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Playing with Fire
When a fire cuts off a popular trail in the Oregon forest, a small group trapped by the flames must find another way out―or die.
Natalia is not the kind of girl who takes risks. Six years ago, she barely survived the house fire that killed her baby brother. Now she is cautious and always plays it safe. For months, her co-worker Wyatt has begged her to come hiking with him, and Natalia finally agrees.
But when a wildfire breaks out, blocking the trail back, a perfect sunny day quickly morphs into a nightmare. With no cell service, few supplies, and no clear way out of the burning forest, a group of strangers will have to become allies if they’re going to survive. Hiking in the dark, they must reach the only way out―a foot bridge over a deep canyon―before the fire catches them.
Natalia is not the kind of girl who takes risks. Six years ago, she barely survived the house fire that killed her baby brother. Now she is cautious and always plays it safe. For months, her co-worker Wyatt has begged her to come hiking with him, and Natalia finally agrees.
But when a wildfire breaks out, blocking the trail back, a perfect sunny day quickly morphs into a nightmare. With no cell service, few supplies, and no clear way out of the burning forest, a group of strangers will have to become allies if they’re going to survive. Hiking in the dark, they must reach the only way out―a foot bridge over a deep canyon―before the fire catches them.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published January 19, 2021
74 people are currently reading
4368 people want to read
About the author
April Henry
34 books3,365 followersI write mysteries and thrillers. I live in Portland, Oregon with my family.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
If you've read one of my books, I would love to hear from you. Hearing from readers makes me eager to keep writing.
When I was 12, I sent a short story about a six-foot tall frog who loved peanut butter to Roald Dahl, the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He liked it so much he arranged to have it published in an international children's magazine.
My dream of writing went dormant until I was in my 30s, working at a corporate job, and started writing books on the side. Those first few years are now thankfully a blur. Now I'm very lucky to make a living doing what I love. I have written 27 novels for adults and teens, with more on the way. My books have been on the New York Times bestseller lists, gotten starred reviews, been picked for Booksense, translated into seven languages, been named to state reading lists, won the Anthony award and won the Oregon Book Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
January 19, 2021
In two words- Loved it! It must have required tons of research, but when it is written by a master storyteller like April Henry, it all seems almost effortless. You have to wonder though about he amount of bad luck twelve people can have....Kept me reading well into the small hours.
January 19, 2021
In the history of YA novel first dates, Playing with Fire, definitely takes the cake for containing the first date most likely to make it or break it.
Yeesh! You guys! *insert wide eyed face emoji* Look, when I started reading Playing With Fire, I knew that it was going to put me through the anxiety reader ringer. It’s a YA survival thriller, about a teen girl named Natalia, who survived a fire as a child, and is now battling to survive one once again with a group of mismatched strangers, and her co-worked/date. So of course, knowing all of that, I expected that it was going to be an intense read. Spoiler alert, it was intense.
That being said, it still managed to shake me, surprise me, and keep me flipping pages into the wee hours of the morning. April Henry did a fantastic job starting this one up quickly and keeping me interested. You’re introduced to the characters, and then they are thrown right into the fire. After that these characters truly did not get a chance to take a breath, and I mean that literally and figuratively. The pace of the story is relatively quick, while still giving the reader time to invest in the characters, and even a break from the fight to survive intensity with flashes from Natalia’s past.
I don’t want to say too much more, because you just need to read this story to get the full intense feeling and desperation these characters feel to just make it out of the woods alive. I can’t say that it’s a FUN read, but it is very entertaining. I caught myself holding my breath a few times. Most of the characters will have you seriously wanting to just hold them and keep them safe. It’s a quick read, and I really flew through it. I think that if you enjoy survival thrillers that have that quickly found family vibe, and teamwork in a fight to survive, then I think you’ll enjoy this read.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
Yeesh! You guys! *insert wide eyed face emoji* Look, when I started reading Playing With Fire, I knew that it was going to put me through the anxiety reader ringer. It’s a YA survival thriller, about a teen girl named Natalia, who survived a fire as a child, and is now battling to survive one once again with a group of mismatched strangers, and her co-worked/date. So of course, knowing all of that, I expected that it was going to be an intense read. Spoiler alert, it was intense.
That being said, it still managed to shake me, surprise me, and keep me flipping pages into the wee hours of the morning. April Henry did a fantastic job starting this one up quickly and keeping me interested. You’re introduced to the characters, and then they are thrown right into the fire. After that these characters truly did not get a chance to take a breath, and I mean that literally and figuratively. The pace of the story is relatively quick, while still giving the reader time to invest in the characters, and even a break from the fight to survive intensity with flashes from Natalia’s past.
I don’t want to say too much more, because you just need to read this story to get the full intense feeling and desperation these characters feel to just make it out of the woods alive. I can’t say that it’s a FUN read, but it is very entertaining. I caught myself holding my breath a few times. Most of the characters will have you seriously wanting to just hold them and keep them safe. It’s a quick read, and I really flew through it. I think that if you enjoy survival thrillers that have that quickly found family vibe, and teamwork in a fight to survive, then I think you’ll enjoy this read.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
January 8, 2021
A YA adventure with first aid tips -- and an entertaining read. Natalia and Wyatt are heading back to their car when a forest fire cuts off the trail. When they turn around they find that there are others in the same predicament -- including children. A phone call confirms that they are on their own and must hike 20 miles to the nearest road. They will be hiking all night over dangerous bridges, behind, waterfalls, through a lake, and always trying to stay ahead of the flames. Natalia has a traumatic house fire in her past. Wyatt is an Eagle Scout. It will be up to the two of them to lead ten others (including children) to safety. How long will it take for them to realize that the person who started the fire is among them? A riveting read that reminds us of the need to always be prepared on the trail.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2020
Many thanks to EdelweissPlus and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review. All opinions are my own.
This could be one of my favorite April Henry reads to date. She always delivers fast-paced thrillers and I was SUPER intrigued when I saw the synopsis for this one. Twelve hikers find themselves trapped behind a wall of flame after a forest fire roars to life, cutting them off from the parking lot and the road home. As they set out to try to find another trail out of the wilderness and to any sign of civilization, things go from bad to worse. Night falls and they face challenges that don't just come from the fire. People start getting hurt, and their supplies are quickly dwindling. And Natalia, the one who has never hiked before and bought extra supplies to feel a bit better about the experience, is battling her own demons. Because she knows fire. Her younger brother died 6 years ago after a house fire burned down their house and he died trying to escape. The weight of that experience has haunted her for years and this seems like her nightmares coming true. Can she overcome her past in order to help the others in the group escape the fire? Or will it end in disaster?
Highly recommend. Henry's books are almost always huge hits with my students and I think this one will do even better than her others. First purchase material, and you should probably order more than one copy while you're at it.
This could be one of my favorite April Henry reads to date. She always delivers fast-paced thrillers and I was SUPER intrigued when I saw the synopsis for this one. Twelve hikers find themselves trapped behind a wall of flame after a forest fire roars to life, cutting them off from the parking lot and the road home. As they set out to try to find another trail out of the wilderness and to any sign of civilization, things go from bad to worse. Night falls and they face challenges that don't just come from the fire. People start getting hurt, and their supplies are quickly dwindling. And Natalia, the one who has never hiked before and bought extra supplies to feel a bit better about the experience, is battling her own demons. Because she knows fire. Her younger brother died 6 years ago after a house fire burned down their house and he died trying to escape. The weight of that experience has haunted her for years and this seems like her nightmares coming true. Can she overcome her past in order to help the others in the group escape the fire? Or will it end in disaster?
