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Escape from the Wildfire
"The finely detailed plot unwinds slowly, but make no mistake — it’s a page-turner." — Kirkus Reviews
Escape from the Wildfire offers a fictional account based on the real-life facts of the disastrous wildfire of 2021 that destroyed the town of Lytton after days of scorching heat. Dorothy Bentley’s own experiences of living through a wildfire led her to research the experience of Lytton residents so she could write the story of a resilient teen surviving an environmental catastrophe.
The summer of 2021 is hot even for B.C.’s arid interior under a record-breaking heat dome. Fourteen-year-old Jack hangs out with his friends Scott, Tess, and Indigenous teen Rory. On June 30, a wildfire inferno descends with horrifying suddenness. Jack must flee for his life, evacuated to a nearby town. Jack and his friends are aware of the context and possible causes of the wildfire He must come to terms with the loss of his entire village, the idea of starting all over again, and the need to change how we interact with the climate we depend on to survive.
Dorothy Bentley has written an adventure story for our time, enabling young readers to consider the consequences of ever more frequent disasters triggered by climate change.
Escape from the Wildfire offers a fictional account based on the real-life facts of the disastrous wildfire of 2021 that destroyed the town of Lytton after days of scorching heat. Dorothy Bentley’s own experiences of living through a wildfire led her to research the experience of Lytton residents so she could write the story of a resilient teen surviving an environmental catastrophe.
The summer of 2021 is hot even for B.C.’s arid interior under a record-breaking heat dome. Fourteen-year-old Jack hangs out with his friends Scott, Tess, and Indigenous teen Rory. On June 30, a wildfire inferno descends with horrifying suddenness. Jack must flee for his life, evacuated to a nearby town. Jack and his friends are aware of the context and possible causes of the wildfire He must come to terms with the loss of his entire village, the idea of starting all over again, and the need to change how we interact with the climate we depend on to survive.
Dorothy Bentley has written an adventure story for our time, enabling young readers to consider the consequences of ever more frequent disasters triggered by climate change.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 30, 2025
Above all, this is the story about a family fleeing their home because of a wildfire, told from the POV of Jack, a teen. He's a typical boy who likes video games, mountain biking, hangoing out with his friends, and his family. He's also noticed a girl around... she seems pretty cool. This is a sweet innocent crush.
The book is popular with older teens who don't like reading, with schools for topics related to science (biodiversity & climate), and with English teachers to get reluctant kids reading, as it's a page-turner.
A note about the climate: it isn't mentioned at all in the story; the publisher attributes wildfire to climate, however, the endnotes include various sources with which to explore the issue more widely, from climate's natural ever-changing cycles.
The book and author take a non-alarmist stance.
The book is popular with older teens who don't like reading, with schools for topics related to science (biodiversity & climate), and with English teachers to get reluctant kids reading, as it's a page-turner.
A note about the climate: it isn't mentioned at all in the story; the publisher attributes wildfire to climate, however, the endnotes include various sources with which to explore the issue more widely, from climate's natural ever-changing cycles.
The book and author take a non-alarmist stance.
March 29, 2023
I wrote this book. I gave a 5-star review to the editors, the publisher, the scientists, and printer. A LOT of research, editing, and input from my sons went into this book, so I thank everyone who helped make it happen.
April 6, 2023
You know I used to be terrified of fire but I don't think anyone knew that
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews