Two seventh graders battle dangers from a wildfire.When a wildfire reaches their coastal California town, Sam Durand, his dog, Goodboy, and his best friend, Marco Nuñez, race to escape the flames-traveling on foot, bike, and ATV. They encounter plausible challenges like a flat bike tire, worsening smoke conditions, and a neighbor who's been unable to evacuate. Interspersed chapters offer readers new facets of the catastrophe, following the perspectives of firefighters and a young deer spooked by the blaze. Mason and Stephens elucidate the details of the disaster with specificity and propulsive suspense, from the origins of the massive blaze right down to the dangerously hot rock that remains after fire has torn through a streambed. The book's characterization, however, doesn't live up to these thrilling particulars, saddling Sam with a conflicted relationship with his deceased photographer father and an obsessive effort to re-create his dad's images. Marco selflessly supports his friend, even to the point of leaving his own family to rescue Sam. The rest of their fearful flight results from Sam's insistence on tracking his mother to the hospital where she works instead of evacuating with Marco's family. Physical descriptions of characters are minimal, though Marco is cued Latine.A heart-pounding survival story for readers who can overlook the clumsy characterization. (Adventure. 8-12)

Gr 4–7— Separated from their families, Sam Durand, along with his best friend Marco Nu&1;ez and dog Goodboy, navigate the California streets when a wildfire threatens their small town of Santa Bonita. Equipped with limited supplies and faced with a series of challenges, such as losing Goodboy and a flat tire, Sam is determined to be reunited with his mom before it's too late. The novel has a slow build and offers different perspectives of characters grappling with the growing flames, including Marco's firefighter cousin, Gabi, and a young deer desperately seeking refuge. While the book's premise is gripping, the plot plays out with one-dimensional characterization. Sam's story revolves around his obsession with recreating his deceased photographer father's old pictures, and many facets of that, including his relationship with his grieving mother, lack exploration. The depth of Sam and Marco's friendship is emphasized by Marco leaving safety with his own family to be with Sam, but his frustrations and the subsequent confrontation feel unresolved. Race of the characters is unknown, though the Nu&1;ez family is perceived as Latinx. VERDICT Fans of survival stories like Alan Gratz's books and the "I Survived" series may appreciate this action-packed quick read despite lackluster characterization.— Amanda Harding