What do you think?
Rate this book
Paradise Found: A High School Football Team's Rise from the Ashes
"Friday Night Lights meets Unbroken." —Tony Reali | "One of the most profound stories you will ever read." —Ian O'Connor | "Plaschke delivers a masterpiece." —Jeff Pearlman
From L.A. Times columnist and ESPN Around the Horn panelist Bill Plaschke, a story of tragedy, triumph, and the remarkable power of high school football in one small California town
On November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire ravaged the town of Paradise, California. The fire, which burned up to 80 acres per minute, killed 86 people, and nearly every building and home in the town was reduced to ashes. In a single day, Paradise, a proud working-class town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, saw its population fall from 25,000 to 2,000.
The Paradise High football team had long been the town’s source of joy and inspiration. But in the wake of the fire, their season was abruptly cancelled on the eve of the playoffs. Their championship hopes were gone. Their program’s survival seemed doubtful—it wasn’t even clear whether Paradise High would continue to exist.
Coach Rick Prinz had planned to retire that year after guiding the Paradise High Bobcats for two decades. But after the fire forever altered his beloved town, he realized he couldn’t walk away. What ensued was the challenge of a lifetime. Of the 104 football players at Paradise, 95 had lost their homes. His varsity squad, which had stood 76 strong the previous season, was down to 22. Most of those who remained were homeless, sleep-deprived, lost. On the first day of spring practice, on a debris-ridden patch of grass at nearby Chico Airport, Prinz’s team didn’t even have a football. It was the humble beginning to a memorable journey.
Bill Plaschke, longtime columnist for the Los Angeles Times, followed the Paradise Bobcats throughout a most remarkable season. In this gripping, deeply-reported story of tragedy and resilience, Plaschke reveals the unique power of sports to unite, to inspire, and to heal. As the Paradise players fought to rebuild their broken lives, they found strength in the support of their teammates—and as football returned to Paradise, so, too, did the spirit of the town itself.
From L.A. Times columnist and ESPN Around the Horn panelist Bill Plaschke, a story of tragedy, triumph, and the remarkable power of high school football in one small California town
On November 8, 2018, the Camp Fire ravaged the town of Paradise, California. The fire, which burned up to 80 acres per minute, killed 86 people, and nearly every building and home in the town was reduced to ashes. In a single day, Paradise, a proud working-class town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, saw its population fall from 25,000 to 2,000.
The Paradise High football team had long been the town’s source of joy and inspiration. But in the wake of the fire, their season was abruptly cancelled on the eve of the playoffs. Their championship hopes were gone. Their program’s survival seemed doubtful—it wasn’t even clear whether Paradise High would continue to exist.
Coach Rick Prinz had planned to retire that year after guiding the Paradise High Bobcats for two decades. But after the fire forever altered his beloved town, he realized he couldn’t walk away. What ensued was the challenge of a lifetime. Of the 104 football players at Paradise, 95 had lost their homes. His varsity squad, which had stood 76 strong the previous season, was down to 22. Most of those who remained were homeless, sleep-deprived, lost. On the first day of spring practice, on a debris-ridden patch of grass at nearby Chico Airport, Prinz’s team didn’t even have a football. It was the humble beginning to a memorable journey.
Bill Plaschke, longtime columnist for the Los Angeles Times, followed the Paradise Bobcats throughout a most remarkable season. In this gripping, deeply-reported story of tragedy and resilience, Plaschke reveals the unique power of sports to unite, to inspire, and to heal. As the Paradise players fought to rebuild their broken lives, they found strength in the support of their teammates—and as football returned to Paradise, so, too, did the spirit of the town itself.
258 pages, Hardcover
Published November 2, 2021
22 people are currently reading
1743 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Read
January 7, 2022On Nov. 8, 2018, Paradise High School football coach Rick Prinz was texting his players about delaying practice; minutes later, the Northern California town’s residents were running for their lives. The Camp fire decimated Paradise, killing more than 80 people, and destroying 12,000 homes. The conflagration also wrecked the Paradise Bobcats’ shot at the playoffs. With the town in ashes (except, remarkably, for the high school’s football field), there was little hope of playing the 2019 season, either. Still, as Bill Plaschke, sports columnist for The Los Angeles Times, writes in “Paradise Found: A High School Football Team’s Rise from the Ashes,” the Bobcats’ pulled off a remarkable comeback, bringing their town along with them.