Highly recommend. Henry's books are almost always huge hits with my students and I think this one will do even better than her others. First purchase material, and you should probably order more than one copy while you're at it.
January 27, 2021
It's a lukewarm solid two stars but bumped it to three for the actual intended audience of this book.
April Henry's new survival story is set within one of Portland's many hiking trails where Natalia and Wyatt are hiking. They see the typical other Portlanders out and about while on the path. But when they head back, their path is blocked by fire. When they turn around and warn others going the same way, some are skeptical of a teen boy telling them what is what, and others heed the warning. The rest of the less than 250-page book is a cobbled-together group of hikers outrunning a forest fire with Eagle Scout Wyatt as the leader. As the story progresses, the reader gets snippets of Natalia's past, including a tragic accident involving her little brother and a house fire that left parts of her burned. It's no surprise that there is a happy ending to this story befitting it's intended audience. Unfortunately, I am not the intended audience. I found myself intrigued by the storyline; I mean, getting caught in a forest fire is the stuff of nightmares, but the plot was eye-rolling at times. There was no fighting amongst the group (again, a teen is in charge), and every bad thing that could happen to the group did. It was one thing after the other until they are rescued. The biggest problem I had (as an adult reading this, probably not a middle schooler) was how Wyatt and Natalia spoke and acted. Wyatt's skills were on par with that of a professional guide who's been working in the wilderness for thirty years, and Natalia's first aid expertise was that of a doctor with ten years in the ER under her belt. Completely unbelievable, but I know that there will be students intrigued by this story and will love it, especially given its size. If you are looking for something edgier, I'd recommend Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis.
April Henry's new survival story is set within one of Portland's many hiking trails where Natalia and Wyatt are hiking. They see the typical other Portlanders out and about while on the path. But when they head back, their path is blocked by fire. When they turn around and warn others going the same way, some are skeptical of a teen boy telling them what is what, and others heed the warning. The rest of the less than 250-page book is a cobbled-together group of hikers outrunning a forest fire with Eagle Scout Wyatt as the leader. As the story progresses, the reader gets snippets of Natalia's past, including a tragic accident involving her little brother and a house fire that left parts of her burned. It's no surprise that there is a happy ending to this story befitting it's intended audience. Unfortunately, I am not the intended audience. I found myself intrigued by the storyline; I mean, getting caught in a forest fire is the stuff of nightmares, but the plot was eye-rolling at times. There was no fighting amongst the group (again, a teen is in charge), and every bad thing that could happen to the group did. It was one thing after the other until they are rescued. The biggest problem I had (as an adult reading this, probably not a middle schooler) was how Wyatt and Natalia spoke and acted. Wyatt's skills were on par with that of a professional guide who's been working in the wilderness for thirty years, and Natalia's first aid expertise was that of a doctor with ten years in the ER under her belt. Completely unbelievable, but I know that there will be students intrigued by this story and will love it, especially given its size. If you are looking for something edgier, I'd recommend Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis.
January 14, 2021
This book was so anxiety inducing and dramatic.
A group of people trapped in the forest as it burns around them, trying to stay ahead of the fire until help can arrive. The main character survived a house fire as a child that unfortunately killed her baby brother and is suffering PTSD from it still to this day. The question is, can she keep her cool as things burn around her? Especially since the person who started this forest fire might just be in the group with her?
This was so fast paced and entertaining that I read it all in one sitting. However every other page, something terrible would happen and I was so over the dramatics by the end.
I really did like how the author touched on anxiety, and PTSD and how to deal with those things with some coping mechanisms while in a high pressure situation. I also loved all the hiking and survivalist knowledge I learned while reading this one.
I’m not sure if this is categorized as a thriller or not, but it was definitely a wild ride.
TW: death of a toddler, PTSD, panic attacks, FIRE.
Thanks to the publishers for giving me a copy to review!
A group of people trapped in the forest as it burns around them, trying to stay ahead of the fire until help can arrive. The main character survived a house fire as a child that unfortunately killed her baby brother and is suffering PTSD from it still to this day. The question is, can she keep her cool as things burn around her? Especially since the person who started this forest fire might just be in the group with her?
This was so fast paced and entertaining that I read it all in one sitting. However every other page, something terrible would happen and I was so over the dramatics by the end.
I really did like how the author touched on anxiety, and PTSD and how to deal with those things with some coping mechanisms while in a high pressure situation. I also loved all the hiking and survivalist knowledge I learned while reading this one.
I’m not sure if this is categorized as a thriller or not, but it was definitely a wild ride.
TW: death of a toddler, PTSD, panic attacks, FIRE.
Thanks to the publishers for giving me a copy to review!
June 30, 2024
This book was amazing! I could not put the book down! It was sad but thrilling at the same time. My favorite part is when Thrash squirms out of Natalia's arms and almost falls off the cliff and Natalia dives for him! I was shocked and really expected something extremely horrible to happen. ( They were fine)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2021
Review to be posted during the book tour
February 1, 2021
I’m a big fan of April Henry. Unfortunately, this one failed to live up to my expectations.
This is a classic case of “it’s not the book, it’s me” as many others seem to have really enjoyed this in the range of four-to-five stars. It’s completely readable, with a good balance of suspense and character building. However, I had to suspend disbelief every time one of the characters faced a life-altering experience, as everything that could go wrong did at some point or another. After awhile, I began to expect these moments, which sucked the suspense right out of the story.
To be honest, I think my entire problem with this book stemmed from the fact that it’s a carbon-copy of the climax of Henry’s Edgar-award nominated thriller, The Girl I Used To Be. But this time, the “climax” lasts for 225 pages, paired with a cast of shallow characters and a far too-sunny wrap-up.
I’m not knocking Henry’s talent of writing truly harrowing, nail-biting thrillers, as I know what she’s capable of, proof of the *excellent* Girl, Stolen duology. However, at this point in her career, I just expect so much more.
This is a classic case of “it’s not the book, it’s me” as many others seem to have really enjoyed this in the range of four-to-five stars. It’s completely readable, with a good balance of suspense and character building. However, I had to suspend disbelief every time one of the characters faced a life-altering experience, as everything that could go wrong did at some point or another. After awhile, I began to expect these moments, which sucked the suspense right out of the story.
To be honest, I think my entire problem with this book stemmed from the fact that it’s a carbon-copy of the climax of Henry’s Edgar-award nominated thriller, The Girl I Used To Be. But this time, the “climax” lasts for 225 pages, paired with a cast of shallow characters and a far too-sunny wrap-up.
I’m not knocking Henry’s talent of writing truly harrowing, nail-biting thrillers, as I know what she’s capable of, proof of the *excellent* Girl, Stolen duology. However, at this point in her career, I just expect so much more.
January 12, 2021
This book was exciting, nerve-wracking, and very well-paced! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time waiting to see how they were going to solve their next challenge.
I like that the plot started almost right off the bat. The first chapter told us how the fire was started and then jumped into the story in the second chapter.
