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Paradise on Fire
A coming-of-age survival tale exploring issues of race, class, and climate change.
Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Now, years later, Addy’s grandmother has enrolled her in a summer wilderness program. There, Addy joins five other Black city kids—each with their own troubles—to spend a summer out west.
Deep in the forest the kids learn new (and to them) strange skills: camping, hiking, rock climbing, and how to start and safely put out campfires. Most important, they learn to depend upon each other for companionship and survival.
But then comes a devastating forest fire…
Addy is face-to-face with her destiny and haunting past. Developing her courage and resiliency against the raging fire, it’s up to Addy to lead her friends to safety.
Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Now, years later, Addy’s grandmother has enrolled her in a summer wilderness program. There, Addy joins five other Black city kids—each with their own troubles—to spend a summer out west.
Deep in the forest the kids learn new (and to them) strange skills: camping, hiking, rock climbing, and how to start and safely put out campfires. Most important, they learn to depend upon each other for companionship and survival.
But then comes a devastating forest fire…
Addy is face-to-face with her destiny and haunting past. Developing her courage and resiliency against the raging fire, it’s up to Addy to lead her friends to safety.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2021
47 people are currently reading
3267 people want to read
About the author
Jewell Parker Rhodes
36 books1,546 followersJewell Parker Rhodes has always loved reading and writing stories. Born and raised in Manchester, a largely African-American neighborhood on the North Side of Pittsburgh, she was a voracious reader as a child. She began college as a dance major, but when she discovered there were novels by African Americans, she knew she wanted to be an author. She wrote six novels for adults, two writing guides, and a memoir, but writing for children remained her dream.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
December 25, 2022
This was a quick book that I was able to read in a day. I loved the premise of putting together a group of inner city youth and letting them spend a summer at a wilderness camp. I've heard of these types of programs before but I've never seen them explored in a book. I thought this book lacked a lot of depth though. It starts good with Addy having to overcome her fears of not being in control and still reeling from the grief of the fire that took her parent's lives. I didn't like how this book ended up throwing more trauma on her and really rushed and took an almost casual attitude towards some deaths that ended up happening at the end of the book. I get the author had a lot she wanted to share about the California wildfires but this book was not as developed as it needed to be.
February 12, 2023
If you love poetry or flowery writing this one is for you.
If you are someone who truly wants to save the Earth, this is for you.
I m both so I liked it.
If you are someone who truly wants to save the Earth, this is for you.
I m both so I liked it.
October 19, 2021
I really liked the second half of the book and readers who are looking for suspense and action will like it too. I don't remember the characters ever being given a specific age or grade level. To me they seemed older, like characters you would find in a YA novel. But this is a book intended for middle grade audiences, so I'm wondering if they are supposed to be younger (like younger than high school).
September 29, 2021
Let me start by saying I didn't want to give this only three stars. I really, really wanted this book to knock my socks off like Rhodes other recent books ( Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother). Sadly, this read like a book that she wanted to write in verse (the prose was SPARSE and jumpy) but didn't, and for me that meant that the characters were a bit flatter and less developed than I wanted. Also, the "angle" of this one (wildlife conservation and access to national parks) felt more forced than the other topics she tackled in her other books.
So, final verdict: I will purchase and recommend this to some of my readers. Will it be as popular as her others? No. But I think K. A. Holt fans will enjoy it.
So, final verdict: I will purchase and recommend this to some of my readers. Will it be as popular as her others? No. But I think K. A. Holt fans will enjoy it.
September 17, 2021
Powerful and timely- addresses death/grief, cartography, topography, and climate change. This would be a fabulous MG book club/class discussion pick.
October 6, 2021
Interesting to pair this with WILLODEEN. Same environmental message, both main characters lost family to fire, but the two books have totally different feels.
April 6, 2023
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Netgalley, Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
It kind of threw me off on how short this book was because it just felt so intense as we go through it. It isn’t always so high strung or anything, but knowing what Addy – Adaugo is her full name – went through and what she is trying to forget seriously just breaks my heart. It’s clear that she has been suffering from PTSD since the events that left her an orphan. I’m happy that her grandmother Bibi was able to move from Nigeria to New York in order to raise her after Addy’s parents died, but I know it’s not the same for her. She’s tried to repress what happened in that apartment so long ago, that throughout this book, it seems like there are some parts of that night that are trying to come back to the surface.
Clearly being trapped in an apartment during a fire, and being the only one to make it out alive has taken a toll on Addy, and dictates her behavior to this day. She draws maps, which is cool in and of itself, but if you listen to her inner monologues, you can see that her maps aren’t so that she doesn’t get lost. She says it every time, it’s to make sure that she “can escape”. That’s the bottom line for her: escape routes. I am always looking for escape routes as well whenever I’m out somewhere, especially alone, but not to this extent. I understand though. She never wants to be in a situation where she can’t escape danger, because isn’t that why her parents didn’t make it?
I was proud of her for the journey that she took. I’m glad that she was able to find some joy in this wilderness adventure type of camp, mostly when she was hiking with Leo and Ryder, even if she wasn’t used to it in the beginning. She is a city girl, after all. Everything that she learned through this experience ends up coming into play when her and the rest of the kids that she is with in this camp end up getting stuck in the forest during a wild fire and need to escape.