Click here to read the rest of my review in the Christian Science Monitor!
Click here to read the rest of my review in the Christian Science Monitor!
August 30, 2021
Thoughts soon.
June 27, 2023
This is an account of the Camp Fire wildfire that decimated the small town of Paradise. CA. It is written by an LA Times Sports Writer and follows the high school football team that literally rose from the ashes.
It is a well written story, many of the chapters focusing on one player and how they escaped and lived through the fire. I can try to understand the anger they all felt and the losses they experienced. I cannot condone taking that anger to the football field. Which really is what the coaches did. That's just me though, it has nothing to do with the writer and his craft. That was very good.
If you can take the heartbreak of an entire population having their life stripped away from them, you may find this book to your taste.
It is a well written story, many of the chapters focusing on one player and how they escaped and lived through the fire. I can try to understand the anger they all felt and the losses they experienced. I cannot condone taking that anger to the football field. Which really is what the coaches did. That's just me though, it has nothing to do with the writer and his craft. That was very good.
If you can take the heartbreak of an entire population having their life stripped away from them, you may find this book to your taste.
February 2, 2023
We all hear about the devastating forest fires that seem to plague the western states every year, but this story of the 2019 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, puts a real face to those news stories. The whole town was decimated (or incinerated), and against all odds, less than 40 players come together to play football. I love high school football (not necessarily the wing-T, though) but there were times this book was so emotionally draining I felt guilty sitting in a climate-controlled room, big comfy chair, reading this unbelievable story. Bottom line: good things happen when dedicated people stick together.
December 29, 2021
Plaschke hooks you from the start with the suspense of the events of the fire and the emotional connection to the people fleeing for their lives. Themes of loss, grief, faith, resilience, home, brotherhood, and family are easily recognized. Also, the need to always make sure you have home or renters insurance. I would have appreciated a full roster to reference as I often got confused as he would jump from one person’s story to another and I forgot if I was already introduced to them. Also, for as much as he praised his copy editor in the acknowledgements,I noticed several typos! But for how fast I wanted to continue reading I just breezed by to find out if the team would pull it off! High praise is given, and rightly, to the teachers and coaches who supported these kids. Plaschke mentions only once the issue of concussions in football and that sometimes the players themselves figure out how to circumvent the rules against their own good. I think he does a good job showing how necessary the physicality of the sport was to helping the players deal with their emotions and have an outlet to channel anger versus finding something destructive. It was also interesting to learn more about life in this part of the county and towns like Paradise. Even though they are “crazy mountain folk” who “hit people” it is a front for the caring community that really exists.
January 31, 2022
Great book. We all heard of the Paradise Camp Fire. Then we forgot about it. This book really shows what the town went they to survive. Would live an update on the town in a few years to see how the recovery went.
May 18, 2022
It wouldn't surprise me if someone bought the rights to this book and adapted the story into a movie.
May 31, 2022
On November 8, 2018, Paradise High Head football Coach, Rick Prinz contacted his team about postponing practice; minutes later, the citizens of the Northern California community were fleeing for their lives. From a simple campfire to a city fire, a new ravaged Paradise, claiming the lives of over 80 people as well as damaging 12,000 houses. The fire ultimately ruined the Paradise Bobcats' chances of making the playoffs. Will they have to cancel their season? Mr.Plaschke concentrates mostly on the football team and coaching staff. This included members like head football coach Rick Prinz, his wife Veronica Prinz, Assistant Coach Andy Hopper, middle linebacker Spencer Kiefer, running back Lukas Hartley, and Brenden Moon, center Blake White, and quarterback Danny Bettencourt.
