An incredibly reflective narrative, focused as much on the emotional journey as it is on the physical danger. The foreshadowing is a bit heavy handed but ultimately is engaging enough to pull it off.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to TBR & Beyond Tours, Netgalley, Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

It kind of threw me off on how short this book was because it just felt so intense as we go through it. It isn’t always so high strung or anything, but knowing what Addy – Adaugo is her full name – went through and what she is trying to forget seriously just breaks my heart. It’s clear that she has been suffering from PTSD since the events that left her an orphan. I’m happy that her grandmother Bibi was able to move from Nigeria to New York in order to raise her after Addy’s parents died, but I know it’s not the same for her. She’s tried to repress what happened in that apartment so long ago, that throughout this book, it seems like there are some parts of that night that are trying to come back to the surface.

Clearly being trapped in an apartment during a fire, and being the only one to make it out alive has taken a toll on Addy, and dictates her behavior to this day. She draws maps, which is cool in and of itself, but if you listen to her inner monologues, you can see that her maps aren’t so that she doesn’t get lost. She says it every time, it’s to make sure that she “can escape”. That’s the bottom line for her: escape routes. I am always looking for escape routes as well whenever I’m out somewhere, especially alone, but not to this extent. I understand though. She never wants to be in a situation where she can’t escape danger, because isn’t that why her parents didn’t make it?

I was proud of her for the journey that she took. I’m glad that she was able to find some joy in this wilderness adventure type of camp, mostly when she was hiking with Leo and Ryder, even if she wasn’t used to it in the beginning. She is a city girl, after all. Everything that she learned through this experience ends up coming into play when her and the rest of the kids that she is with in this camp end up getting stuck in the forest during a wild fire and need to escape.

This was a short story, but still powerful. I felt for Addy and everything that she did. I was proud of her for what she went through, how she was able to take care of her team when things took a turn for the worse. I was proud of all of them for growing into themselves throughout this time. I appreciated Leo and Ryder so much, and wish that I had someone like Leo in my life. He felt almost like a guardian angel in ways. I highly recommend this one, and hope you are able to experience it in a similar way that I was.

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via TBR and Beyond Tours in exchange for an honest review and a place on this blog tour – Thanks!

This was my first Jewell Parker Rhodes book, and I have to say I was not disappointed. It was a very thrilling and engaging read, one whose main subject is the impact of climate change on natural habitats and I think it was very well done for being a middle grade book. It was made approachable and not hard to read (in terms of writing style, the story itself does get hard to read by the end), and I think will be a favourite for many young readers.

I had to keep in mind that it was a middle grade when I was reading it, and to remember its been quite a long time since I have read one, but I think it was quite well done for that. I was expecting there to be more action, but it was toned down a lot at times. It was a very fast read, with pacing I think could have been adjusted to make it seem less rushed. I wanted to see more of Addy’s learning with Leo and her friendships with the other kids at the camp, a bit more showing rather than telling. I wanted to see her being a kid, enjoying learning more about cartography and making her own escape routes.

One thing I would be anxious to see about the finished novel is the artwork of the different maps and escapes Addy makes and encounters throughout the novel. I feel like that will really add to the story and give that visual component for middle grade readers to become interested in this subject. Cartography is such an interesting field and to gauge the interest of young readers could lead to a lifelong interest in this subject.

Over all, Paradise on Fire was a great read and really helps to open up the idea of climate change in a not intimidating way. It definitely isn’t as Lord of the Flies as its title and synopsis seem to be implying, but a coming of age, survival story where lives are continually at stake. It’s about embracing your knowledge and trusting your instincts, and most importantly of all, remembering to respect the wildlife and their natural habitats when you are exploring the wilderness.

It was beautiful. I was so into the story that I was gutted that my copy did not have the maps (they will be included in the final copy!). Addy, Jay and Leo were definitely my favourite characters and I just wanted them to be safe (alongside the others obviously). There was so much to learn from this book and the whole plot was amazing! Also the plots twists, yes! Honestly go for it, it’s a middle grade novel but anyone can read it! I don’t even know what else to say because I don’t want to give any spoilers away… so go read it.

I loved this book because it felt like what it would have been like to try and survive the Paradise, CA fires of 2018. The Camp Fire of 2018 was the deadliest fire in California history and pretty much leveled a whole town. There were almost 100 casualties and nearly 19,000 buildings destroyed. The book's main character is Addy, a kid from Philly who lost her parents in a fire years ago. Now in a wilderness camp in California, Addy's learning some new skills and learning to depend on the people around her as well. When a wildfire hits the area is the time when they put their skills and instincts to the test. I liked this book because it was nail-biting. I had just finished a nonfiction book on the fire, so I knew a good bit about the devastation this fire left in its wake. The book brought the situation to life and offered a fictional reality we can hope was a real reality for those who survived this fire.

Rhodes has delivered a new story filled with grit, intelligence, and timeliness! Put on your hiking books especially if you are city slicker. Readers get to meet teenage Addy as she learns about nature and grows into herself and past the memories of a childhood fire that killed her parents. Nicely paced suspense and currency to the drought/wildfires in California make this a pertinent and powerful read. The best part is the unveiling of how Addy can depend on herself and lead others despite her doubts!!

I really feel like I would've loved this one if it were longer. It had so much potential, but the plot was so rushed because of the page count.

I feel like before I write this review, I should mention that I live right next to an area of California that is ravaged by fires every year. I was affected personally by the fire that inspired this. So, the topic of forest fires hit hard. I've had friends lose their houses to them, and every year, I see the results of another fire. I loved that this book tried to address this, but it just felt clunky.

I think the main reason this didn't flow is that our characters didn't feel like characters. They felt like cardboard cutouts. They never had room to grow, they stayed static, and I never connected to any of them. Because of this, I never cared about their peril during the fire.

I don't have much else to say about this one, other than that it could've been great. The potential was there, but the execution fell short.

Exciting and immediately absorbing; I loved it!

Six inner-city teens from the East Coast are flown to California to participate in a summer Wilderness Adventure. The main character, Addy, has never been out of the Bronx, and much like the other city kids, is anxious about the whole trip. Addy is an orphan; her parents died years earlier when she was a little girl, and her grandmother, Bibi, came from Nigeria to take care of her. Addy still has nightmares of losing her mother and father, of the fire, of needing to know how to escape. Bibi had signed her up for this summer Wilderness Adventure; Addy just wanted to stay home.

Arriving at the Wilderness camp, Addy and the others quickly fall into the routine for the summer program. From the very beginning, Addy realizes that the wilderness, the forest, the outdoors calls to her very soul, and Leo, the camp owner, instinctively sees her as a kindred spirit. Along with Ryder, Leo’s dog, the three bond as they begin to systematically explore and map their wild surroundings and record the environmental changes they find - changes to land and animals resulting from never-ending climate change. Leo teaches Addy about maps, topography, and other wilderness skills, and they talk about her returning to continue her studies and work there in the summers to come.

But with the end of summer, the Wilderness Adventure comes to a close, and the teens and their two college-age camp counselors head out for one final challenge, a 3-day hike with overnight tent camping. They’ve prepared well for this all summer long; however, nothing could prepare them for what they encounter on their first night out.

I loved this book! With interesting young leading characters, all with their own issues and fears, the story evolves, and the tension steadily increases until you find yourself smack in the middle of some honest-to-goodness pulse-pounding action. I almost thought I was breathing the fresh air and, later, choking on ash and embers. The characters were so very engaging that I was much affected as things unfolded. The story easily and totally absorbed me from start to finish.

In addition to the exciting story, the very serious themes of climate change, ecological degradation, and the need for environmental protection come through the action. These concepts with consequences are presented simply and straightforwardly so the youngest readers will understand, and older ones will not feel it's too preachy.

"Paradise on Fire" is an unforgettable adventure story that is perfect for middle grades, high school, and readers who enjoyed Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet.

Thanks to tbrbeyondtours for having me on the bookstagram tour.
Synopsis: Adaugo, a black kid , who had a childhood loss and anxiety takes part in a wilderness program. What awaits her is way to deal with her worst fears.