This was a short story, but still powerful. I felt for Addy and everything that she did. I was proud of her for what she went through, how she was able to take care of her team when things took a turn for the worse. I was proud of all of them for growing into themselves throughout this time. I appreciated Leo and Ryder so much, and wish that I had someone like Leo in my life. He felt almost like a guardian angel in ways. I highly recommend this one, and hope you are able to experience it in a similar way that I was.
It kind of threw me off on how short this book was because it just felt so intense as we go through it. It isn’t always so high strung or anything, but knowing what Addy – Adaugo is her full name – went through and what she is trying to forget seriously just breaks my heart. It’s clear that she has been suffering from PTSD since the events that left her an orphan. I’m happy that her grandmother Bibi was able to move from Nigeria to New York in order to raise her after Addy’s parents died, but I know it’s not the same for her. She’s tried to repress what happened in that apartment so long ago, that throughout this book, it seems like there are some parts of that night that are trying to come back to the surface.
Clearly being trapped in an apartment during a fire, and being the only one to make it out alive has taken a toll on Addy, and dictates her behavior to this day. She draws maps, which is cool in and of itself, but if you listen to her inner monologues, you can see that her maps aren’t so that she doesn’t get lost. She says it every time, it’s to make sure that she “can escape”. That’s the bottom line for her: escape routes. I am always looking for escape routes as well whenever I’m out somewhere, especially alone, but not to this extent. I understand though. She never wants to be in a situation where she can’t escape danger, because isn’t that why her parents didn’t make it?
I was proud of her for the journey that she took. I’m glad that she was able to find some joy in this wilderness adventure type of camp, mostly when she was hiking with Leo and Ryder, even if she wasn’t used to it in the beginning. She is a city girl, after all. Everything that she learned through this experience ends up coming into play when her and the rest of the kids that she is with in this camp end up getting stuck in the forest during a wild fire and need to escape.
This was a short story, but still powerful. I felt for Addy and everything that she did. I was proud of her for what she went through, how she was able to take care of her team when things took a turn for the worse. I was proud of all of them for growing into themselves throughout this time. I appreciated Leo and Ryder so much, and wish that I had someone like Leo in my life. He felt almost like a guardian angel in ways. I highly recommend this one, and hope you are able to experience it in a similar way that I was.
September 15, 2021
I really feel like I would've loved this one if it were longer. It had so much potential, but the plot was so rushed because of the page count.
I feel like before I write this review, I should mention that I live right next to an area of California that is ravaged by fires every year. I was affected personally by the fire that inspired this. So, the topic of forest fires hit hard. I've had friends lose their houses to them, and every year, I see the results of another fire. I loved that this book tried to address this, but it just felt clunky.
I think the main reason this didn't flow is that our characters didn't feel like characters. They felt like cardboard cutouts. They never had room to grow, they stayed static, and I never connected to any of them. Because of this, I never cared about their peril during the fire.
I don't have much else to say about this one, other than that it could've been great. The potential was there, but the execution fell short.
I feel like before I write this review, I should mention that I live right next to an area of California that is ravaged by fires every year. I was affected personally by the fire that inspired this. So, the topic of forest fires hit hard. I've had friends lose their houses to them, and every year, I see the results of another fire. I loved that this book tried to address this, but it just felt clunky.
I think the main reason this didn't flow is that our characters didn't feel like characters. They felt like cardboard cutouts. They never had room to grow, they stayed static, and I never connected to any of them. Because of this, I never cared about their peril during the fire.
I don't have much else to say about this one, other than that it could've been great. The potential was there, but the execution fell short.
June 6, 2021
Paradise on Fire was an adventure story all about survival in the wilderness as well as just surviving as kids in a situation that they never saw themselves in. Addy, or Adaugo, has found herself once again in a nightmare of the past that she relives in her dreams every single day. As the story goes on, she finds herself in that moment she is prompted to be encouraging, understanding, and show bravery through the hardest parts of her journey. This will be a great book to recommend or replace Hatchet with in curriculum. It will spark conversations on forest fires, you can bring in nonfiction articles of the actual town of Paradise that was affected, as well as many others in the West. @jewellparkerrhodes
September 26, 2021
well, this book really WAS an adventure. I admired Addy's braveness. how she looked out for her friends toward the end. it made me really happy. I loved almost everything about this book, I feel like it was really.. influential, to say the least.
September 28, 2021
W. O. W. This book, let me tell you. This book was beautiful and healing. Was filled with wonderful, thoughtful characters who were also scarred and hurting. It was also frightening. But mostly, it was brilliant. I loved it, even when it made my chest ache.
Read
September 12, 2023Summer reading book for school
Didn’t even finish the book and not really a genre I would have read on my own. A little bit of a younger age group read. Probably has potential lol.
Didn’t even finish the book and not really a genre I would have read on my own. A little bit of a younger age group read. Probably has potential lol.