Coach Prinz, who is 60 years old and a former church pastor who'd already planned to retire, stayed in Paradise because he felt that he couldn’t leave his players behind. The team was able to help the town recover by attempting to play its normal smash-mouth, championship-seeking style of football, which had ordinarily brought the community together ("Everyone around here needs hope....We're going to try to be that hope," he said). As for the players, having the season canceled put a chip on their backs. This especially went for the Junior players like Spencer and Brenden.
Paradise Found, a book published by Bill Plaschke on November 2nd, 2021; replays the disastrous events of the Paradise Camp Fire. Bill Plaschke contributor to the Los Angeles Times since the year of 1996. He has been named national sports columnist of the year 8 times by the Associated Press. To add, he was also awarded the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Headliner Award. With the town in ruins (except for the high school's football field, which was miraculously spared), there was little chance of participating in the 2019 football season for Paradise High school. Nonetheless, as Bill Plaschke, the author of this book, recounts in "Paradise Found: A High School Football Team's Rise from the Ashes," the Bobcats made an amazing turnaround, dragging their hometown with them.
Plaschke captures your attention right away with the tension of the fire's happening and the personal bonding each individual family went through while evacuating Paradise for their lives. Sorrow, sadness, trust, strength, hope, brotherhood, and family are all themes that come up frequently.
Later in the book, Plaschke raises the problem of concussions in football only once. He did this to show that occasionally, players find out how to go around the laws for their own best interests; meaning these athletes can determine what is best for their bodies.
I believe Mr. Plaschke does a wonderful job of illustrating how important the physicality of the sport was in assisting the athletes in dealing with their emotions and providing an outlet for frustration rather than resorting to harmful behavior. It was also fascinating to discover more about the people and communities of Paradise.
This book is definitely made for people who are interested in sports genres or themes. The story itself has certain features incorporated that make the book interesting. Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5-star rating. Paradise Found isn’t out of this world, but should still be considered when looking at the sports action genre. The age range for this book can be anywhere from ages 12 and up. In my opinion, this book gets 75% of its attraction from males and 25% from females since it's a football storyline.
I would have liked a roster to refer to for the characters of the book because it got confusing for me as he jumped from one person's life to another (especially for the football players). There were so many characters introduced at different times of the story that it was hard for me to choose a favorite person in the book. But, given how quickly I wanted to keep reading each chapter, I continued to read to see where each chapter would take me. The one thing I can take away from this book is that every chapter was something new and adventurous. Whether it was talking about the wildfire that happened, taking a deeper look at some of the families, to even playing the next year in a sectional game; Paradise Found will keep you on your toes.
Coach Prinz, who is 60 years old and a former church pastor who'd already planned to retire, stayed in Paradise because he felt that he couldn’t leave his players behind. The team was able to help the town recover by attempting to play its normal smash-mouth, championship-seeking style of football, which had ordinarily brought the community together ("Everyone around here needs hope....We're going to try to be that hope," he said). As for the players, having the season canceled put a chip on their backs. This especially went for the Junior players like Spencer and Brenden.
Paradise Found, a book published by Bill Plaschke on November 2nd, 2021; replays the disastrous events of the Paradise Camp Fire. Bill Plaschke contributor to the Los Angeles Times since the year of 1996. He has been named national sports columnist of the year 8 times by the Associated Press. To add, he was also awarded the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Headliner Award. With the town in ruins (except for the high school's football field, which was miraculously spared), there was little chance of participating in the 2019 football season for Paradise High school. Nonetheless, as Bill Plaschke, the author of this book, recounts in "Paradise Found: A High School Football Team's Rise from the Ashes," the Bobcats made an amazing turnaround, dragging their hometown with them.
Plaschke captures your attention right away with the tension of the fire's happening and the personal bonding each individual family went through while evacuating Paradise for their lives. Sorrow, sadness, trust, strength, hope, brotherhood, and family are all themes that come up frequently.
Later in the book, Plaschke raises the problem of concussions in football only once. He did this to show that occasionally, players find out how to go around the laws for their own best interests; meaning these athletes can determine what is best for their bodies.