Review: This young adult contemporary is a quick yet thought provoking read.The characterisation especially of the lead , Addy, is done with great care. Addy' s Topography /map making interest was one of the main highlights of the story The side characters representing teens from different backgrounds made the book lively. The author has touched upon important issues of environment conservation , dealing with loss , anxiety and race quite meticulously. This is a much needed book especially with the ongoing environmental pollution rates.
Rating:3.5/5

Trigger Warnings: Wildfire, death due to fire, mentions of death due to gunfire, burns and scars, mentions of death, mentions of racism and lack of resources

There’s a very important thing I wanna say about this book – it needs to be read by people. Addy’s character is so well portrayed and developed throughout the book, it was really amazing to read about. And the book discussed certain really necessary themes – climate change and wildfires, trauma and BIPOC struggles.

The book is relatively short. It’s a book that took me around 3-4 hours to finish across two days but what’s imperative is that the hours I spent without reading it, I was constantly thinking about the book and things related to it. The book quickly gave us a glimpse of how Addy lived – and more than that, how she constantly battled her childhood trauma. Her character was intricately written with a kid’s innocence and an adult’s wisdom. She was very much into maps and escape paths and later on she realized how much nature meant for her, somewhere she felt home.

There were many characters apart from Addy and their stories briefly passed by me, maybe because they weren’t the center of the story. I actually appreciated how Addy’s distance from her camp mates not only told us about Addy or the character growth, but it also made me feel weirdly connected to them. Granted, there were some people – especially Jamie and Dylan – who were hard to connect with but seeing the book and their characteristics, it seemed that it was how their character was supposed to be. I especially loved the few glimpses we got to see in everyone’s past, especially Leo, Jay and Nessa.

Coming onto the story setting, the book does get a bit intense from the second half as the wildfire starts. I swear I don't know how they all made it to safety and I am pretty sure it wouldn't have been possible if Addy wasn't present there. I live at a pace where the summer beats down real hard but I honestly cannot imagine the struggle people have to go through while battling wildfires. Why it was intense to read? Because people were hurting but the nature was also hurting so much, it was honestly very painful. The afterword especially caught my attention. The book is small, it is centered around kids but it is relevant to everyone.

The book also discussed the living patterns of black kids in the city. The discussions didn't ran deep and they weren't introduced as a means to criticize, rather it told the real experiences of people and the struggles they faced. One of which was not being able to experience wilderness and survival methods, the other being swimming which was crucial for their survival. ​

I loved how map making was seen as an art instead of hobby because I personally learned a thing or two about map making and topography. As the copy I had was an early copy, the art accompanying the text wasn’t visible but oh boy am I excited to see it! What more I liked about this book was the focus on environment and global warming. Paradise on Fire didn’t only give me a sense of motivation to explore and nurture the nature around me, it also provided me with few insights about forests and mountaineering.

I especially loved to see Addy's arc development and her friends - Nessa, DeShon and Jay. Survival isn't an easy thing to do and the way they navigated through the wildfire and the struggle together, was really amazing to see. Overall, I recommend this book multifold! Honestly it's amazing and the missing parts of the book (like the art) will come with the book's publication.

I was aware of Paradise on Fire after seeing it on Netgalley and after reading the blurb I immediately knew that I really wanted to read it and so when TBR Tours & Beyond announced that were doing a blog tour I jumped at the chance. I am very grateful that I was allocated a place on the tour and big thank you to the publisher for gifting me a digital copy of this outstanding Middle Grade Book.

From the outset I knew this book was going to take me on an incredible journey seen through the eyes of Addy who was such an amazing main character and the other youngsters on the wilderness trip without leaving my sofa. I felt the danger, the joy everything the characters were feeling and near to the end I ended up crying. Jewell is such a talented writer everything in the book felt real and her message about climate change resonated too. I am now thinking what I can do living in the UK. I am not going into any spoiler territory what I will say read this book you will not be disappointed also I believe it will make a very interesting discussions about the issues brought up in this book. This is my first ever Jewell Parker Rhodes book and I have a few more I have in my library but I now want to read everything she has written. I feel so honoured that I got to read this wonderful book before publication. So for all these reasons I had to give it 5 stars

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with an ARC of Paradise on Fire. This is no way shown in my review. You can see the other tour stops here!