September 20, 2021
Trigger Warnings: Wildfire, death due to fire, mentions of death due to gunfire, burns and scars, mentions of death, mentions of racism and lack of resources
There’s a very important thing I wanna say about this book – it needs to be read by people. Addy’s character is so well portrayed and developed throughout the book, it was really amazing to read about. And the book discussed certain really necessary themes – climate change and wildfires, trauma and BIPOC struggles.
The book is relatively short. It’s a book that took me around 3-4 hours to finish across two days but what’s imperative is that the hours I spent without reading it, I was constantly thinking about the book and things related to it. The book quickly gave us a glimpse of how Addy lived – and more than that, how she constantly battled her childhood trauma. Her character was intricately written with a kid’s innocence and an adult’s wisdom. She was very much into maps and escape paths and later on she realized how much nature meant for her, somewhere she felt home.
There were many characters apart from Addy and their stories briefly passed by me, maybe because they weren’t the center of the story. I actually appreciated how Addy’s distance from her camp mates not only told us about Addy or the character growth, but it also made me feel weirdly connected to them. Granted, there were some people – especially Jamie and Dylan – who were hard to connect with but seeing the book and their characteristics, it seemed that it was how their character was supposed to be. I especially loved the few glimpses we got to see in everyone’s past, especially Leo, Jay and Nessa.
Coming onto the story setting, the book does get a bit intense from the second half as the wildfire starts. I swear I don't know how they all made it to safety and I am pretty sure it wouldn't have been possible if Addy wasn't present there. I live at a pace where the summer beats down real hard but I honestly cannot imagine the struggle people have to go through while battling wildfires. Why it was intense to read? Because people were hurting but the nature was also hurting so much, it was honestly very painful. The afterword especially caught my attention. The book is small, it is centered around kids but it is relevant to everyone.
The book also discussed the living patterns of black kids in the city. The discussions didn't ran deep and they weren't introduced as a means to criticize, rather it told the real experiences of people and the struggles they faced. One of which was not being able to experience wilderness and survival methods, the other being swimming which was crucial for their survival.
I loved how map making was seen as an art instead of hobby because I personally learned a thing or two about map making and topography. As the copy I had was an early copy, the art accompanying the text wasn’t visible but oh boy am I excited to see it! What more I liked about this book was the focus on environment and global warming. Paradise on Fire didn’t only give me a sense of motivation to explore and nurture the nature around me, it also provided me with few insights about forests and mountaineering.
I especially loved to see Addy's arc development and her friends - Nessa, DeShon and Jay. Survival isn't an easy thing to do and the way they navigated through the wildfire and the struggle together, was really amazing to see. Overall, I recommend this book multifold! Honestly it's amazing and the missing parts of the book (like the art) will come with the book's publication.
I was provided with an arc copy in exchange of honest review
There’s a very important thing I wanna say about this book – it needs to be read by people. Addy’s character is so well portrayed and developed throughout the book, it was really amazing to read about. And the book discussed certain really necessary themes – climate change and wildfires, trauma and BIPOC struggles.
The book is relatively short. It’s a book that took me around 3-4 hours to finish across two days but what’s imperative is that the hours I spent without reading it, I was constantly thinking about the book and things related to it. The book quickly gave us a glimpse of how Addy lived – and more than that, how she constantly battled her childhood trauma. Her character was intricately written with a kid’s innocence and an adult’s wisdom. She was very much into maps and escape paths and later on she realized how much nature meant for her, somewhere she felt home.
There were many characters apart from Addy and their stories briefly passed by me, maybe because they weren’t the center of the story. I actually appreciated how Addy’s distance from her camp mates not only told us about Addy or the character growth, but it also made me feel weirdly connected to them. Granted, there were some people – especially Jamie and Dylan – who were hard to connect with but seeing the book and their characteristics, it seemed that it was how their character was supposed to be. I especially loved the few glimpses we got to see in everyone’s past, especially Leo, Jay and Nessa.
Coming onto the story setting, the book does get a bit intense from the second half as the wildfire starts. I swear I don't know how they all made it to safety and I am pretty sure it wouldn't have been possible if Addy wasn't present there. I live at a pace where the summer beats down real hard but I honestly cannot imagine the struggle people have to go through while battling wildfires. Why it was intense to read? Because people were hurting but the nature was also hurting so much, it was honestly very painful. The afterword especially caught my attention. The book is small, it is centered around kids but it is relevant to everyone.
The book also discussed the living patterns of black kids in the city. The discussions didn't ran deep and they weren't introduced as a means to criticize, rather it told the real experiences of people and the struggles they faced. One of which was not being able to experience wilderness and survival methods, the other being swimming which was crucial for their survival.
I loved how map making was seen as an art instead of hobby because I personally learned a thing or two about map making and topography. As the copy I had was an early copy, the art accompanying the text wasn’t visible but oh boy am I excited to see it! What more I liked about this book was the focus on environment and global warming. Paradise on Fire didn’t only give me a sense of motivation to explore and nurture the nature around me, it also provided me with few insights about forests and mountaineering.
I especially loved to see Addy's arc development and her friends - Nessa, DeShon and Jay. Survival isn't an easy thing to do and the way they navigated through the wildfire and the struggle together, was really amazing to see. Overall, I recommend this book multifold! Honestly it's amazing and the missing parts of the book (like the art) will come with the book's publication.
