PARADISE ON FIRE

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

From award-winning 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. 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 group learns 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.

Dear Reader,

Every summer, we are all reminded of the devastating impact of the wildfires in the west, with haze-filled skies reaching all the way to the east coast. In Paradise on Fire, six Black city kids enrolled in a wilderness program are confronted with a raging forest fire. It is Addy who draws on her inner strength to inspire her campmates and save them.

In writing both Paradise on Fire and my novel Ninth Ward, I tried to channel the late, great Gary Paulsen. Hatchet is Paulsen's novel about a young white boy who survives in the wilderness. Yet Addy isn’t the sole survivor. She is the girl that wins the respect of her companions and fights beyond measure, to save them. In appreciating the natural world, she becomes one of its champions.

Did you know that less than five percent of visitors to our National Parks are people of color? My hope is that this story sheds light on the systemic issues we face in terms of access to nature and that we can work toward all communities experiencing the benefits of the great outdoors.

As we enjoy the warm months ahead, I hope you’ll find yourself reading outside and are reminded of the importance of being in the wild and protecting the wild.

For any outdoor adventure, it is essential to pack foods high in protein to stay energized.

As Addy and her campmates struggle to survive a terrain of fire and smoke, they rely on coconut granola bars to refuel. Protein bars are easy, delicious, and endlessly customizable. Book club members can try their hand at creating their own custom bars and have a tasting at their meeting.

Or consider taking your book club outside underneath the stars and enjoy making s’mores around a fire. Remember to practice fire safety, of course!

-Jewell Parker Rhodes