I loved this book! I loved the characters, the story, and the writing! Paradise on Fire started off slow, but once it picked up, I couldn’t stop reading! I was fascinated by the characters, they were definitely one of the best parts of the book. I also really enjoyed the plot, a city girl with trying to get over her parents death going to a camp across the country with kids she doesn’t know? Yes please!! There was so many beautiful friendships! Overall my enjoyment level was not good enough for five stars, but enough for four! Here are my top five reasons to read Paradise on Fire!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The main character, Addy
I adored Addy! She had such a unique personality and background. Ever since her parents died in a fire, she has always needed to find an escape route. No matter if she’s on a plane, bus, or hiking, she needs a way to get out of wherever she is. But even through all of her anxiety, she still finds a way to be the most courageous character in the book!

2. The adventure

This book was so creative! There were horseback rides, campfires, and so much more! Paradise on Fire was a relatively short book that kept a good pace the whole time!

3. The side characters

Even the side characters were amazing! They had me laughing and thinking. Each of them had a different voice (the happy-go-lucky one, the silent one, the observant one, and the outsider). They all were such good friends and it brought me a lot of joy!

4. The writing

Jewell Parker Rhodes did an incredible job writing Addy’s perspective! There were so many important topics covered like race, class, and climate change. The writing gave plenty of details and was easily readable!

5. The positive messages and character development

There were so many themes in this book about friendship, loyalty, and teamwork! At camp the kids learned about perseverance and also different survival skills. It was so inspiring to watch Addy grow! She became so much more outgoing by the end of the book and the other characters grew too! (This probably should have been my #1 reason)

I hope some of you readers decide to pick up this book! I’m definitely going to read more of Jewell Parker Rhodes’ books!

Addy as a character is dealing with a lot. She carries the weight of her trauma through her need to know the risk factors and routes at all times, constantly drawing maps and in search of the exits. It’s evident through what is written that she is so much more than her trauma – but that it takes a leading role in her life.

Leo runs the wilderness camp that the city kids are visiting, and he is unsurprised by Addy’s difficulties, having evidently had struggles of his own. He helps guide her to learn about the terrain and about how to make proper geographical maps, which become absolutely vital to her as the book progresses.

The jolting way this story is told, interspersed with maps, instructions and images, allows for a realistic story told from someone on high alert. This is a powerful book in so many ways. However, I really take issue with the idea of “girl goes through trauma, girl benefits from trauma in the long run” as a writing technique, as I think it belittles the realities of dealing with trauma or PTSD.

Jewell Parker Rhodes is back with an adventure and survival story set in the forests of California. Addy experienced trauma as a young girl when her parents were killed in a fire that she managed to escape. She repressed all but a handful of memories from that event, but one lasting impact from the fire remains: She has a need to "map" any areas she visits in an attempt to find the best method of escape.

Her beloved grandmother, Bibi, sent her to a wilderness survival camp, where she joins other Black kids, two white camp counselors, and Leo, a man of the wilderness who seems to understand Addy's need to explore and navigate her surroundings. Leo and his dog Ryder help Addy learn the topography of the area, and she begins to learn more about the other teens who are at the camp through a series of hikes and obstacle courses. She especially connects well with Jay, a boy who befriends her and also cares about the protection of wildlife.

The action in the story begins during an overnight camping trip when Addy awakes to the smell of smoke. The team of campers splits in two, with Addy leading three other teens, and the two counselors departing with the other campers. Addy must rely on her spatial skills and memory of the area to safely lead her charges back to safety.

The last 40% of the book was fast-paced and intense. I felt panic and despair followed by brief moments of respite when it seemed the danger had passed. Readers will find themselves rooting for Addy and her team. The cast of characters are not equally fleshed out though; readers will learn more about the dog Ryder than they will about the teens at the camp. For example, Kelvin seemed reduced to his one identifier as an asthmatic camper. Understanding of climate change and the impact humans can have on our surroundings also play a large and important role in this story. Rhodes' note at the end about how "city" Black children often grow up without outdoor experiences also is thought-provoking and would be a good discussion starter.

This was an amazing story. Addy is figuring out her connection to nature and her love of topography as she makes peace with the past and the loss of her family.
Seeing through Addy's eyes, as she navigates the new wilderness and trusts her instincts, I felt like I was there with her.
This is a pretty quick read that teens will enjoy.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!