I was provided with an arc copy in exchange of honest review
November 8, 2021
A great middle grade adventure/survival book for fans of The hatchet or The black kids.
Addy is one of five other Black city kids sent to a Wilderness camp for the summer where she learns survival skills and gains a new respect for nature.
The book delves into issues of race, class and climate change in a smart and thoughtful way all while telling a suspenseful story featuring an unforgettable protagonist.
Highly recommended and great on audio!
⚠️CW: fire, death of parents
Addy is one of five other Black city kids sent to a Wilderness camp for the summer where she learns survival skills and gains a new respect for nature.
The book delves into issues of race, class and climate change in a smart and thoughtful way all while telling a suspenseful story featuring an unforgettable protagonist.
Highly recommended and great on audio!
⚠️CW: fire, death of parents
February 20, 2022
The story of Addy, a Black girl from the Bronx, who is caught in a California wildfire. This book tackles class, race, and climate change, and it does not waste a single word. The sparse writing style occasionally feels like poetry.
August 4, 2025
3.5 I read this in 2 gulps - it was super easy to read and very propulsive. There were some really poignant moments, but I wish it went deeper.
Read
November 12, 2021I'm not going to rate this book. I'm not the target audience and I have nothing to compare it to. I haven't read anything for young readers in a long time. I think it was good. If you have a young reader, it is worth a look.
February 7, 2022
3.5 stars
Addy and 7 other Black kids are going to camp in California with 2 counselors. This camp is all about outdoor education, environmentalism, hiking, etc. Addy is obsessed with mazes and escape routes due to traumatic events in her past. She is also triggered by fire. This is a bad thing as it is California wildfire season... While the group is out on a 3 day backpacking excursion, they get trapped by a wildfire. Addy and 3 others are on their own to find a way to safety.
Things I found problematic: while the kids were from NY, Philadelphia, and Chicago - somehow they were all on the same airplane to CA together. As an educator and having worked at camps, I don't think that Leo and Addy would ever have gone on their solo hikes. There is too much risk for an adult to be 1:1 with a child in their care. I have not done enough ropes courses to know but it sounded like a lot to cram all that they did on the ropes into one day; it made me skeptical, especially the part where the kids belayed each other right away. Again, not my area of expertise but it raised doubts in my mind while I was reading and took me out of the world a bit.
With all that said, I *adore* Jewell Parker Rhodes. This is a very important topic: forest fires and environmentalism. I think that all middle schools and upper elementary schools should add it to their collection. Put it in your high school too. Also, as a hiker, I love the advocacy for more equity around trails and getting more POC out into the woods.
Addy and 7 other Black kids are going to camp in California with 2 counselors. This camp is all about outdoor education, environmentalism, hiking, etc. Addy is obsessed with mazes and escape routes due to traumatic events in her past. She is also triggered by fire. This is a bad thing as it is California wildfire season... While the group is out on a 3 day backpacking excursion, they get trapped by a wildfire. Addy and 3 others are on their own to find a way to safety.
Things I found problematic: while the kids were from NY, Philadelphia, and Chicago - somehow they were all on the same airplane to CA together. As an educator and having worked at camps, I don't think that Leo and Addy would ever have gone on their solo hikes. There is too much risk for an adult to be 1:1 with a child in their care. I have not done enough ropes courses to know but it sounded like a lot to cram all that they did on the ropes into one day; it made me skeptical, especially the part where the kids belayed each other right away. Again, not my area of expertise but it raised doubts in my mind while I was reading and took me out of the world a bit.
With all that said, I *adore* Jewell Parker Rhodes. This is a very important topic: forest fires and environmentalism. I think that all middle schools and upper elementary schools should add it to their collection. Put it in your high school too. Also, as a hiker, I love the advocacy for more equity around trails and getting more POC out into the woods.
June 6, 2021
Hatchet meets Wildfire meets Canyon’s Edge in this upcoming MG title that will keep you on the edge of your seat beginning to end.
🔥
Addy aka Adaugo is haunted by a fire that took her parents’ lives. She lives with her grandmother, Bibi, who has sent her on a wilderness adventure for the summer at Paradise Ranch in California. When she gets there she slowly makes friends with other camp members, but is always aware of her surroundings and focused on escape routes. It comes in handy when the group gets trapped in the forest during a wildfire and it’s up to Addy to lead them to safety. Can she use her knowledge, spiritual connection to her namesake and wits to get everyone out alive?
⛺️
Paradise On Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a must-read for me. Her MG books can change lives, her latest being no exception. Addy is so strong and centered for a girl her age. It’s a great model to have young students read about. I also very much enjoyed an adventure book with a Black female lead, as Hatchet and books like it have dominated the publishing industry in years’ past with white male protagonists. Please consider replacing Hatchet with this book if you teach it in your classroom. This title will also spark discussions about deforestation and climate change, conversations we need to be having. I can’t wait to see the artwork in the final book releasing September 14. Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC.
🔥
Addy aka Adaugo is haunted by a fire that took her parents’ lives. She lives with her grandmother, Bibi, who has sent her on a wilderness adventure for the summer at Paradise Ranch in California. When she gets there she slowly makes friends with other camp members, but is always aware of her surroundings and focused on escape routes. It comes in handy when the group gets trapped in the forest during a wildfire and it’s up to Addy to lead them to safety. Can she use her knowledge, spiritual connection to her namesake and wits to get everyone out alive?