I believe Mr. Plaschke does a wonderful job of illustrating how important the physicality of the sport was in assisting the athletes in dealing with their emotions and providing an outlet for frustration rather than resorting to harmful behavior. It was also fascinating to discover more about the people and communities of Paradise.
This book is definitely made for people who are interested in sports genres or themes. The story itself has certain features incorporated that make the book interesting. Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5-star rating. Paradise Found isn’t out of this world, but should still be considered when looking at the sports action genre. The age range for this book can be anywhere from ages 12 and up. In my opinion, this book gets 75% of its attraction from males and 25% from females since it's a football storyline.
I would have liked a roster to refer to for the characters of the book because it got confusing for me as he jumped from one person's life to another (especially for the football players). There were so many characters introduced at different times of the story that it was hard for me to choose a favorite person in the book. But, given how quickly I wanted to keep reading each chapter, I continued to read to see where each chapter would take me. The one thing I can take away from this book is that every chapter was something new and adventurous. Whether it was talking about the wildfire that happened, taking a deeper look at some of the families, to even playing the next year in a sectional game; Paradise Found will keep you on your toes.
May 28, 2022
After finishing Paradise Found you should have two thoughts on your mind. One is that you should be thankful for having a roof over your head, even if it's a little studio apartment. Second, you hope that every player on that 2019 Paradise Bobcat football team is doing okay mentally, physically, and monetarily these days.
This book really tugged at your heart. Honestly, Paradise Found is one of the most depressing books I've ever read, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Author Bill Plaschke's intent in this book was to make you experience through his style of journalism, the effects a natural disaster can have on a community. I felt every trial and tribulation of that 2019 Bobcats team and its coaching staff while reading this book. How can you not?
To me the stars of this book was head coach Rick Prinz and Plaschke's writing style. Prinz is not just a football coach, that man is teacher, a man with a genuine soul, a man who cares about his football players as young men and as students not just as football players. This world and the football coaching profession needs more Rick Prinz's, trust me on that one.
As for Plaschke, he gave back stories on some of the players from that 2019 team and some of its coaches, as to give you a good analysis on what it was like to hang around the 2019 Paradise High varsity football team.
Pros of Paradise Found: The book did its job in letting you know how tough it is to come back from a natural disaster.
Cons of Paradise Found: Plaschke should have put a chapter or afterword that appeared before the acknowledgements section on what the players and coaches form the 2019 Bobcats team were up to by 2021 (the publishing year of the book). I know Plaschke wanted to get a 360-degree analysis of the 2019 Bobcats football program, but the book didn't need a whole chapter (chapter 13) on a team cheerleader.
In conclusion, Paradise Found is one of the better books you'll ever read on how a sports team tries to summon some kind of normalcy after a natural disaster just had its way with them. The book was tough to read but it was inspirational at the same time.
This book really tugged at your heart. Honestly, Paradise Found is one of the most depressing books I've ever read, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Author Bill Plaschke's intent in this book was to make you experience through his style of journalism, the effects a natural disaster can have on a community. I felt every trial and tribulation of that 2019 Bobcats team and its coaching staff while reading this book. How can you not?
To me the stars of this book was head coach Rick Prinz and Plaschke's writing style. Prinz is not just a football coach, that man is teacher, a man with a genuine soul, a man who cares about his football players as young men and as students not just as football players. This world and the football coaching profession needs more Rick Prinz's, trust me on that one.
As for Plaschke, he gave back stories on some of the players from that 2019 team and some of its coaches, as to give you a good analysis on what it was like to hang around the 2019 Paradise High varsity football team.
Pros of Paradise Found: The book did its job in letting you know how tough it is to come back from a natural disaster.
Cons of Paradise Found: Plaschke should have put a chapter or afterword that appeared before the acknowledgements section on what the players and coaches form the 2019 Bobcats team were up to by 2021 (the publishing year of the book). I know Plaschke wanted to get a 360-degree analysis of the 2019 Bobcats football program, but the book didn't need a whole chapter (chapter 13) on a team cheerleader.
