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Searching... Mishawaka Library | Teen Book | 33028011883438 | Teen Fiction HENRY, April | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
When a fire cuts off a popular trail in the Oregon forest, a small group trapped by the flames must find another way out--or die--in Playing with Fire , an unrelenting teen-vs-nature YA thriller by New York Times bestselling author April Henry.
Natalia is not the kind of girl who takes risks. Six years ago, she barely survived the house fire that killed her baby brother. Now she is cautious and always plays it safe. For months, her co-worker Wyatt has begged her to come hiking with him, and Natalia finally agrees.
But when a wildfire breaks out, blocking the trail back, a perfect sunny day quickly morphs into a nightmare. With no cell service, few supplies, and no clear way out of the burning forest, a group of strangers will have to become allies if they're going to survive. Hiking in the dark, they must deal with injuries, wild animals and even a criminal on the lam--before the fire catches them.
Christy Ottaviano Books
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Natalia bears the burden of having accidentally started a fire that resulted in burns to her legs and the death of her little brother. Six years later, she's working at an ice cream stand with Wyatt. When he invites her to go hiking on a trail leading to a waterfall, she reluctantly agrees. When they're trapped by a fire, the dry conditions send flames ripping toward them. The two teens, along with a group of fellow hikers, must deal with treachery, life-threatening situations, and the ever-present inferno chasing them along steep and uneven trails. All of the action happens during a 24-hour period. Amy McFadden's narration is well done, but each emergency includes exposition that almost comes across as a wilderness medicine lecture. VERDICT An audiobook that outdoor enthusiasts, adrenaline junkies, and those who have had a similar experience will easily relate to.--John R. Clark, formerly with Hartland P.L., ME
Kirkus Review
A group of strangers searches for a path to safety as a forest fire encroaches on them in this adventure thriller. Natalia and Wyatt, two teens from Portland, Oregon, venture on a short hike which goes awry when a fire breaks out, blocking the trail. Wyatt's wilderness experience and Natalia's aspirations to become a doctor prove to be boons for the people they encounter and join forces with as they are trying to escape. These include a family--Ryan, Lisa, and their toddler, Trask; a man called Darryl and his grandson, Zion; Beatriz and Marco, a young coup an older woman named Susan; and two men, AJ and Jason. In an escalating accumulation of bad luck that strains credulity, the group members in turn experience extraordinary injuries, health problems, and psychological challenges during the ill-fated journey. Natalia struggles with tragic events from her past that are explained in several interspersed flashbacks. The fast-paced action described through Natalia's anxious but practical third-person voice will initially hook readers, and for those able to suspend their disbelief, it may carry them through the novel. However, the shallow presentation, particularly of the secondary characters, may lessen the title's appeal. Natalia and Wyatt seem to be White by defau
Booklist Review
Haunted by a devastating fire in her childhood, Natalia is afraid of a lot of things: fire, heights, water. So when her crush, Wyatt, begs her to go hiking in the tranquil Oregon woods, Natalia is reluctant, though she agrees. The hike is ruined when a forest fire erupts and cuts off her group of hikers, forcing them all to work together to survive and escape. Natalia becomes the "doctor" of the group, helping those that are injured, yet her fears might be the thing that can't be fixed. Prolific, best-selling Henry (The Girl in the White Van, 2020) returns with a novel based on the Eagle Creek Fire of 2017. As the group of strangers try to survive a natural event, Henry employs flashbacks in order to give readers insight into the roots of Natalia's fear and anxiety. Inspiration abounds, though, as the teens work together, making this read adventurous as well as satisfying.