⛺️
Paradise On Fire by Jewell Parker Rhodes is a must-read for me. Her MG books can change lives, her latest being no exception. Addy is so strong and centered for a girl her age. It’s a great model to have young students read about. I also very much enjoyed an adventure book with a Black female lead, as Hatchet and books like it have dominated the publishing industry in years’ past with white male protagonists. Please consider replacing Hatchet with this book if you teach it in your classroom. This title will also spark discussions about deforestation and climate change, conversations we need to be having. I can’t wait to see the artwork in the final book releasing September 14. Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC.
July 18, 2024
This book deals with striking themes of environmental change, wildfires, topography, and race. I love the fact that books like this are written for young people to read and enjoy as well as learn a little along the way.
However, I think perhaps middle grade books just are not for me. Nothing wrong with the book, I just missed the complexity of deeper discussions. Perhaps even more so as I found the idea for the plot to be so intriguing.
Altogether though, a nice and easy read. Also, I really enjoyed the little drawings along the way. Can we please get this in more books, and not only in middle grade?
However, I think perhaps middle grade books just are not for me. Nothing wrong with the book, I just missed the complexity of deeper discussions. Perhaps even more so as I found the idea for the plot to be so intriguing.
Altogether though, a nice and easy read. Also, I really enjoyed the little drawings along the way. Can we please get this in more books, and not only in middle grade?
May 20, 2022
Black people do not always feel safe in the wilderness. There are a lot of reasons for this, some of them detailed here.
It follows that there aren't a lot of books for youth about Black kids experiencing the outdoors.
So I was excited when I heard that Rhodes would be coming out with a forest fire adventure with a Black face on the cover.
Forest fires are a fact of life in my corner of the world. When I was growing up, my dad worked for the Department of Natural Resources for the state of Washington, and he frequently spent weeks in the summer managing basecamps for fire fighters in the woods. In August and September, our skies here in Thurston County are more and more commonly filled with the haze of smoke from forest fires.
And one of the things that's pretty obvious about this book from the get-go is that there's gonna be a fire.
I wasn't expecting the map element. I'm a map person. I can stare at a map for a long period of time. I've never been into drawing them, personally, like Addy does, but I dig her fascination with maps.
The impending fire should and did give the beginning of this book a sense of foreboding, but even with that element, I remember being a little disappointed at first that it was a little slower paced than I hoped. It starts on a fairly unremarkable plane ride, not in an action sequence. There's a lot of time spent building character and setting before things catch on fire. The writing is reflective, poetic. I was afraid this wouldn't capture the kids who I think should read books like this.
But now, in hindsight, when I see this cover, the first thing I remember is the harrowing journey through the woods. The terrifying journey without shoes that some of the characters undertake. The trauma and fear of being in such concrete real danger.
I love the cover of this book, and its compact size. It's easy to hold in your hands. I like the section break illustrations and the depictions of Addy's maps. It's nice to have a visual element to help you imagine the journey from point A to point B.
I recommended this to my school friends coordinating their upper-elementary Battle of the Books, and will probably take this out next time I booktalk at Middle Schools.
When I was searching up the article I linked above, I came across this list of resources that is impressive in its length: https://americanhiking.org/hiking-res...
It follows that there aren't a lot of books for youth about Black kids experiencing the outdoors.
So I was excited when I heard that Rhodes would be coming out with a forest fire adventure with a Black face on the cover.
Forest fires are a fact of life in my corner of the world. When I was growing up, my dad worked for the Department of Natural Resources for the state of Washington, and he frequently spent weeks in the summer managing basecamps for fire fighters in the woods. In August and September, our skies here in Thurston County are more and more commonly filled with the haze of smoke from forest fires.
And one of the things that's pretty obvious about this book from the get-go is that there's gonna be a fire.
I wasn't expecting the map element. I'm a map person. I can stare at a map for a long period of time. I've never been into drawing them, personally, like Addy does, but I dig her fascination with maps.
The impending fire should and did give the beginning of this book a sense of foreboding, but even with that element, I remember being a little disappointed at first that it was a little slower paced than I hoped. It starts on a fairly unremarkable plane ride, not in an action sequence. There's a lot of time spent building character and setting before things catch on fire. The writing is reflective, poetic. I was afraid this wouldn't capture the kids who I think should read books like this.
But now, in hindsight, when I see this cover, the first thing I remember is the harrowing journey through the woods. The terrifying journey without shoes that some of the characters undertake. The trauma and fear of being in such concrete real danger.
I love the cover of this book, and its compact size. It's easy to hold in your hands. I like the section break illustrations and the depictions of Addy's maps. It's nice to have a visual element to help you imagine the journey from point A to point B.
I recommended this to my school friends coordinating their upper-elementary Battle of the Books, and will probably take this out next time I booktalk at Middle Schools.
When I was searching up the article I linked above, I came across this list of resources that is impressive in its length: https://americanhiking.org/hiking-res...
