invites readers into Opal's life on a remote mountain in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness. Opal lives in a fire tower with her mother and her grandmother, part of a long line of women who have served as lookouts and helped to protect the cherished land from wildfire. While she loves her life and family on the mountain, Opal longs to move into town and attend middle school with her friends. Moving to go to school would mean leaving her family and their tower behind to live with close family friends. Opal is ready for this change of pace, but her mother is not ready to let her go. When a foolish decision puts a family member in danger, Opal has to face her fear of fire and put her wilderness skills to the test. Suddenly Opal isn't just reading about survival in a well-loved Gary Paulsen book, she's living it. Resourceful and determined, Opal will rise to the challenges before her in a way no one would have expected.

The novel builds slowly, at first, but the second-half action is propulsive. Part adventure, part meditation on fire and the realities of climate change, part ode to our earth, Opal's story is one middle grade readers won't want to miss. The verse format makes the pages fly by. Extensive author's notes clarify what is true and what is fiction, informing readers about fires, fire towers, fire management history, lookouts, and the Gila Wilderness area of New Mexico.

[Dragonlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming coming of age tale opens with Opal waking up to her twelfth birthday and the official start of her fire lookout training. Opal is the recipient of a rather unusual upbringing atop the Wolf Mountain fire tower in New Mexico as she begins carrying on a laudable family history of women fire lookouts. While she loves her life in the outdoors, helping her mother and grandmother, Opal longs to begin fourth grade in Silver City where she can have friends, join clubs and feel connected.

A brutal storm hits as Opal’s mother treks though the wildness to resupply in the nearest town and she is missing. After accidentally breaking a vital tool, Opal run away from the tower to cope with her guilty feelings. When she returns to the tower her Grandmother is gone and there is a wisp of smoke on the mountain. Opal must confront her worst fear to find and save her Grandmother from the wildfire threatening them both. Will Opal be able to dig deep, confront her fear and realize she is stronger than she knew?

Written in an unusual verse format, this engaging, fast read will hold the interest of young readers while gently educating them about the value and dangers of wildfires. It touches on self-image, the need to be accepted and confronting those things that scare us. Overall a delightful story that might encourage young readers to dig deeper into the history of fire lookouts atop their mountain tops.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Fire towers are something I only had a vague awareness of, so it was interesting to learn more through this girl whose family have been lookouts for generations and also through the information the author provides at the end of this novel in verse.

The only downside of the additional information the author added at the back of the book is that I had already felt like Opal’s longing to attend school in person, while understandable, wasn’t maybe the most necessary plot point compared to some other aspects of her life, and then to realize that in actuality, families like hers wouldn’t be in the tower for most of the school year, that left me feeling even more like there were other things that could have been explored further instead of the school issue, such as Opal’s dad, her relationships with her mom and grandma and their expectations of this young kid working in the tower, etc.

This did a fantastic job from start to finish as far as creating a strong sense of suspense and urgency about characters unaccounted for and fire dangers, it has the requisite edge of your seat quality. Opal’s emotions were really well done, too, her determination, her fears, and the way she beats herself up for her mistakes, her feelings throughout much of the book were relatable even if most of us have never been in the situation she finds herself in here.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In THE BURNING SEASON, the women in Opal’s family have a multi-generational tradition of serving as fire spotters. Now twelve, Opal lives in a fire tower in a remote spot in New Mexico, observing and learning from her mother and grandmother while harboring a secret—she is afraid of fire. While she loves her home and learning from her mother and grandmother, she is also craving a more traditional life that includes more contact with friends and attending in-person school. When her mother is on a supply run and her grandmother goes missing, Opal is forced to face her fear head on to save those who matter most to her.

While the way Opal and her family live in their forest home might not be relatable to many readers, the author provides sufficient detail for readers to understand what her life is like in the Gila National Forest. Additional resources provide readers with further information about fires, fire management, and the setting of the book that will enhance the reading experience. This fast-paced novel in verse offers adventure and emotion in a compelling coming of age story that will appeal to fans of survival tales.