Book Review: Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night by Stuart Palley

Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night by Stuart Palley is a book full of full color photographs and first hand account of wildfires. From the towering pines of Shasta Trinity National Forest, to the chaparral scrub of San Diego's Mexican border, to Yosemite and the Western Sierras, trained wildland firefighter and photojournalist Stuart Palley documents California's raging wildfires and the forces behind them during the state's worst fire season in modern history. The dramatic images, a half-decade in the making, capture the simultaneous beauty and destruction that wildfires bring as fire seasons get longer and more deadly, expensive, and destructive.In the wake of California's record-breaking series of wildfires in 2017, theimages encompass five fire seasons and forty-five fires. They are presented chronologically and culminate with the wine country fire siege that devastated Sonoma and Napa counties in October 2017 and the Thomas Fire in Southern California, the largest in recorded state history. This timely book defines the state's drought and urban sprawl challenges, drawing a broader picture of global warming and its acute effects worldwide.

Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night is a book that I could not let go of, or stop thinking about after I finished my first read through. The images are stunning, not just because of the beauty inherent in the colors and landscape but because of the inherent nature of the fires. The danger and destruction these fires bring is devastating, even though friendships and awareness often come in their wake as well. Living on the other side of the country I have sympathize and felt horrified for those that have lost everything in the wake of these fires, and worried for the environment and animals that have suffered. However, I never could wrap my mind around the full experience being there, being involved, or seeing the fires in person could give people. I know I still do not have a full understanding, having never been there, but I feel like I have more knowledge and awareness of everything involved. 

Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night is both beautiful and terrifying. The photographs are stunning, and the text gives the horrible beauty the context or the danger and destruction involved in the fires. 

Book Review: Under the Ashes by Cindy Rankin

Under the Ashes by Cindy Rankin is a middle grade work of historical fiction. Elizabeth "Littlebeth" Morgan thinks she is the smartest, bravest eleven-year-old in Paso Robles. She loves sharing stories of the outlaws Frank and Jesse James and shows no fear when she whacks the head off a rattlesnake. But she is not the proper lady her family wants her to be so they send her to live with her maiden Aunt Sally in San Francisco to be tamed and refined. While Aunt Sally's life is unlike anything Littlebeth has experienced in the country, the pain of being sent away runs deep. Then Littlebeth meets Mr. Steinberg, Aunt Sally's Jewish neighbor. He treats her like a person, not just a little girl, and Littlebeth finds a friend in him. Mr. Steinberg is sweet on Aunt Sally and takes the two of them to see the famous opera singer, Enrico Caruso, perform. But Littlebeth doesn't understand the religious differences keeping Aunt Sally and Mr. Steinberg apart. Before she can meddle in their personal lives, the earthquake hits. Littlebeth is separated from them in the chaos of the streets. She must use her wits and bravery and trust in a few unlikely friends to locate Aunt Sally and Mr. Steinberg. But will Littlebeth be able to survive the disaster and be reunited with her family?

Under the Ashes is a touching story about a young girl that feels disconnected and unwanted by her family. I like that Beth is an adventurous girl, as quick to help others as she is to speak her mind. I think that her family is shown to really love her and what what is best for her, and while I think readers can relate to how they make Beth feel, they can also see that underlying love. I did find that the book took awhile to get to the action. By the time the earthquake hit, I felt like the book was already more than half over, although that information we read in the first part of the book was important it just felt like we took too long to get there, and then the action was a bit crammed together. I think the portrayal of human nature, both before and after the quake, was sadly accurate. The ugliness of selfish people, prejudice, and fear were well exhibited, but so were the kindness and innocence that can be found. I think acknowledging that that sort of attitude existed (and still does) and how pointless it is, is extremely important. 

Under the Ashes is a solid work of historical fiction for middle grade readers. I think it is a good book for encouraging empathy and understanding the fears and actions of adults.