In conclusion, Paradise Found is one of the better books you'll ever read on how a sports team tries to summon some kind of normalcy after a natural disaster just had its way with them. The book was tough to read but it was inspirational at the same time.
August 30, 2022
Bill Plaschke is a great writer for the LA Times and this was a good book that had many inspiring tales. Plaschke's in-depth reporting on the day of the fire was especially stellar. The book then tells the story of how a few dozen players on the football team endure through hard times, most of them having seen their homes burn down. Plaschke tells the story of just about all these players as well as the coaches and how they came back in 2019 to have a great season against the odds. A few times I got very teary-eyed reading this. I do wish more was discussed about the people that died in this tragedy, I kind of feel like that is ignored as is the work of the firefighters during Nov. 8 2018. And the whole attitude of the players treating people like crap that were just asking if they were OK kind of rubbed me the wrong way, but other than that a very inspiring story and I hope the families and players can find some peace sometime soon.
October 29, 2021
Can football heal and unite a town destroyed by fire? Rick Prinz, coach of the Paradise High Bobcats, thought so and set out to pull his teenage players together against the odds. This isn't Friday Night Lights (except for the high school football thing)- it's the story of young men, their families, their coaches and their town who use football as a diversion from the destruction around them. It isn't pretty but it's something. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Plaschke, a journalist, keeps this from sinking into sentimentality but readers will definitely find themselves rooting both for individuals and the whole.
January 30, 2022
I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I thought this book was very well written. Sports books are not my preferred genre, but I've been looking for some more non-fiction books for my students. This book follows the Paradise football team after a fire destroys their houses, school, and lives. They persevere. They inspire. This is their story. I did think it was longer than needed and a little repetitive, hence the three. I recommend it for sports fans as a feel good comeback story.
July 18, 2023
I gave this 5 stars because I felt this book explained the tragedy the town and the teens of Paradise went through. I was there and I housed 7 of the kids. I know the people who the book talks about. Their stories and fear were real. The football team was what the town held on to. It gave them normalcy, hope and purpose. I recommend this book because of the strength, courage and resilience the football players displayed. We can all learn from them. It was an honor to sit in the stands with this community and football family. I am proud of our Bobcats! Paradise strong!!!
January 8, 2022
Plaschke!!!
“Let me tell you about their meaning. It doesn’t matter if they make us come up here in the middle of a dumb, fucking Podunk town. It doesn’t matter if they fucking take six of our players away from us. It doesn’t matter if they freaking burn our freaking town down—it just doesn’t matter. When we put those green helmets on, and we take that field, they will find out what those three letters are all about.”
“Let me tell you about their meaning. It doesn’t matter if they make us come up here in the middle of a dumb, fucking Podunk town. It doesn’t matter if they fucking take six of our players away from us. It doesn’t matter if they freaking burn our freaking town down—it just doesn’t matter. When we put those green helmets on, and we take that field, they will find out what those three letters are all about.”
February 4, 2022
It's one thing to hear about this devastating fire on the news and another thing to read about the impact this fire had on the town, its townspeople and, especially, the young men on its football team. Well-written and well-researched, this is an amazing story of resiliency and spirit that is inspirational. Can't wait to see the movie.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
February 12, 2022
I had heard about the story of this football team and their struggle after the devastating fire but Plaschke really brings to life what it was like to be in their shoes. The players, coaches, cheerleaders, families and the whole town had suffered mightily and the season after the fire was so much more than the facts, the statistics. Really got emotional with the well told stories of their lives and what the football season mean to the whole town. Didn't want to out it down but I had to work!
October 6, 2023
A very soft 4.
The stories of escaping the mountain and survival of the fire are really good and heart wrenching.
I get like teaching the boys (because that’s what high schoolers still are) to be violent( “we just hit people”) is not the solution. They kept talking about the paradise way and that seemed to just be violence. Also, you teach these boys violence and then players get ejected for fighting on the field, and your surprised??? Come on dude….
The stories of escaping the mountain and survival of the fire are really good and heart wrenching.
I get like teaching the boys (because that’s what high schoolers still are) to be violent( “we just hit people”) is not the solution. They kept talking about the paradise way and that seemed to just be violence. Also, you teach these boys violence and then players get ejected for fighting on the field, and your surprised??? Come on dude….
April 4, 2024
The amount of loss and heartbreak the people of Paradise experienced is devastating. This book shared the personal stories of some of the people, including the football players and coaches of the high school team. I learned not only about the loss, but how the town rallied around each other to heal and rebuild. I now understand why football holds the power to unite people and give them a sense of purpose.
Want to read
December 29, 2021I never received the book the first time that it was shipped. I responded after the allotted time to receive the book and was told that it had been delivered on 11/25/21. Still, I never received the book so I can’t review a book I never received and had the chance to read. Sorry, because I was really looking forward to receiving the book.
DeeAnn Roome
DeeAnn Roome
January 3, 2022
I got this book for my ten-year-old grandson.
He is a little young for it now.
But it will be a treasure to him as he grows older.
He currently lives in southern California.
My youngest daughter and I live down the hill from Paradise.
We want him to understand that mega-fires like the Camp Fire,
impact lives beyond the initial loss and that team work is more than just playing a sport.
He is a little young for it now.
But it will be a treasure to him as he grows older.
He currently lives in southern California.
My youngest daughter and I live down the hill from Paradise.
We want him to understand that mega-fires like the Camp Fire,
impact lives beyond the initial loss and that team work is more than just playing a sport.
January 6, 2022
Very well written book that uses the story of a football team to share the true events of the devastating loss due to the Camp fire in Paradise CA. The book interlaces on-field football action with stories of heroism from individual players as they tried to save their own lives and the lives of those around them escaping the raging fire that enveloped the entire city.
January 10, 2022
A well-written book. The stories of surviving the fire and its aftermath are awful and fascinating but as a sucker for this type of book (young men and women overcoming tremendous difficulties e.g. the football team in post-Katrina NOLA, the soccer team full of immigrants, the Gangland basketball team etc.) I do find the inspirational speeches and gestures a little worn out.
April 19, 2024
Very interesting true story about a California town called Paradise nearly being burned out of existence by a devastating wild fire.
Details of coaches, players, and families of the high school loss of homes is heartbreaking.
The resilience to emerge from the ashes and compete again, is prompted by the coaches and players need to feel some semblance of normalcy.
Details of coaches, players, and families of the high school loss of homes is heartbreaking.
The resilience to emerge from the ashes and compete again, is prompted by the coaches and players need to feel some semblance of normalcy.
September 29, 2025
I read this book for my classes lit circle and it was good, I'm glad I read it because I would have not picked it off the shelf. I liked how they got a lot of points of view but I do wish they digged a little deeper into each of the points of view. The way it was written was really good and you could almost feel the characters emotions while reading.
July 1, 2023
Excellent reading for anyone who worked the Camp Fire, leaders in towns going through a natural disaster, and prep football fans. Plus, it contains beautiful photography from LA Times photojournalist Wally Skalij.
January 3, 2024
What an inspirational tale. A town that lost everything, but a group of teenagers gave the whole town hope. Brilliantly written by a sports journalist I've been watching for years and who always puts a good point across. Just a great book.
November 11, 2024
This book was phenomenal. A truly inspiring story that touches your heart in every way. The author has a wonderful way of telling the story from every person‘s angle giving a unique lens into really what happened. This book left me feeling inspired and grateful
February 4, 2025
The true story of the Paradise football team and community as they live through the horrendous camp fire of 2019. The comeback of the team is inspired by their Coach Prinz. It teaches lessons about life and family while showing hope through very difficult times
March 26, 2025
Great story!! And it really happened!! Sports related but truly about a community, a tragedy and overcoming all odds to rebuild, resurrect!! Sad, heart warming and motivational, the will to survive -- all at the same time. Highly Recommended.
Read
September 18, 2021Heartwarming story, so good!!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews