Wildfire

Wildfire is a middle-grade novel by Newbery Honor author Rodman Philbrick, first published in 2019. The story centers on 12-year-old Sam Castine, who, during a summer camp evacuation in Maine due to an approaching wildfire, returns to his cabin to retrieve his phone. This decision leaves him separated from the evacuation buses and trapped by the rapidly spreading flames. Drawing on survival skills imparted by his late father, Sam navigates the perilous forest and soon encounters Delphy, an older girl also stranded by the fire. Together, they form an unlikely partnership, facing numerous challenges as they strive to escape the inferno and find safety. The novel is a fast-paced survival narrative that takes place over the course of six days.