October 11, 2021
Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an early copy for review.
Inspired by the real life Camp Fire in California in 2018, this middle grade survival story follows Addy, a young girl from the Bronx who’s headed to California to participate in a summer wilderness program. Haunted by her parents’ death when she was just four at the hands of a tragic apartment fire, Addy’s grandmother Bibi has enrolled her in this program to broaden her horizons and live up to her name (Aduago, which means daughter of an eagle).
Once she arrives, Addy surprisingly finds herself enjoying the outdoors and learns to camp, hike, rock climb, and most importantly, how to correctly start and put out campfires. Realizing Addy has a need to create maps to show escape routes, the camp’s owner, Leo, shows her how topographical maps work which helps her understand her new environment. As the summer days pass, Addy’s love and respect for the wilderness grows, and she learns to trust the other kids as they depend on each other for companionship and survival.
But when a wildfire approaches Wilderness Adventures, Addy is suddenly faced with the nightmare of her past. It’s up to her to her to lead her friends to safety, and she’ll need all the courage and knowledge she’s obtained to survive.
With flashback scenes to the fire that killed her parents and told in sections titled:
Flying Blind
Discovery
Training
Trapped
Escape
Survive
Flying Home and
Epilogue, this middle grade story will spark discussions surrounding global warming and environmentalism among its readers.
Afterword
Inspired by the real life Camp Fire in California in 2018, this middle grade survival story follows Addy, a young girl from the Bronx who’s headed to California to participate in a summer wilderness program. Haunted by her parents’ death when she was just four at the hands of a tragic apartment fire, Addy’s grandmother Bibi has enrolled her in this program to broaden her horizons and live up to her name (Aduago, which means daughter of an eagle).
Once she arrives, Addy surprisingly finds herself enjoying the outdoors and learns to camp, hike, rock climb, and most importantly, how to correctly start and put out campfires. Realizing Addy has a need to create maps to show escape routes, the camp’s owner, Leo, shows her how topographical maps work which helps her understand her new environment. As the summer days pass, Addy’s love and respect for the wilderness grows, and she learns to trust the other kids as they depend on each other for companionship and survival.
But when a wildfire approaches Wilderness Adventures, Addy is suddenly faced with the nightmare of her past. It’s up to her to her to lead her friends to safety, and she’ll need all the courage and knowledge she’s obtained to survive.
With flashback scenes to the fire that killed her parents and told in sections titled:
Flying Blind
Discovery
Training
Trapped
Escape
Survive
Flying Home and
Epilogue, this middle grade story will spark discussions surrounding global warming and environmentalism among its readers.
Afterword
January 23, 2022
A beautiful, young, black girl. Her name is Addy. Actually, in Nigerian, her proper name is Adaugo, meaning daughter of the eagles. Addy has the gift of aerial perception and can think in 3D. She's good at reading maps, mazes, cartography, and topography. Her grandmother sends her to a wilderness camp in California with five other inner-city black kids from Philly, New York. Addy learns about nature, about herself, and she forms new friendships. The kids get caught in a wildfire, so the book is a real survival story of how Addy has to step up to save herself and her friends. Paradise is similar to Hatchet, except it's a story about a girl who, unlike Brian in Gary Paulson's Hatchet, takes her community along with her, forms alliances, and works with others to try and survive.
I could not put this book down. There's loss and stress, the fire and the escape, and then the injuries. It's a very visual book. I feel like I watched the movie just by reading. I could envision all of the obstacles, Addy's resilience, and her skills, but also how she felt so out of place. Paradise on Fire encourages kids of color to get out into nature.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jew...
I could not put this book down. There's loss and stress, the fire and the escape, and then the injuries. It's a very visual book. I feel like I watched the movie just by reading. I could envision all of the obstacles, Addy's resilience, and her skills, but also how she felt so out of place. Paradise on Fire encourages kids of color to get out into nature.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jew...
November 22, 2021
Excited to add this new Jewell Parker Rhodes to the shelf! I couldn’t put it down.
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✅ strong Black female heroine
✅ snappy, crackling plot
✅ climate change fiction (could be an excellent read aloud paired w a science unit)
✅ wilderness awareness and nature skills
✅ love the Afterword!!!
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Addy (Aduago) is at a summer wilderness awareness camp with four other Black teens. Addy survived a horrible fire that killed her family and is obsessed with mapping exit routes for every situation. When an out of control wildfire threatens a multi-day camping trip, she must use her skills to save her and her friends.
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#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
.
.
.
✅ strong Black female heroine
✅ snappy, crackling plot
✅ climate change fiction (could be an excellent read aloud paired w a science unit)
✅ wilderness awareness and nature skills
✅ love the Afterword!!!
.
.
.
Addy (Aduago) is at a summer wilderness awareness camp with four other Black teens. Addy survived a horrible fire that killed her family and is obsessed with mapping exit routes for every situation. When an out of control wildfire threatens a multi-day camping trip, she must use her skills to save her and her friends.
.
.
.
