Told in verse, The Burning Season is a quick read. Descriptions are sparse and the writing focuses mostly on what Opal is thinking and feeling; oftentimes it is more a stream of consciousness from the protagonist rather than concrete imagery and actions. Topically, this book works for readers as young as nine, but slightly older readers may more successfully fill in the unwritten spaces in the story. There are a few characters, but the book primarily follows Opal, a 12-year-old girl who lives in a fire watch tower with her mother and grandmother. From the cover and the book’s description, there is a suggestion that this novel would have elements of action and adventure, but the primary thrust of the story is Opal overcoming her doubts and fears and finding her own place in her family’s legacy of fire lookouts. Ultimately, this is more of a coming of age story than an adventure story.

The notes at the end are excellent in providing historical background, the inspiration for the story, and facts about forests and wildfires. With wildfires becoming more prevalent and dangerous in recent years, this is a timely topic.

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy Provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Report of the death of a parent in the capacity of their job (fighting fires), no details; character remembers a forest fire that came close, perilous, but no deaths; destruction of property/forest by wildfires; report of a watchtower being struck by lightning and the lookout being killed; twisted ankle; scrapes and scratches; fall down a mountainside resulting in injuries, bloody gash; scene in which a character fights a close fire by hand; hospitalization for some injuries and dehydration.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Loss of a parent, wildfires.

Alcohol/Drug Use:

None