Bard, Breena. Wildfire. Little, Brown Ink, 2023. 978-0-316-27768-6. 288 p. $24.99. Grades 3-8.

Wildfire opens with rural Oregon tween Julianna heading home from her 4-H meeting and encountering three boys, including her childhood friend Carson, lighting fireworks despite a strict “burn ban.” Later that afternoon, as she and her younger sister are feeding their goats and chickens, their dad rushes home to tell them that they must evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire started by those very fireworks. Their home is destroyed in the fire, and Julianna must begin her eighth grade year in a new school and a new city: Portland, Oregon. Julianna keeps the reason for her move to Portland a secret so that no one will pity her, but Carson’s arrival at her new school makes it especially difficult to make a fresh start. At the urging of some new friends, Julianna joins the Conservation Club and participates in a riverside clean-up, tree planting, letter writing, and an environmental protest. At the protest, suppressed emotions overwhelm her, and she must finally reckon with her deep grief for the home she and her family lost. Julianna’s (and her family’s) grieving process is realistically and sensitively portrayed in this compelling graphic novel. Bright, earthy colors appealingly represent Julianna’s connection with nature and the outdoors. Note that some of the family’s farm animals perish in the fire.

THOUGHTS: As wildfires continue to dominate the news cycle, books such as this one provide middle grade readers with a relatable perspective on their devastating toll. Some may even be inspired to take action against climate change, and author/illustrator Breena Bard provides some tips in her Author’s Note!

Graphic Novel