As well, when I say this book was nerve-wracking, I mean it! Literally everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Someone got hurt, or sick, or nearly died in every chapter. I was so anxious by the end and half convinced that I would never hike again. Hahah. But I liked that it kept me so intrigued with what would happen next and invested in the characters. It was truly a page turner.
Something else I enjoyed, that was kinda a small thing, were the time stamps on each chapter. It helped me to keep track of how things were going for them, but I also just thought it was interesting and a nice touch to the story. Speaking of time, we also get a few flashbacks of Natalia's to help us understand what happened to her and her family all those years ago. It was sad and heartbreaking and really helped me to connect a little better to the character.
Also, the characters were so wonderfully written and diverse and I loved them. Everyone had to their quirks and weaknesses and strengths and I loved learning about these things. Also, the author is juggling a lot of characters here, twelve to be exact, but I felt like she did a good job of keeping up with each character. I didn't really feel like there were any that were swept under the rug or that I didn't get to know very well so I was happy about that.
I was also happy to see there was a little bit of romance. Nothing big and crazy, but just enough to make me smile.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. The second to last chapter ended with them in a precarious situation and then the last chapter was where they were one year later. It gave a small recap of what happened after that situation and how things were resolved, but it didn't let us live through it. I felt like I was being cheated of the experience. After having suffered with the characters through so much, I didn't get to live through the resolution with them
Overall, I was very happy with this survival book. I don't read very many like it so I'm glad I got a good introduction to the genre. This book was a good read and if you enjoy books of strength, heartache, and survival, you'll definitely enjoy this one.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I like that the plot started almost right off the bat. The first chapter told us how the fire was started and then jumped into the story in the second chapter.
As well, when I say this book was nerve-wracking, I mean it! Literally everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Someone got hurt, or sick, or nearly died in every chapter. I was so anxious by the end and half convinced that I would never hike again. Hahah. But I liked that it kept me so intrigued with what would happen next and invested in the characters. It was truly a page turner.
Something else I enjoyed, that was kinda a small thing, were the time stamps on each chapter. It helped me to keep track of how things were going for them, but I also just thought it was interesting and a nice touch to the story. Speaking of time, we also get a few flashbacks of Natalia's to help us understand what happened to her and her family all those years ago. It was sad and heartbreaking and really helped me to connect a little better to the character.
Also, the characters were so wonderfully written and diverse and I loved them. Everyone had to their quirks and weaknesses and strengths and I loved learning about these things. Also, the author is juggling a lot of characters here, twelve to be exact, but I felt like she did a good job of keeping up with each character. I didn't really feel like there were any that were swept under the rug or that I didn't get to know very well so I was happy about that.
I was also happy to see there was a little bit of romance. Nothing big and crazy, but just enough to make me smile.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. The second to last chapter ended with them in a precarious situation and then the last chapter was where they were one year later. It gave a small recap of what happened after that situation and how things were resolved, but it didn't let us live through it. I felt like I was being cheated of the experience. After having suffered with the characters through so much, I didn't get to live through the resolution with them
Overall, I was very happy with this survival book. I don't read very many like it so I'm glad I got a good introduction to the genre. This book was a good read and if you enjoy books of strength, heartache, and survival, you'll definitely enjoy this one.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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January 20, 2021
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Shockingly enough, this happens to be my first April Henry book. I promise it won't be my last, though! Playing With Fire was intense and exciting from start to finish. Natalia and her co-worker (but she hopes maybe more) Wyatt go for a hike, and are thrown into some serious chaos with some other strangers who also just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. But they soon realize that if they want to survive, they're going to have to work together.
Adding to the chaos, the fire starter happens to be in the woods, as well. None of the group is prepared for anything more than a calm afternoon walk, so they're short on supplies and the stakes could not be higher. Natalia also has some significant past trauma related to fire, and she must overcome that in order for herself and the group to make it out.
I loved that the author was able to make all the characters seem so relatable. You wanted this group of everyday, decent folks to make it out, desperately. Natalia's personal story was incredibly emotional, and added a layer to the story. I also really appreciated that the author appropriately touched on some mental health issues during the ordeal, because it was incredibly realistic that this would trigger some pretty serious responses from Natalia.
I think the only thing I'd have personally changed about the story is that while we're given the story from Natalia's perspective, it is a third person narrative, and I may have felt more connected to Natalia had she been the narrator. But otherwise, it was a fast-paced, high stakes story that I simply couldn't put down!
Bottom Line: Playing With Fire kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, cheering on the relatable characters as they fought for survival at every turn.
Shockingly enough, this happens to be my first April Henry book. I promise it won't be my last, though! Playing With Fire was intense and exciting from start to finish. Natalia and her co-worker (but she hopes maybe more) Wyatt go for a hike, and are thrown into some serious chaos with some other strangers who also just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. But they soon realize that if they want to survive, they're going to have to work together.
Adding to the chaos, the fire starter happens to be in the woods, as well. None of the group is prepared for anything more than a calm afternoon walk, so they're short on supplies and the stakes could not be higher. Natalia also has some significant past trauma related to fire, and she must overcome that in order for herself and the group to make it out.
I loved that the author was able to make all the characters seem so relatable. You wanted this group of everyday, decent folks to make it out, desperately. Natalia's personal story was incredibly emotional, and added a layer to the story. I also really appreciated that the author appropriately touched on some mental health issues during the ordeal, because it was incredibly realistic that this would trigger some pretty serious responses from Natalia.
I think the only thing I'd have personally changed about the story is that while we're given the story from Natalia's perspective, it is a third person narrative, and I may have felt more connected to Natalia had she been the narrator. But otherwise, it was a fast-paced, high stakes story that I simply couldn't put down!
Bottom Line: Playing With Fire kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish, cheering on the relatable characters as they fought for survival at every turn.
January 26, 2021
A short, enjoyable and easy read. It’s not anything special, and a bit silly, but definitely worth reading.
Six years ago, Natalia survived a house fire in which her baby brother died. Now, she is always cautious and never takes risks. After much nagging from her coworker Wyatt, she finally agrees to go hiking with him. During their hike, a wildfire breaks out, blocking the trail back to civilisation, and the perfect sunny day quickly morphs into a nightmare. They have no cell service, few supplies and no clear way out of the burning forest. They become allies with a group of strangers in order to survive, and together they must battle injuries, wild animals, and even a criminal on the run, whilst at the same time trying to escape a deadly fire that races to overtake them.
This was a good book but I’m not sure it’s that memorable - I don’t think I’ll be thinking about it for long now that I’ve finished it. The setting was interesting, and you could really feel the need to urgently escape the fire as it was always on the characters’ heels. The plot was a bit silly - everything that could possibly go wrong did, but I didn’t mind this as it made the book much more interesting and ensured that it was fast-paced.
Natalia was a really strong lead and I liked her, alongside Wyatt, but I didn’t particularly care for much of the other characters. I loved the dog - Blue - though. Susan was a great character, and it was interesting to read about how her Alzheimer’s was affecting her during the attempt to escape. There is a spot of romance in this book that is quite predictable, but it wasn’t a huge part of the story, and it was nice to see it develop throughout the book.
I have to hand it to the author for the amount of research she must have done in order to write this book. We have characters with asthma, Alzheimer’s, and severe allergies, which I loved reading about. I actually learned a lot whilst reading - what to do when someone goes into anaphylactic shock, and how epipens work, for example. We also see the main character treating someone who has severe burns. These are just a few things that April Henry put a lot of effort into whilst writing, and she wrote them very well.