#middleschoollibrarian #middleschoollibrary #library #librarian #futurereadylibs #iteachlibrary #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #librariesfollowlibraries #librarylife #librarianlife #schoollibrarian #middlegrade #middlegradebooks #iteach #librarylove #booksbooksbooks #amreading #bibliophile #schoollibrariansrock #bookreview #bookrecommendation #igreads #malibrary #msla #mediaspecialist
August 22, 2021
Addy joins five other Black city kids to spend a summer on a mountain ranch to take part in a summer wilderness program. As a young toddler, Addy barely escaped a tragic apartment fire that killed her parents, and now she's obsessed with maps and escape routes. Her Nigerian grandmother thinks that getting away and spending time in nature would be good for her. Addy, who's full name means "daughter of an eagle," quickly takes to life in the woods and learns how to read and draw topographical maps. But on one of their last days, the group of kids leave the only skilled woodsman behind and head out for an overnight camping trip. In the middle of the night, a forest fire erupts and they flee down the ridge, heading toward the creek they know is below. Addy's narrative focuses on survival and her escape is heart-poundiogly realistic, although I was left in the end not feeling like I got to know the other characters.
July 24, 2022
If I am trapped in a forest fire, these are the teenages I want to get me out. A group of inner city Black Youth are send to Wilderness Adventures to learn new experiences. They will engage in camping, hiking, horseback riding, learn about nature, see bald eagles and waterfalls, learn the danger of wildfires, learn topography, and host of other skills.
Addy, lost her parents in a fire, she is frighten of fire and has no friends. She still has nightmares of the trauma. It was her grandmother's idea she takes this adventure to face her fears. Without notice the group Jamie, Dylan, Nessa, DeShon, Jay, A'Leia, Kelvin, and Addy are in a real forest fire. Addy takes everything she has learned plus her confidence to lead her crew (Nessa, DeShon, Jay) home. Read about her bravery and the devastation of the forest due to climate change and ignorance of humans.
Quotes:
"Interesting. Most people just don't want to be lost."
"Intuition. Most folks think the environment they're born into is the only way to live. You never know
until you've been somewhere, seen something different."
"This is white people's food," jokes Kelvin. Us kids laugh. It's kinda true. Before this summer, none of us had ever had s'mores.
Addy, lost her parents in a fire, she is frighten of fire and has no friends. She still has nightmares of the trauma. It was her grandmother's idea she takes this adventure to face her fears. Without notice the group Jamie, Dylan, Nessa, DeShon, Jay, A'Leia, Kelvin, and Addy are in a real forest fire. Addy takes everything she has learned plus her confidence to lead her crew (Nessa, DeShon, Jay) home. Read about her bravery and the devastation of the forest due to climate change and ignorance of humans.
Quotes:
"Interesting. Most people just don't want to be lost."
"Intuition. Most folks think the environment they're born into is the only way to live. You never know
until you've been somewhere, seen something different."
"This is white people's food," jokes Kelvin. Us kids laugh. It's kinda true. Before this summer, none of us had ever had s'mores.
September 8, 2021
“To know yourself, you need to journey, Adaugo. Remember what’s forgotten.” (7)
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“I need to see everything. I need to know where to run, where to hide…where to stay. Where to fly. Escape. Flee. From what? My mind answers, ‘Fire.’” (64)
Adaugo is enrolled in Wilderness Adventures, a summer camp in Paradise, California, for a group of six Black teens from eastern cities. There she meets fellow campers Jay, Nessa, Kelvin, A’Leia, DeShon and counselors Jamie and Dylan. Most importantly—and advantageously, she meets Leo, the ranch owner and avid environmentalist, and his dog Ryder.
Pretty much a loner, Addy lives with her Nigerian grandmother, her Bibi, who has raised her ever since her parents were killed in a house fire when her mother threw the four-year-old Adaugo out the window to fly to safety. Since then, Addy is obsessed with mazes, maps, escape routes.
At the camp the adolescents learn to hike, climb, repel, and respect nature. Addy sees them all becoming stronger, more of what they can be. “We’re pulling far, far,…farther away from being our old selves, just city kids. I’m becoming new. More me.” (87)
Leo observes Addy’s needs and teaches her how to read maps and map the natural environment. He knows that in the forest everyone needs an escape route. “Forests burn. Animals’ homes are destroyed. As our planet warms, there are more heat related deaths.” (119) However, “97 percent of wildfires are ignited by people.” (Afterword, 244)
When the six teens and their counselors leave for their final hike and campout, fire breaks out and the group disagrees on the best way out of the forest. Dylan and Jaime insist on hiking north where the ranch is, taking Kelvin and A’Leia with them, while Addy’s instincts tell her to go the opposite way, toward water. She is convinced there is a way out. “There’s always a way out. Use your mind, your heart.” (157) Jay, Nessa, and DeShon follow her, believe in her.
On a harrowing journey, the four, led by Addy, work together, employing the skills and knowledge they have cultivated on their city streets and in the wilderness. Addy realizes, “Jay’s awesome; Nessa’s kind; and DeShon’s actually a good guy. They’re my crew—never had one before. Who knew? Never knew how much I needed one.” (158) “Survival is more than just me.” (205)
This is a survival story, featuring a teen who is resilient and caring and learns to rely on her instincts— and learns a love for nature. It is a novel filled with details, and information, and will engage readers looking for adventure and readers who are future environmentalists and anyone who loves beautiful language and imagery: “Pancake clouds float. Mountain clouds burst, scatter as the plane flies through them.” (9) Written in short sentences, it a novel appropriate for both emerging and proficient readers and even though the characters are teens is appropriate for grades 4 and up.
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“I need to see everything. I need to know where to run, where to hide…where to stay. Where to fly. Escape. Flee. From what? My mind answers, ‘Fire.’” (64)
Adaugo is enrolled in Wilderness Adventures, a summer camp in Paradise, California, for a group of six Black teens from eastern cities. There she meets fellow campers Jay, Nessa, Kelvin, A’Leia, DeShon and counselors Jamie and Dylan. Most importantly—and advantageously, she meets Leo, the ranch owner and avid environmentalist, and his dog Ryder.
Pretty much a loner, Addy lives with her Nigerian grandmother, her Bibi, who has raised her ever since her parents were killed in a house fire when her mother threw the four-year-old Adaugo out the window to fly to safety. Since then, Addy is obsessed with mazes, maps, escape routes.
At the camp the adolescents learn to hike, climb, repel, and respect nature. Addy sees them all becoming stronger, more of what they can be. “We’re pulling far, far,…farther away from being our old selves, just city kids. I’m becoming new. More me.” (87)
Leo observes Addy’s needs and teaches her how to read maps and map the natural environment. He knows that in the forest everyone needs an escape route. “Forests burn. Animals’ homes are destroyed. As our planet warms, there are more heat related deaths.” (119) However, “97 percent of wildfires are ignited by people.” (Afterword, 244)
When the six teens and their counselors leave for their final hike and campout, fire breaks out and the group disagrees on the best way out of the forest. Dylan and Jaime insist on hiking north where the ranch is, taking Kelvin and A’Leia with them, while Addy’s instincts tell her to go the opposite way, toward water. She is convinced there is a way out. “There’s always a way out. Use your mind, your heart.” (157) Jay, Nessa, and DeShon follow her, believe in her.
On a harrowing journey, the four, led by Addy, work together, employing the skills and knowledge they have cultivated on their city streets and in the wilderness. Addy realizes, “Jay’s awesome; Nessa’s kind; and DeShon’s actually a good guy. They’re my crew—never had one before. Who knew? Never knew how much I needed one.” (158) “Survival is more than just me.” (205)
This is a survival story, featuring a teen who is resilient and caring and learns to rely on her instincts— and learns a love for nature. It is a novel filled with details, and information, and will engage readers looking for adventure and readers who are future environmentalists and anyone who loves beautiful language and imagery: “Pancake clouds float. Mountain clouds burst, scatter as the plane flies through them.” (9) Written in short sentences, it a novel appropriate for both emerging and proficient readers and even though the characters are teens is appropriate for grades 4 and up.
October 11, 2021
*Thank you to Toppsta for providing me a review copy of this book!*
Addy is always looking for an escape. Ever since a fire killed her parents when she was younger, she has sworn to be more alert. One summer, her grandma sends her to a wilderness camp and there she finally finds herself, in the maps, hiking and new friendships. But it isn't long until the peace is shattered by a devastating forest fire which threatens them all.
This is the second book I've read by this author and I really love the way she tackles real-world issues with such care while at the same time not shying away from the reality. Paradise on Fire has really opened my eyes to the devastating affects of carelessness in nature and how just one small mistake has incredible consequences. I really loved the characters and how, even though this book was short, the author did a good job of exploring each of their unique personalities.
The ending was so sad and powerful and definitely the part that resonated with me the most. I liked how we got to see life move on in the epilogue and how the author left us experiencing the new life and growth which came after the fire. This is a book that I would definitely recommend to anyone aged 10+. Happy Reading :)
Addy is always looking for an escape. Ever since a fire killed her parents when she was younger, she has sworn to be more alert. One summer, her grandma sends her to a wilderness camp and there she finally finds herself, in the maps, hiking and new friendships. But it isn't long until the peace is shattered by a devastating forest fire which threatens them all.
This is the second book I've read by this author and I really love the way she tackles real-world issues with such care while at the same time not shying away from the reality. Paradise on Fire has really opened my eyes to the devastating affects of carelessness in nature and how just one small mistake has incredible consequences. I really loved the characters and how, even though this book was short, the author did a good job of exploring each of their unique personalities.
The ending was so sad and powerful and definitely the part that resonated with me the most. I liked how we got to see life move on in the epilogue and how the author left us experiencing the new life and growth which came after the fire. This is a book that I would definitely recommend to anyone aged 10+. Happy Reading :)
April 2, 2025
This was a really good book that had me on the edge of my seat. The beginning was kind of slow, but after while, the book got very intense! Addy the main character in the story had a hard past and was a very quiet girl, but when her friends at camp were in danger from the fierce wildfire destroying acres of land, she took charge and lead them to safety. I love being able to read books with inspiring female characters, and this was definitely one of them.
October 1, 2021
Rich descriptions, thoughtful exploration of a recurring nightmare, and the teens’ adventure made this an excellent and quick read. If peeps can handle some preaching about climate change, I recommend this book to anyone in middle school or older.
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