Controlled Burn

by Erin Soderberg Downing

Twelve-year-old Maia’s parents say she’s lucky she noticed something as early as she did. Lucky to have smelled the smoke, lucky to have pulled her sister, Amelia, out of their burning house. But is it really “lucky” when Amelia’s stuck in the hospital, covered in burns? And is it "lucky” when Maia knows it was her candle, left unattended, that started the fire in the first place?

When she’s sent to spend the summer with her grandparents in Northern Minnesota while her sister heals, Maia discovers that her anxieties and demons are intent on following her wherever she goes…unless she can figure out how to overcome them. But what if she can’t? Maia barely knows her grandparents, she desperately misses her sister and home, and she’s not thrilled to be spending the summer with Grandpa Howard on his daily motorcycle rides out to the middle of the woods, where he spends all day keeping watch for forest fires. There are no kids her age in Gram and Pop’s small town at “the end of the road”—just the chatty nine-year-old neighbor who is intent on getting his Bear Scout badge at all costs, and a friendly, stray dog who’s been lurking around.

But Maia will soon learn that nature is a powerful teacher, and sometimes our greatest strengths show themselves when we have to be there for someone else. As Maia begins to figure out how to face her guilt and paralyzing fears, she’ll discover there’s a fine line between fear and adventure. And when danger strikes again, Maia must summon all her bravery and overcome her self-doubt if she wants to save those she loves most.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

I read and write lots of funny, adventurous, & heartwarming books for kids, tweens, and teens (and even a few romantic comedies for adults, too!) that are ultimately about finding your place, finding your people, and finding your voice. I always love book recommendations, so please send them my way. As a reader, I'm partial to contemporary romantic comedy, thrillers that keep the pages turning and have well-built characters, funny/original voices, quirky characters, and always kids' books with humor and heart.

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful middle-grade novel.
A young girl must learn to face her fears, and deal with overwhelming guilt, after her younger sister is burned in a fire that she believes was started with her candle. The author does a masterful job of showing how the deep love of a family can get them through tragic circumstances.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maia has always battled fears that others might see as irrational—heights, swimming, and more. Then she freezes during a fire at her house, one that she may have caused, and her sister is left badly burned. While Amelia lies in a hospital bed facing a long recovery and her parents split their time between hospital and home restoration, Maia is sent to spend the summer with her grandparents. While in small town Minnesota, Maia begins to face some of those fears and deal with her feeling of guilt and with the help of a 9 year friend, her grandparents, a fire tower, and a dog named Bear, she will find healing and a confidence she never thought possible. Author Erin Downing (The Great Peach Experiment series and more) has always had a love of the outdoors and family members have been directly involved in fire fighting. These real life connections bring a sense of authenticity to Maia’s story and will keep readers reading. Outstanding book and highly recommended for readers of realistic fiction in grades 4-7. Representation: Race is not specified for any characters; single parent family; Maia displays unhealthy anxiety but receives family and friend support as well as begins to see a therapist. No profanity, violence or sexual content.

Thanks for the print arc, Erin Soderberg Downing! #BookAllies will share!

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's start at the beginning. I liked how it went right off with the trauma, instead of building up to it for 5 chapters. I hate when books do that. The feeling of freezing up and not being able to do something is very relateable. It is nice that her sister is still badly injured because it keeps the story moving, and one more thing for Maia to worry about. However, moving in with family that you barely know is a common thing in books. I've always wanted to write books that go beyond book expectations. Other than that, I like how grandma-like Grandma Bea is and how I-don't-want-to-be-here Grandpa Howard is. You can see how Maia's weekly motorcycle rides out to the fire tower slowly change her through time, and the author spreads the change out nicely. Also, Griffin is the cutest kid! Overall, Maia develops a lot through swim lessons, raising animals, helping Griffin with his scout badges, etc. The ending is sweet, I like that too. This book is very relateable, however, it only gets 4 stars because it was not amazing.

[leela ⚡️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg!! This book was amazing. I really loved all of the components and the plot. The theme and the things Maia learned at the end of the book were really inspiring. 🤩💕✨

[Elise Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars I think it ended to quickly.

[Brianna Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I watched the Scholastic Book Fair highlights video with a trailer for this book, I've wanted to read it. My students were also super excited about this book. I will admit, it wasn't quite as intense as I had expected it to be but the character building was wonderful. I loved seeing how Maia grew through her emotional healing process while her sister was enduring a physical healing process. I loved the relationship Maia had with her grandfather and how she discovered that they had something in common with her experience with the house fire. Although I was happy with Maia when she was told that it was not her candle that caused the fire, a part of me wished that we could have seen how she would cope with discovering that it actually was her candle that caused it. I think that would have made an even more profound story of how her thinking changed about the incident and how she learned to forgive herself.

[Laurel Patrick]

I think it was a good book when she was in minisota she saved her sister and even when she visited her grandparents house she saved her grandpa from a forest fire.

[Heaven Adore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating - 4.5 stars

✨ The beginning does not have much dialogue, which makes it a tad slow. Perhaps it's because Maia is recapping what happened with the fire, though, the author is doing more telling than showing. I think it would've been nicer if within the recap we got flashbacks as to what went on, at least with the parts that Maia remembered happening.

✨ Big Bear is like Muta from The Cat Returns, which is so fun! He doesn't belong to anyone and just roams to different people's houses. I don't know if that was done on purpose, but I love that.

✨ The theme of letting go is quite prevalent in this book. I like how throughout the book, we learn more and more about how Maia is, or isn't coping with the tragic fire, despite others not fully knowing. It adds some depth to her character and also makes her realistic.

✨ At some points it was talked about how wildfires are handled, but we weren't bogged down a ton of details as if it was an educational segment of a PBS Kids show. Most authors don't do that well, but Downing nailed it!

✨ The descriptions are wonderful. They were so detailed, especially with Maia's feelings, which made it easier to sympathize with her and made me want to give her a hug. And then, descriptions of characters and settings are quite vivid, which makes reading the book more engaging.

✨ If you enjoy family relationships, and stories about grief and healing, then this book is for you!

[Leigh Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Controlled Burn is a story about conquering fears, strong family bonds, and friendship. I have always been fascinated, yet fearful, of fire, so this book was of high interest to me. I think it will be for students too! Mental health is addressed in a compassionate way with the support of family and therapy. I think kids need to see this more in middle-grade books. Thank you Erin Soderberg Downing for the advanced copy! I will certainly be book talking this one when we return in the fall.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have kids or students who are crazy about Lauren Tarshis’s I Survived! series then Controlled Burn by Erin Soderberg Downing is a must for them! It’s higher complexity, and gorgeous in its relationship-building and characterization - plus that whole edge-of-your-seat adventure thing. :-)

[charlie! · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the road again. That’s why I finished this in about 2 hours. Anyways, I loved it! Maia changes SO much from the beginning to the end. Some parts did get boring, but it truly teaches you to let go of the past. I would recommend.🩷🩷🩷

[Michele Knott · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written. I love the mirrored stories of Maia and her grandfather and the guilt they placed upon themselves and how they were able to help each other. This one was hard to put down!

[Nicky Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! Can’t wait to recommend to students (especially those needing encouragement to conquer their fears!)

[Keely Seider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting young adult book. It was the first book in our school’s battle of the books. The book shows how a young girl overcomes many of her fears. I liked it a lot.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book fair pre-reading season is in full swing! Two good ones in a row! 4th and 5th will love this one.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story about family and the aftermath of tragedy. Maia’s anxiety and fears amplify after a house fire burns her younger sister. Maia is sent to live with her grandparents while her parents tend to her sister in the hospital. Her grandparents are so wonderfully written and their care and patience with Maia helps her heal. Loved this book! It would make such a great read aloud!

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My almost 9 year old son loved this book, and my 12 year old ended up sitting in during his brother’s book time because he liked it too. My youngest is into firefighting, wildfire control, etc., so he loved this book. I loved how the author included different kinds of grief and managing big feelings like guilt and normalizing therapy as a way to move through difficult things. I’d love to read more! Thank you for a good family read!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I chuckled quite a bit. I cried more times than I would like to admit. The writing was great and so was the plot. I realize this is a middle school book, but I really enjoyed it!

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Well-written book with distinct characters. Didn’t love how little the parents took care of Maia after the fire, but her time healing with her grandparents and new friend Griffin was nostalgic and extremely sweet.

[Gwynivere Elefante · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. The main character Maia was really relatable and it was enjoyable to read about a character you can see yourself in. The story also was vey interesting. The ending was great and the whole book was a page turner. I recommend you read.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Maia's house is undergoing rennovations, and a devastating fire while she is home alone with her sister Amelia leaves her sister suffering from massive burns and the family's home destroyed. Maia feels that the fire is her fault but keeps this to herself after she is hailed as a hero for saving her sister. With Amelia in the hospital, Maia is sent from her Chicago area home to stay with her grandmother and grandfather in a very small town in Minnesota. She usually only sees her grandparents once a year during awkward visits, so Maia isn't thrilled. It's not all bad; her father has a dog, Bear, that hangs around the house, she meets a younger neighbor boy, Griffin, and her grandmother is willing to take her different places when she's not working at a local store. The grandparents don't have a lot of patience for Maia's constant anxiety, however. Her grandfather, a gruff, reticent sort, spends his days at the top of a local fire tower, where he worked for years. Even in retirement, he likes to keep watch to make sure that the area is safe. Given Maia's dealings with fire, she not thrilled, and definitely doesn't want to climb to the top of the tower. Her grandfather is perfectly happy to leave her on the ground, which gets a bit boring. Eventually, they bring Bear, and Maia manages to spend some time with Griffin working on scout badges, including a swimming one. Amelia is making very slow progress, and her parents check in with Maia frequently, but she really just wants them to ask her to come home. She eventually talks to her grandparents about her fear that she caused the fire and her general anxiety. Her grandfather even explains some of his past, and they help her to see that dwelling on the past or worrying about the future is not a productive way to spend time. This proves especially helpful in motivating Maia to go outside her comfort zone when she really needs to.
Strengths: Well, I feel seen! While I don't have Minnesota roots, I do have some embroidered sweatshirts, and share a generational view of dealing with anxiety shared by the grandparents. Downing does an excellent job in portraying both Maia's and her grandparents' reactions to events in their lives as somewhat reasonable, but also shows that these reactions are sometimes not in their own best interests. This is such a refreshing change; usually older generations' advice or coping skills are discounted or treated as inferior, but I loved the balance, especially when everyone involved is able to heal a little bit using other methods. The Minnesota setting is fun, and Maia has a generally positive outlook, as evidenced by her willingness to work with Griffin. The details about the fire tower and quite interesting. Weaknesses: I would almost have liked to see a tiny bit more about Maia's life in Chicago so that I understood her more, but young readers will be glad that things happen right away. Starting a book with a fire is always a way to get people interested in a book.
What I really think: Pair this one with Henry's Playing with Fire, since both include a bit about house fires and wildnerness ones, although this doesn't have the survival element of Henry's work. This had more of a feel of Bishop's Where I Used to Roam, with a problem at home that sends a child to spend the summer with relatives. An intriguing realistic fiction title with a message of resiliency and an upward emotional arc.

[Jinx of the desert · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Controlled Burn' follows Maia, a twelve year old who experiences one of the worst things that can happen in someone's house. A fire. The kind that leaves a house and people in ruins. What follows is what happens after, and how to recover from such a traumatic experience.

I honestly didn't know much about this book when I ordered it from our local library. Firewatch towers in books, podcasts, video games, etc. have always fascinated me. And it's a far-off dream that, one day, I get to spend a few days in one. So, when I saw the cover for the book, I immediately checked it out without reading 'what' it was about, so went in pretty blind. I was immediately hit with every emotion possible and in the best way. Downing's writing truly brings to life Maia's world, and how someone her age would be dealing with something so traumatic; it felt accurate in the kind of heart-wrenching way it would be if you felt responsible.

The characters are a big aspect of this book and, at the end, they felt like actual people who changed and grew throughout the story. Maia and Griffen's friendship within this story felt so wonderfully innocent and encapsulated the feel of a summer friendship; not to mention the true standout between Maia and her Grandfather, something I was looking forward to when I saw the puzzle pieces there and then slowly being put together, one slot at a time. They truly were the soul of this book and felt incredibly accurate and heartwarming to see.

There was also so much knowledge scattered around the book concerning how fire's start, how they're dealt with, etc. that I found truly insightful. Many of which I didn't know!

My final verdict? This is a wonderful middle grade that showcases why I love reading them. It takes a very serious subject and a traumatic experience and helps present it to us in a way we understand (regardless of age) and still feel the depth. And if I finish a book with a huge smile on my face, I count that as a win in my book.

[Amy]

I was proud of us, and sometimes that mattered even more. p. 108
Kid, you gotta learn that you can't prevent all bad things from happening, and you definitely can't change the things that have already happened. p. 118
Was it better, I wondered, to never know how things would have been if life had played out differently? Was it easier not to have to mourn the things you never knew you'd lost? p. 126
We're her family now, and a family's job is to take care of each other when bad stuff happens. p. 127
Sometimes...the bet thing you can do is spend some time figuring out what it is that other people need and want. Because that isn't always exactly the same as what you need or want. And then you gotta decide, at this moment in time, which of those things matters more? p. 137
...keeping watch over them made me feel a little stronger. Loving them and protecting them gave me a kind of purpose, I guess. p. 146
I guess fears are little bit like a forest fire then. If you catch them before they get too big, they're easier to keep under control. p. 158
even things that scared her were thrilling. She always managed to maintain the belief that even the most awful experiences had the potential to end with something beautiful. p. 190 (e.g. rainbow)
This is one of those times where you need to think about what others need from you, not what will make you feel better. p. 192
The only thing we can do now is stop wondering what might have happened if things had gone differently, and figure out how to move on from here. p. 212
You only have the power to control how you react... p. 234
...acknowledge my fears and emtions; let them flare up and be noticed, instead of trying to tamp them down and pretend they didn't exist. Sometimes...you had to face a fear and let it take hold in order to fight it.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and publisher for sharing an early copy with #bookexpedition.

Twelve year old Maia is labeled a hero after pulling her younger sister Amelia out of their house fire. But Maia doesn’t feel like a hero, especially when Amelia is stuck in the hospital, covered in burns, and Maia thinks it was her candle, left unattended, that put her sister in harm’s way.

Sent to live with her grandparents in northern Minnesota while her parents tend to Amelia, Maia’s always there worries intensify. Determined to overcome her fears, Maia befriends a chatty nine year old neighbor named Griffin who’s focused on earning his Bear Scout Badge, no matter what it takes.

Maia slowly settles into her new summer routine, training a stray dog named Bear, helping Griffin work toward his badge, and spending long days with her Grandpa, who spends his days atop a high tower watching for forest fires. As Maia learns how to face her fears, she discovers a side to her that she never knew was there…adventurer.

Publishing in November of 2022, the author’s note should not be missed. This is a must add to any middle grade library. Pre-order now!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maia is scrolling on her phone when she first notices that something is wrong. Slowly, she realizes that her house is on fire, and she is the only one who can save her little sister who is asleep in her room. Though Maia is able to pull her sister out of the flames, Amelia is badly burned.

While Maia’s parents and sister focus on Amelia’s recovery, Maia stays in Minnesota with her grandparents. But she has a terrible secret: it’s her fault that the fire started. Plagued by guilt, grief, and fear, Maia spends her days with her grandfather in the woods at the Fire Tower—a place her grandfather volunteers at to spot wildfires. She is left to wonder: will her sister ever recover, and is it her fault if she doesn’t?

🔥🔥

This was such an emotional read about guilt and grief and how it can seep into traumatic moments. I will say, when I saw the cover of this book I thought it would be more like Two Degrees by Alan Gratz, but instead of being a super action-packed thriller, this is much more of a focused character study on how someone processes guilt and fear after the unimaginable occurs. This was a great read and I’m excited it’s on the #GoldenSower nominee list!!

[K Dills · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a story about tragedy, challenges, and internal turmoil, you realize that sometimes the most difficult obstacles can bring about a greater determination and resolve. This book is about a young girl, Maia, who escapes a house fire, saving her sister in the process. But, she is sent away for the end of the school year and summer months to experience life at her grandparents house while her family is back home healing from the fire that almost destroyed their home and possibly their lives.
There is an authenticity depicted in each of the characters in this story. I enjoyed the perspective used to show how each personality learns to interact with the others while respecting the differences that are obvious and not so obvious. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a reminder of how to use the hardest experiences in life to serve as a reminder to continue to keep trying and realizing that as Downing states on page 234, "You only have the power to control how you react to (the things that are out of your control)."

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Maia’s parents say she’s lucky she noticed something as early as she did. Lucky to have smelled the smoke, lucky to have pulled her sister,
Amelia, out of their burning house. But is it really “lucky” when Amelia’s stuck in the hospital, covered in burns? And is it “lucky” when Maia knows it was her candle, left unattended, that started the fire in the first place?
How do you recover after destroying everything you love? Maia is sent to spend the summer with her grandparents in Minnesota where she discovers that her anxieties and demons are intent on following her wherever she goes.
Maia will learn that nature is a powerful teacher, and sometimes our greatest strengths show themselves when we have to be there for someone else.
“Sometimes a forest needs to burn to get rid of some of the fuel on the ground. It allows the forest to renew itself. This forest needed to burn in order to survive and thrive.”

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fresh take on the forest fire/adventure genre! Maia rescues her sister from a house fire but is guilt-ridden that she didn’t save her as quickly as she could have. When her parents send her to stay with her grandparents in remote Minnesota for the summer while her sister recovers, she feels as if she is being punished. Maia spends most days accompanying her grandfather to the nearby fire tower where he volunteers to watch for forest fires. Although Maia accompanies him, she can never muster the courage to overcome her fear of heights and spends her days exploring the woods around the tower with her grandfather’s dog. As the summer progresses, Maia tackles her fears one by one with the help of a neighbor boy tackling some issues of his own. A great story about family and resilience.

[شمس الاصيل · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this book in a book fair in my daughter's school and decided to borrow it from the public library. It was that heavy feeling of keeping what Maia -the main character- considered a secret, that her candle started the fire that almost killed her sister and destroyed their home, it was that heavy feeling along with that guilt that made me so curious to read the book.

For me, it was a bit boring in the beginning, with Maia keeps repeating how guilty she felt for what happened till she moves to live with her grandparents, that was the turning point for me that made me want to finish the book to know how things between her and her grands will end up.

I can claim that the book cover is giving the reader a bit of a hint on how things will develop but yet that was even more of an incentive to me to keep reading. This book is the first book -in years- that I finish :( I started LOTS of books and was never able to force myself to continue reading and this book changed that, this is why I felt a review is due to cherish this 'achievement' :)

[Maria Steffen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I Loved
I loved the character development of Maia in this story and the realism of her emotions as she worked through an experience that would leave anyone with so many "what ifs?" I loved the relationship Maia developed with her grandfather, and the unexpected connection that is revealed near the end of the story. I loved the mental health / anxiety issues that are addressed through Maia's character, as there are so many students that need to see this example.

What I Didn't Love
I thought the first 2/3 of the story were a bit slow, especially considering the catastrophic event that surrounds the characters. However, the final 1/3 made up for it, leaving me with a love for Maia and ideas that left lingering thoughts for me, which I love in any story.

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