Like I said, this wasn’t an amazing book, and was quite silly and unrealistic in parts, but it was definitely enjoyable. It won’t take you long to read, because it’s very short. It was good to escape into this story over the course of a day.
3/5 stars.
Six years ago, Natalia survived a house fire in which her baby brother died. Now, she is always cautious and never takes risks. After much nagging from her coworker Wyatt, she finally agrees to go hiking with him. During their hike, a wildfire breaks out, blocking the trail back to civilisation, and the perfect sunny day quickly morphs into a nightmare. They have no cell service, few supplies and no clear way out of the burning forest. They become allies with a group of strangers in order to survive, and together they must battle injuries, wild animals, and even a criminal on the run, whilst at the same time trying to escape a deadly fire that races to overtake them.
This was a good book but I’m not sure it’s that memorable - I don’t think I’ll be thinking about it for long now that I’ve finished it. The setting was interesting, and you could really feel the need to urgently escape the fire as it was always on the characters’ heels. The plot was a bit silly - everything that could possibly go wrong did, but I didn’t mind this as it made the book much more interesting and ensured that it was fast-paced.
Natalia was a really strong lead and I liked her, alongside Wyatt, but I didn’t particularly care for much of the other characters. I loved the dog - Blue - though. Susan was a great character, and it was interesting to read about how her Alzheimer’s was affecting her during the attempt to escape. There is a spot of romance in this book that is quite predictable, but it wasn’t a huge part of the story, and it was nice to see it develop throughout the book.
I have to hand it to the author for the amount of research she must have done in order to write this book. We have characters with asthma, Alzheimer’s, and severe allergies, which I loved reading about. I actually learned a lot whilst reading - what to do when someone goes into anaphylactic shock, and how epipens work, for example. We also see the main character treating someone who has severe burns. These are just a few things that April Henry put a lot of effort into whilst writing, and she wrote them very well.
Like I said, this wasn’t an amazing book, and was quite silly and unrealistic in parts, but it was definitely enjoyable. It won’t take you long to read, because it’s very short. It was good to escape into this story over the course of a day.
3/5 stars.
May 5, 2021
Though there are things about this book I found infuriating, there’s no denying this is an action-packed drama that will (in all probability) highly entertain teen readers. It took me less than three hours to finish, and I was rather surprised to learn this was based on a real-life event as the whole thing seemed exaggerated beyond belief.
The story begins surprisingly oddly, with someone staging a get-away and preparing to burn out their car as part of a plan. We don’t know what they’ve done...but we get to see the very dangerous consequences of their actions.
Then we cut to Natalia, on her first date with co-worker Wyatt. They’ve gone hiking in the woods. Exhausted, they’re keen to get home...but they are forced to turn back when they realise there’s a forest fire.
Very quickly this fire becomes life-threatening. They end up as part of a group of walkers, stranded in the forest and fighting for survival.
It would be easy to criticise the formulaic nature of this. Every chapter seems to bring a new disaster to allow Natalia to show off her amazing first aid skills, and I find it hard to believe that so many things could have gone wrong. She’s battling her own demons and we get regular reminders of these. The other characters become a problem to sort out, and by the time we’re wrapped up it felt it was high time. The closing section was tied up rather abruptly, but Natalia got closure and we got a little update to let us know how each was affected by that day.
Don’t look too closely, and this will probably be a winner. It was certainly an interesting idea.
The story begins surprisingly oddly, with someone staging a get-away and preparing to burn out their car as part of a plan. We don’t know what they’ve done...but we get to see the very dangerous consequences of their actions.
Then we cut to Natalia, on her first date with co-worker Wyatt. They’ve gone hiking in the woods. Exhausted, they’re keen to get home...but they are forced to turn back when they realise there’s a forest fire.
Very quickly this fire becomes life-threatening. They end up as part of a group of walkers, stranded in the forest and fighting for survival.
It would be easy to criticise the formulaic nature of this. Every chapter seems to bring a new disaster to allow Natalia to show off her amazing first aid skills, and I find it hard to believe that so many things could have gone wrong. She’s battling her own demons and we get regular reminders of these. The other characters become a problem to sort out, and by the time we’re wrapped up it felt it was high time. The closing section was tied up rather abruptly, but Natalia got closure and we got a little update to let us know how each was affected by that day.
Don’t look too closely, and this will probably be a winner. It was certainly an interesting idea.
January 16, 2021
This book starts with a guy burning a car in the middle of a forest and how one spark can change the course of many lives. Playing with Fire by April Henry was inspired by a real incident called the Eagle Creek Fire which happened in the Columbia River Gorge in 2017 when a 15-year-old boy lit a firework during a burn ban. In our forest are Natalia and her co-worker Wyatt on their first date as he suggested hiking. They are the first ones to notice the fire and smell it. For Natalia, this is a huge deal as for the past six years she has made it her goal to avoid the fire of any kind and little children as a tragic accident occurred and landed her in the hospital with burns. Along the way they met several groups of hikers and together they are trapped in the forest and now have to work together to survive and find a way out of the fire, the group contains all ages and issues from diabetes to dementia to panic attacks. However, as the book progresses and they work to help one another, someone is sabotaging the members of the group and doesn't want them to survive the night as if they do, then his secret is out. I liked this book and liked the variety of characters and personalities that April Henry had written as they all made the book with their quirks and flaws. Playing with Fire by April Henry was a medium-paced novel and if you love hyperfiction and books inspired by true events, then check out this YA thriller.
January 7, 2021
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Thriller / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Playing by Fire, by author April Henry, is a story of survival against almost impossible odds. This book is inspired by real life events. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire Columbia Gorge which was started by a 15-year-old playing with fireworks. 17-year old Natalia avoids risks after surviving a house fire as a child, but she agrees to go on a day hike with Wyatt, a friend and outdoors enthusiast. When a forest fire erupts leaving them along with 10 others stranded in the woods trying to find their way to safety, Natalia knows first hand just how bad fire can be.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Thriller / Suspense
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Playing by Fire, by author April Henry, is a story of survival against almost impossible odds. This book is inspired by real life events. The 2017 Eagle Creek Fire Columbia Gorge which was started by a 15-year-old playing with fireworks. 17-year old Natalia avoids risks after surviving a house fire as a child, but she agrees to go on a day hike with Wyatt, a friend and outdoors enthusiast. When a forest fire erupts leaving them along with 10 others stranded in the woods trying to find their way to safety, Natalia knows first hand just how bad fire can be.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 25, 2021
I couldn't help but feel woefully underwhelmed with this one.
I hate to compare this book to the author's previous work, but I gotta say that this book did not fill the expectations I had based on reading amazing books like "Girl Stolen" and "The Girl Who Was Supposed To Die."
The problem for me was that the book was painfully repetitive. Someone would endure a horrible injury, whether physical or medical. Everyone would panic. Natalia would remember her Red Cross training and save the day. The person injured would be completely fine. Then, after a few pages describing their journey through the forest, the cycle would repeat. Over and over and over again, the exact same events, until the book ends.
Needless to say, this book completely lacked in any stakes. It took reading two people having zero repercussions from their near-death experiences to realize that there was no way anyone was actually going to die, which made for a very boring read. It just felt like everything that could possibly go wrong did, but it was instantly solved. This made even the climax of the story fall completely flat.
The other aspects of the book also failed to impress me. The cast of characters is unnecessarily big, and no one had any character traits that stood out, which made every character blend together. It honestly just felt like some characters existed purely to have something bad happen to them to add "suspense" to the plot.
Also, it really bothered me how nice everyone was? Like, immediately when they're trapped in the situation together, they act like a huge team and sacrifice so much for each and never question each other's loyalties, which the exception of Jason who is a jerk, but that's to be expected since he's a criminal who started the fire. I felt that it would've added a very interesting twist had there been a situation where a character betrayed the others for their own personal gain, like trapped the others someplace because a helicopter was coming and they wanted to be the one on it, or something like that. I just find it hard to believe that these people would be so selfless to complete strangers.
I also really wish the author had delved further into the trauma Natalia endured. There's several flashbacks from her that tell the story of what happened the day her little brother died, and then a single memory of the first time she went to the psychiatrist, but that's it. All her trauma really amounts to in the book is just a trick her doctor taught her to ground herself, which is to name five things you can see, four you can hear, etc. Besides that, it's just random mentions of feeling scared of fire. I would have found the book much more interesting had Natalia's trauma been more in depth and interesting.
Moving on, the romance in the book is about as interesting as watching paint dry. The entire arc of romance is as follows; Natalia feels nervous about being on date with boy. Bad things happen, etc etc, and Natalia admires boy. They sit together one time and Natalia can help but mention that they care, dare I say, touching. More bad things happen, and then Natalia and boy kiss. The end. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is literally all that happens. Read the book if you don't believe me. The romance wasn't even relevant enough in my eyes to be deemed a subplot, so I don't understand why it's there at all. Literally nothing would change in this book if Natalia and Wyatt were friends, except for the lack of a minor kissing scene.
And finally, the ending to this book was like running into a brick wall. I was honestly shocked when I was reading to find that the chapter was titled "Epilogue," and had to flip the page back to make sure I didn't accidentally skip anything. Basically, the climax occurred (and by climax, I just mean the worse bad thing happened) and then BAM. The book was over. They were still in the forest! They were nowhere close to rescue! It wasn't even like they reached their final destination and had finally acquired cell phone service or whatever. They literally were still stuck in the middle of the forest after resolving the crisis, and then all of a sudden it's a year later. They didn't even address how they were saved! It was probably the least satisfying ending I have ever read in my life. A lazy ending where suddenly a helicopter comes and saved them and everything was fine would have been better.
In conclusion, this book was quite disappointing, as it just felt like a watered down, formulated mystery with an unremarkable cast and horrible ending. At the very least, it's a quick and easy read for my reading challenge.
I hate to compare this book to the author's previous work, but I gotta say that this book did not fill the expectations I had based on reading amazing books like "Girl Stolen" and "The Girl Who Was Supposed To Die."
The problem for me was that the book was painfully repetitive. Someone would endure a horrible injury, whether physical or medical. Everyone would panic. Natalia would remember her Red Cross training and save the day. The person injured would be completely fine. Then, after a few pages describing their journey through the forest, the cycle would repeat. Over and over and over again, the exact same events, until the book ends.
Needless to say, this book completely lacked in any stakes. It took reading two people having zero repercussions from their near-death experiences to realize that there was no way anyone was actually going to die, which made for a very boring read. It just felt like everything that could possibly go wrong did, but it was instantly solved. This made even the climax of the story fall completely flat.
The other aspects of the book also failed to impress me. The cast of characters is unnecessarily big, and no one had any character traits that stood out, which made every character blend together. It honestly just felt like some characters existed purely to have something bad happen to them to add "suspense" to the plot.
Also, it really bothered me how nice everyone was? Like, immediately when they're trapped in the situation together, they act like a huge team and sacrifice so much for each and never question each other's loyalties, which the exception of Jason who is a jerk, but that's to be expected since he's a criminal who started the fire. I felt that it would've added a very interesting twist had there been a situation where a character betrayed the others for their own personal gain, like trapped the others someplace because a helicopter was coming and they wanted to be the one on it, or something like that. I just find it hard to believe that these people would be so selfless to complete strangers.
I also really wish the author had delved further into the trauma Natalia endured. There's several flashbacks from her that tell the story of what happened the day her little brother died, and then a single memory of the first time she went to the psychiatrist, but that's it. All her trauma really amounts to in the book is just a trick her doctor taught her to ground herself, which is to name five things you can see, four you can hear, etc. Besides that, it's just random mentions of feeling scared of fire. I would have found the book much more interesting had Natalia's trauma been more in depth and interesting.
Moving on, the romance in the book is about as interesting as watching paint dry. The entire arc of romance is as follows; Natalia feels nervous about being on date with boy. Bad things happen, etc etc, and Natalia admires boy. They sit together one time and Natalia can help but mention that they care, dare I say, touching. More bad things happen, and then Natalia and boy kiss. The end. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is literally all that happens. Read the book if you don't believe me. The romance wasn't even relevant enough in my eyes to be deemed a subplot, so I don't understand why it's there at all. Literally nothing would change in this book if Natalia and Wyatt were friends, except for the lack of a minor kissing scene.
And finally, the ending to this book was like running into a brick wall. I was honestly shocked when I was reading to find that the chapter was titled "Epilogue," and had to flip the page back to make sure I didn't accidentally skip anything. Basically, the climax occurred (and by climax, I just mean the worse bad thing happened) and then BAM. The book was over. They were still in the forest! They were nowhere close to rescue! It wasn't even like they reached their final destination and had finally acquired cell phone service or whatever. They literally were still stuck in the middle of the forest after resolving the crisis, and then all of a sudden it's a year later. They didn't even address how they were saved! It was probably the least satisfying ending I have ever read in my life. A lazy ending where suddenly a helicopter comes and saved them and everything was fine would have been better.
In conclusion, this book was quite disappointing, as it just felt like a watered down, formulated mystery with an unremarkable cast and horrible ending. At the very least, it's a quick and easy read for my reading challenge.
April 13, 2022
This wasn't too bad. There was constantly action; the second you turned the page, another bad thing happened to the characters in the story. Because there was constant action, it did keep me busy and interested in reading the book. However, because it's also leaning on the survival aspect, it just so happens that the two most main characters knew a lot about first aid and survival. It felt a little cheesy in the aspect that they knew so much, but I guess this story wouldn't have been much without that. You learn a lot since April Henry put in a lot of what-to-dos for different scenarios. Typical survival in the woods story.
January 29, 2021
"When this fire started, we were just a group of strangers. But now we're pulling together. It's not just me or you, not anymore. It's all of us."
Traumatized by the fire that stole her brother and left her scarred, Natalia has developed an aversion to risks. When she finally agrees to a day hike with her handsome coworker, Wyatt, she could have never predicted that a wildfire would block their trail back into civilization. Banding together with a ragtag group of other hikers, Natalia finds her anxieties and fears pushed to the limit as she and her newfound companions race against hungry flames.
Stories of survival are always interesting to me, and so it was no surprise that I was at least mildly intrigued by the synopsis of Playing with Fire. This short, fast-paced book is one that I read in a handful of hours. 2.5 stars.
To be perfectly honest, there's nothing particularly bad about this book, but there's also not anything that makes it stand out for me. Narrated by Natalia, the book follows her harrowing journey through the woods to outrun one of her greatest fears: fire. Combined with memories of the previous housefire that killed her baby brother and severely injured her, the book is one that shows the strength of one's will. Natalia's fears battle with her instinct for survival, and she finds herself to be an important member of their group.
"... if you're hoping you'll be like you were before, you'll wait forever. You're going to become something completely different."
The only thing I didn't like was that it was just one problem after another, to the point that it was almost comedic. Natalia is Red Cross certified, and out of the group that numbers nearly a dozen, about half of them have some sort of medical episode that Natalia has to attend to. At one point, I actually said, "Oh, come on!" when yet another hiker experienced a medical emergency.
I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was just an okay read for me. But as a library employee, I think that this book (and likely other books by this author) will be ones that I suggest to reluctant or struggling YA readers.
September 26, 2021
There was no suspense in this book because every time anything happened Natalia and Wyatt always immediately knew exactly what to do. Wyatt was an Eagle Scout, so of course he knows what to do in every single situation with barely a thought. And Natalia took a Red Cross class once a year, so of course she's a medical expert who can instantly diagnose and fix everything.
I think there were 11 or 12 people in the group altogether. Wyatt and Natalia were both 17 or 18 and there were 2 young kids. Everyone else was an adult older than Wyatt and Natalia, but none of them ever did anything. The other characters were basically just there for Natalia to save. Literally. Almost every single character at some point had a medical problem or were in danger and Natalia ended up saving them.
That was the whole formula of the book: they'd hike, one of the characters would end up in a life threatening situation, Natalia would save them, everyone would praise her, they'd carry on, they'd end up in a dead end situation, Wyatt would solve the problem, they'd move on. Rinse and repeat.
At no point do you ever really fear for the characters, because you know Natalia or Wyatt (almost always Natalia) would save them. The most eye rolling part of everything was how Natalia always just knew what was wrong with someone. One character said he fell and thought he broke his collarbone and this was Natalia's instant internal response even though she was nowhere near him when he fell and was standing 30 feet away from him when he said it:
'His self- diagnosis sounded right to Natalia. It was a common result of what doctors called FOOSH- Falling On Outstretched Hand, the most frequent mechanism of injury.'
And then when they get to safety and Natalia is in the hospital, this happens:
'... the emergency department doctor, a guy about her parents' age, sought her out.
"Everyone keeps telling me about how you took care of some big medical emergencies out there in the woods," he said. "This is what I do for a living, but I've got staff and supplies and even machines. You had nothing but a little first aid kit."
Natalia shrugged, embarrassed.'
She was just such a medical genius.
I think there were 11 or 12 people in the group altogether. Wyatt and Natalia were both 17 or 18 and there were 2 young kids. Everyone else was an adult older than Wyatt and Natalia, but none of them ever did anything. The other characters were basically just there for Natalia to save. Literally. Almost every single character at some point had a medical problem or were in danger and Natalia ended up saving them.
That was the whole formula of the book: they'd hike, one of the characters would end up in a life threatening situation, Natalia would save them, everyone would praise her, they'd carry on, they'd end up in a dead end situation, Wyatt would solve the problem, they'd move on. Rinse and repeat.
At no point do you ever really fear for the characters, because you know Natalia or Wyatt (almost always Natalia) would save them. The most eye rolling part of everything was how Natalia always just knew what was wrong with someone. One character said he fell and thought he broke his collarbone and this was Natalia's instant internal response even though she was nowhere near him when he fell and was standing 30 feet away from him when he said it:
'His self- diagnosis sounded right to Natalia. It was a common result of what doctors called FOOSH- Falling On Outstretched Hand, the most frequent mechanism of injury.'
And then when they get to safety and Natalia is in the hospital, this happens:
'... the emergency department doctor, a guy about her parents' age, sought her out.
"Everyone keeps telling me about how you took care of some big medical emergencies out there in the woods," he said. "This is what I do for a living, but I've got staff and supplies and even machines. You had nothing but a little first aid kit."
Natalia shrugged, embarrassed.'
She was just such a medical genius.
January 30, 2021
Natalia and Wyatt take a trip to a hiking trail. On their way out their path is blocked by the raging forest fire. They and a few other groups who were also on the trail have to race through dangerous terrain with a fire on their back keeping them moving farther into the forest. As they make their way through the trails trying to reach a road, they face many situations that test their patient and their knowledge.
First I think that the book started off really well giving us some background on how the forest fire started, which you kind off forget as you read most of the book, but I like that, that information comes full circle and ties things together in the end. So, this book is more than just getting lost in the woods with a forest fire, it about a crime that caused it. I wish that more of the story was about that, but I also understand it wasn’t the focus of the book.
I also have very mixed feelings on how the people act in the book. The kids are the adults in this book. They are the ones prepared, they are the ones who know how to handle all the various life or death situations that the group encounters. I am mixed on this because I understand and partly like that the reason who this is because the book wanted them to be the ones to save the day, but I also think that those adults should have been a little smarter. I mean they provided basically no help at all in the situation and were the main cause for most of the problems that happened.
Another thing I have mixed feelings about is how many things go wrong. I mean every chapter there is another problem. I think that this definitely keeps the book entertaining and moving forward. There is no dull moment in this story. But it also got to a point where it’s like okay these people are cursed. I could also guess a lot of the problems that were going to happen before they did. There were numerous things that foreshadowed what would happen, so none of it was really a shock.
I have read two other books by April Henry and this is my least favorite out of them, but even with that said it was a nice short read.
First I think that the book started off really well giving us some background on how the forest fire started, which you kind off forget as you read most of the book, but I like that, that information comes full circle and ties things together in the end. So, this book is more than just getting lost in the woods with a forest fire, it about a crime that caused it. I wish that more of the story was about that, but I also understand it wasn’t the focus of the book.
I also have very mixed feelings on how the people act in the book. The kids are the adults in this book. They are the ones prepared, they are the ones who know how to handle all the various life or death situations that the group encounters. I am mixed on this because I understand and partly like that the reason who this is because the book wanted them to be the ones to save the day, but I also think that those adults should have been a little smarter. I mean they provided basically no help at all in the situation and were the main cause for most of the problems that happened.
Another thing I have mixed feelings about is how many things go wrong. I mean every chapter there is another problem. I think that this definitely keeps the book entertaining and moving forward. There is no dull moment in this story. But it also got to a point where it’s like okay these people are cursed. I could also guess a lot of the problems that were going to happen before they did. There were numerous things that foreshadowed what would happen, so none of it was really a shock.
I have read two other books by April Henry and this is my least favorite out of them, but even with that said it was a nice short read.
August 28, 2022
Natalia has never been hiking before, and when her co worker Wyatt finds out he vows to remedy that. What Wyatt doesn't know is that Natalia has spent nearly ten years avoiding any risk. That means dogs, sports, and anything remotely scary. Hiking has been on that list.
When Natalia was eleven, she survived a traumatic event that claimed her baby brother. She has blamed herself ever since, despite her young age at the time. Years of therapy has helped her function day to day and now she has to admit, the hike and time spent next to a waterfall has been a nice change. Until they begin to smell smoke.
