Paradise on Fire

Jewell Parker Rhodes delivers a powerful survival story centered on Addy, a young Black girl still grappling with the tragic fire that killed her parents. Sent to a wilderness program in California's Paradise region, Addy joins other diverse city kids learning survival skills. When a devastating forest fire ignites, Addy must overcome her trauma, utilize her newfound skills, and lead her friends to safety. The book thoughtfully explores themes of grief, resilience, friendship, and leadership, while also touching on issues of race, class, and climate change. Parents should be aware of the prominent themes of death and peril, as not all characters survive the fire, making it a poignant and intense read.

From award-winning and bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful 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, in the Paradise region of California, 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. Not all are saved. But remembering her origins and grandmother’s teachings, she’s able to use street smarts, wilderness skills, and her spiritual intuition to survive.