Controlled Burn

(Hardback)

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Description

Twelve-year-old Maias parents say shes lucky she noticed something as early as she did. Lucky to have smelled the smoke, lucky to have pulled her sister, Amelia, out of their burning house. But is it really lucky when Amelias stuck in the hospital, covered in burns And is it lucky when Maia knows it was her candle, left unattended, that started the fire in the first place When shes sent to spend the summer with her grandparents in Northern Minnesota while her sister heals, Maia discovers that her anxieties and demons are intent on following her wherever she goesunless she can figure out how to overcome them. But what if she cant Maia barely knows her grandparents, she desperately misses her sister and home, and shes not thrilled to be spending the summer with Grandpa Howard on his daily motorcycle rides out to the middle of the woods, where he spends all day keeping watch for forest fires. There are no kids her age in Gram and Pops small town at the end of the roadjust the chatty nine-year-old neighbour who is intent on getting his Bear Scout badge at all costs, and a friendly, stray dog whos been lurking around. But Maia will soon learn that nature is a powerful teacher, and sometimes our greatest strengths show themselves when we have to be there for someone else. As she begins to figure out how to face her guilt and paralyzing fears, shell discover theres a fine line between fear and adventure. And when danger strikes again, Maia must summon all her bravery and overcome her self-doubt if she wants to save those she loves most.

Reviews

"A gorgeous, tender, wonderful book. Controlled Burn is a testament to the power and beauty of everyday moments of bravery, compassion, and love." -- Anne Ursu, author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy

"A compelling and moving exploration of the bonds of family, overcoming fears, and the power of friendship." -- Hena Khan, award-winning author of Amina's Voice

Author Bio

Erin Soderberg Downing grew up exploring the forests and lakes of Northern Minnesota, and to this day, her best ideas for stories often come to her deep in the woods, where she can find plenty of creative space to explore and imagine. She has written more than fifty books, including The Great Peach Experiment series (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection), the magical middle-grade novel Moon Shadow, and the Puppy Pirates chapter book series. Erin currently lives in Minneapolis with her husband, three adventurous kids, and two very fluffy dogs.