“To know yourself, you need to journey.”
“Soar, Adaugo, soar.”

Paradise on Fire

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 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.

Honors

Recognition and Accolades awarded to Paradise on Fire

2023 – 2024
Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nominee
Nebraska Golden Sower Award

2022
Blueberry List
Evanston Public Library

2022 – 2023
Volunteer State Book Award Nominee
Volunteer State Book Award

2022 – 2023
Junior Tome It List
Tome Student Literacy Society
2022
Green Earth Book Award Winner
The Nature Generation

2022
Green Earth Book Award Long List
The Nature Generation

2021
Best of the Best Booklist
Black Caucus American Library Association

2021
Winter ’21 Project LIT Selection

 

2021
Best Children’s Books: ages 9 to 12
Amazon

Praise

Words of praise for Paradise on Fire from the press and authors

…rooted in the power of nature and community to bring us back to ourselves when we fear all is lost…Rhodes makes sure her readers will feel her landscapes and encourages them to then go out and engage with their own.
Los Angeles Times

“The book does heroic work in connecting global forces to local reality…Addy is a heroine any reader might aspire to be, a teenager who learns to trust her own voice and instincts, who realizes that fire can live within someone, too.”
New York TImes

a brilliant melding of captivating storytelling and crucial teaching moments.
Shelf Awareness

Press

Interviews and articles on Paradise on Fire

2021
New York Times Review

NYTimes.com

2021
Paradise fire, Northridge earthquake and Hurricane Katrina inform this author’s work
DailyNews.com

2021
New Novel Inspired By Arizona Wildfires
KJZZ.org

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