Suddenly hyper aware to danger, Natalia can't believe what she is looking at - a wall of flame where they had walked through hours earlier. Turning around they tell anyone left at the waterfall that they need to leave - now!
Now in a group of twelve people aged from one year old to a woman in her 70's, they must flee. Luckily Wyatt is more than competent in the wilderness and quick to take the lead. As smoke swirls around them and the roar of the fire is a constant, Natalia goes back to that terrible time that defined her life so far. She has beaten fire once, she has the scars on her legs to prove it. Can she do it again?
Although looking perfectly healthy at the side of a picturesque waterfall only hours before, among the twelve hikers are a diabetic, a woman with dementia, a child allergic to bees and an asthmatic.
The raging fire is relentless, there is no cell phone service and no one knows they are there. What makes things even worse is the person who lit the fire in the first place is also among them and keen to escape more than the fire.
An exciting read from an accomplished and proven thriller writer, Playing With Fire switches back and forth in time as main character Natalia's personal battles with loss, pain, guilt and blame are laid out for the reader.
The vulnerabilities among the group rachet up the tension, and it's refreshing that there are no egos in the mix as they flee the flames. Lots of handy survival tips are scattered through the novel for anyone interested in bush lore.
When Natalia was eleven, she survived a traumatic event that claimed her baby brother. She has blamed herself ever since, despite her young age at the time. Years of therapy has helped her function day to day and now she has to admit, the hike and time spent next to a waterfall has been a nice change. Until they begin to smell smoke.
Suddenly hyper aware to danger, Natalia can't believe what she is looking at - a wall of flame where they had walked through hours earlier. Turning around they tell anyone left at the waterfall that they need to leave - now!
Now in a group of twelve people aged from one year old to a woman in her 70's, they must flee. Luckily Wyatt is more than competent in the wilderness and quick to take the lead. As smoke swirls around them and the roar of the fire is a constant, Natalia goes back to that terrible time that defined her life so far. She has beaten fire once, she has the scars on her legs to prove it. Can she do it again?
Although looking perfectly healthy at the side of a picturesque waterfall only hours before, among the twelve hikers are a diabetic, a woman with dementia, a child allergic to bees and an asthmatic.
The raging fire is relentless, there is no cell phone service and no one knows they are there. What makes things even worse is the person who lit the fire in the first place is also among them and keen to escape more than the fire.
An exciting read from an accomplished and proven thriller writer, Playing With Fire switches back and forth in time as main character Natalia's personal battles with loss, pain, guilt and blame are laid out for the reader.
The vulnerabilities among the group rachet up the tension, and it's refreshing that there are no egos in the mix as they flee the flames. Lots of handy survival tips are scattered through the novel for anyone interested in bush lore.
January 20, 2021
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*an advanced copy of the book was provided by the tour organizer and publisher via netgalley
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my thoughts:
natalia should enjoy her first hike, especially since she was spending it with wyatt. charming wyatt, who convinced her to go on this trip. however, a great fire ignited, blocking their way home, and natalia had a past with fire that was still haunting her. together with other people, they had to travel to their only exit, which was miles away. either they wait for the fire to devour them or they die trying to get away from it.
each of the character had their own hell to face, and it was not helping that a fire was chasing them. along the way, with wyatt acting as their team leader, natalia and their companions faced challenges that brought their wills to the test. one’s knee dislocated, one experienced a panic attack, but thanks to natalia and wyatt’s knowledge medically and psychologically, they were able to conquer such struggles. one of the things that i loved was how the author explained the medical and psychological happenings that occurred, providing enough details for readers to understand the procedures natalia and wyatt were exercising. natalia’s trauma, although very sad, added a spice to the plot and was very relevant to her development as a character. her trauma motivated her to conquer it, which was empowering.
a fast-paced story, which was also plot-driven as the turn of events did not always go with the characters’ expectations. they would reach a finish line, only to find out they were on another starting line. with suspense incorporated, making me breathless and scared for their lives, proving that i was greatly attached and was rooting for them. from now on, i will watch out for more of april henry. she delivered a story about survival and courage, which branded itself to my heart.
*an advanced copy of the book was provided by the tour organizer and publisher via netgalley
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February 8, 2021
**Trigger Warnings** Asthma Attack, Child Death, Anaphylaxis.
This book was intense. I expected injury and possible death given the plotline of this YA survival novel. The child death is unrelated to the survival portions of the book but took place in Natalia's past with the death of her younger brother. It is not graphic but does include a scene describing what happened during the fire that took his life when Natalia was younger.
Natalia is now faced with her past while fighting for survival. This book will keep you on your tows from beginning to end. I haven't read very many survival stories but I enjoyed this one. I liked that it was a group of people working together to survive their situation and that the characters were of different ages and stages of their lives, and some were related while others weren't. Each one of them learn to trust each other and work together as they face some very scary instances that include coming across a mama bear and her cubs, falling trees, and rushing water all while trying to escape the fire coming for them.
This book is about facing your fears both physically and mentally. I really liked that the MC attended therapy after her brothers death and that the techniques she's learned to help her cope with her PTSD are applied throughout her experiences she's faced with on this crazy rollercoaster.
If you're not easily triggered by the warnings above than I would recommend this. It kept me on my toes and wanting to find my next survival story!
This book was intense. I expected injury and possible death given the plotline of this YA survival novel. The child death is unrelated to the survival portions of the book but took place in Natalia's past with the death of her younger brother. It is not graphic but does include a scene describing what happened during the fire that took his life when Natalia was younger.
Natalia is now faced with her past while fighting for survival. This book will keep you on your tows from beginning to end. I haven't read very many survival stories but I enjoyed this one. I liked that it was a group of people working together to survive their situation and that the characters were of different ages and stages of their lives, and some were related while others weren't. Each one of them learn to trust each other and work together as they face some very scary instances that include coming across a mama bear and her cubs, falling trees, and rushing water all while trying to escape the fire coming for them.
This book is about facing your fears both physically and mentally. I really liked that the MC attended therapy after her brothers death and that the techniques she's learned to help her cope with her PTSD are applied throughout her experiences she's faced with on this crazy rollercoaster.
If you're not easily triggered by the warnings above than I would recommend this. It kept me on my toes and wanting to find my next survival story!
December 20, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up.
Well written, descriptive, and fast paced (and short!), Playing With Fire follows 12 people in a desperate race to escape a raging wildfire. It was a lot of characters to juggle and, as such, it was easy to either forget about them or accidentally conflated them, but Henry kept them distinct by giving each character a set of one-on-one encounters with main character Natalia. That's how you handle a large cast without relying on stereotypes instead of characterization.
The one thing that I struggled with, though, was the sheer amount of stuff that went wrong. It was a Murphy's Law hike: literally anything you might think could go wrong did. We have a panic attack, an athsma attack, anyphalactic shock (I probably spelled that horribly wrong), diabetic rapid blood sugar loss, falls, slips, stumbles, broken or dislocated bones. Like... It was an entire season of Grey's Anatomy in one 250 page book.
But because of the pacing and the clear distinction of characters, it was a fast and entertaining read. And, as someone whose biggest fear is house fires, it was occasionally rather hard to read.
{Thank you Fierce Reads for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
Well written, descriptive, and fast paced (and short!), Playing With Fire follows 12 people in a desperate race to escape a raging wildfire. It was a lot of characters to juggle and, as such, it was easy to either forget about them or accidentally conflated them, but Henry kept them distinct by giving each character a set of one-on-one encounters with main character Natalia. That's how you handle a large cast without relying on stereotypes instead of characterization.
The one thing that I struggled with, though, was the sheer amount of stuff that went wrong. It was a Murphy's Law hike: literally anything you might think could go wrong did. We have a panic attack, an athsma attack, anyphalactic shock (I probably spelled that horribly wrong), diabetic rapid blood sugar loss, falls, slips, stumbles, broken or dislocated bones. Like... It was an entire season of Grey's Anatomy in one 250 page book.
But because of the pacing and the clear distinction of characters, it was a fast and entertaining read. And, as someone whose biggest fear is house fires, it was occasionally rather hard to read.
{Thank you Fierce Reads for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}
October 26, 2021
Based on a real event that you find about at the end of the story, this quickly-paced, heart-pounding story of survival in the woods with a raging wildfire is classic Henry. This is why she's the first author I go to for readers who want action. Natalia and Wyatt, a boy she works with who are on their quasi-first date on a hike encounter a fast-moving wildfire that prevents them from getting back to their car.... and a whole bunch of other hikers, some prepared, others less so. Luckily Wyatt has scouting experience and can help but Natalia has a bit of a secret-- she was in a horrific fire accident when she was a child that is flashed back to.
Henry never needs to be too mysterious and withhold information in the name of mystery because she writes straightforwardly and often in that "24" type countdown on the page to make you feel time ticking by. While a few of the continued health issues of the bunch got a little overindulgent, so much can go wrong in the wilderness and what she shared (through Wyatt especially) was informative and instructional.
Then it ends and fast-forwards to make it satisfying and quick.
Henry never needs to be too mysterious and withhold information in the name of mystery because she writes straightforwardly and often in that "24" type countdown on the page to make you feel time ticking by. While a few of the continued health issues of the bunch got a little overindulgent, so much can go wrong in the wilderness and what she shared (through Wyatt especially) was informative and instructional.
Then it ends and fast-forwards to make it satisfying and quick.
April 13, 2023
Trigger warnings: bushfire, house fire (in the past), death of a sibling (in the past), arson, theft, medical emergency, grief, anaphylaxis, PTSD
I've always really enjoyed April Henry's books in the past. They're short, action-packed, fast paced, and full of twists and turns. All in all, perfect for fairly reluctant readers.
This one, while technically still a thriller, was more of a survival story than anything. And because the protagonist has a small amount of medical training, a lot of the drama in the story revolved around her finding ways to fix the injuries and life threatening circumstances that the group encounters as they attempt to hike their way out of an active bushfire situation.
Natalia handles everything from anaphylaxis to blisters to a blood sugar crash to a suspected heart attack. And, like, she's SEVENTEEN and has a tiny first aid kit and some Red Cross training under her belt. I found it increasingly difficult to believe in her miraculous medical skills as the story progressed.
Essentially, this was fine but I wanted MORE from it.
I've always really enjoyed April Henry's books in the past. They're short, action-packed, fast paced, and full of twists and turns. All in all, perfect for fairly reluctant readers.
This one, while technically still a thriller, was more of a survival story than anything. And because the protagonist has a small amount of medical training, a lot of the drama in the story revolved around her finding ways to fix the injuries and life threatening circumstances that the group encounters as they attempt to hike their way out of an active bushfire situation.
Natalia handles everything from anaphylaxis to blisters to a blood sugar crash to a suspected heart attack. And, like, she's SEVENTEEN and has a tiny first aid kit and some Red Cross training under her belt. I found it increasingly difficult to believe in her miraculous medical skills as the story progressed.
Essentially, this was fine but I wanted MORE from it.
June 12, 2022
April Henry is one of my favorite authors. I remember the first book I read, and I fell in love with her writing. I ordered this book for my library and have been getting the students to read her work. They have told me so many good things about this book that I finally jumped in a read it. What happens when you are in the forest, and a forest fire starts? Can you survive? That is the question for our characters as they all come together to survive. Wyatt and Natalie have some survival training which I think is fantastic, and I enjoyed how they had to think of how to use things that generally we all wouldn't. While trying to survive, Natalie remembers her past, where she almost lost her life. Yet, as we get towards the end, you can see that she is growing and learning that sometimes things are out of your control. Overall a good book for high school readers and adults as well. Very clean, and the plot is at a steady pace.
May 6, 2023
Well... that was a stressful listen!
This is my 3rd April Henry teen-centric thriller. Survivalist, person v nature, and strangers banding together combined with what may be the best first date story ever. (Seriously, if you're ever at a party with 20yrs-from-now Natalia and Wyatt, they win.)
I don't usually enjoy when authors jump back and forth in time, but the juxtaposition of the current crisis with the horror of Natalia's past experiences worked really well for me here. For the most part this is a fast paced and harrowing adventure where two teens prove to be heroes. Not only is there a fire to escape, but nature and human limitations work against them. I enjoyed the "one year later" epilogue.
Narration:
Amy McFadden shines with Henry's variety of characters of mixed ages and personalities. And the drama and tension! There were several times where I needed Natalia's grounding strategies to keep myself calm.
This is my 3rd April Henry teen-centric thriller. Survivalist, person v nature, and strangers banding together combined with what may be the best first date story ever. (Seriously, if you're ever at a party with 20yrs-from-now Natalia and Wyatt, they win.)
I don't usually enjoy when authors jump back and forth in time, but the juxtaposition of the current crisis with the horror of Natalia's past experiences worked really well for me here. For the most part this is a fast paced and harrowing adventure where two teens prove to be heroes. Not only is there a fire to escape, but nature and human limitations work against them. I enjoyed the "one year later" epilogue.
Narration:
Amy McFadden shines with Henry's variety of characters of mixed ages and personalities. And the drama and tension! There were several times where I needed Natalia's grounding strategies to keep myself calm.
September 24, 2022
Playing with Fire by April Henry, is the story of Natalia, a regular girl who had suffered a fire-related trauma when she was 11, who is now stuck in the middle of the Portland Woods during a huge forest fire. She, paired with her date Wyatt, and ten strangers, are left to fight for their lives in order to get away from the fire and out of the woods to safety. I felt myself wincing and gasping at several different moments, fearing for the character's lives, as this book felt so real. My only complaint is that it felt too Murphy's Law-esque. Literally every bad thing that could have happened... did. 10-year-old is allergic to bees? Whelp, multiple bee stings? Old lady on the trip? Yep, she has Alzheimer's. It just felt a little too coincidentally bad luck from time to time. But other than that, I really enjoyed it, and felt so much worry along with the characters.
August 16, 2020
April Henry does it again. Another page-turning, heart-stopping thriller with a little romance and a dash of educational value. This time we learn about fire safety, first aid, and wilderness survival. Leadership (innate or having it thrust upon you), finding yourself, overcoming your fears are all common in Henry’s books and they find their way into this one as well. Our heroine is battling her fear of fire (as well as other childhood traumas) while running from a forest fire. Meanwhile, our Eagle Scout boyfriend is trying to salvage this first date gone horribly wrong (poor guy!). Our cast of characters range from a mere toddler and his parents, to a grandson/grandfather duo, to an Alzheimer’s suffering woman, to a shady man with a secret. Just to name a few.
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