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Review: Fishing in Fire

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By Trent Reedy
New York: Norton Young Readers, 2023. Fiction. 198 pages.

When two groups of middle school friends that have bad blood wind up fishing in the same spot, no one is happy. But things go from antagonistic to life-threatening when multiple wild fires block their path to safety.  Can the two groups put aside their differences to survive? 

Although this story starts as a slow burn (pun very much intended), once the wildfires start spreading it becomes non-stop action and anxiety-inducing danger.  It was really easy to envision myself in the same situation, which just made it all the scarier.  I love the enemies to friends plot and the grit and bravery exhibited by all the characters.  Fans of Gary Paulsen will gobble this right up.  Read as part of a series or as a stand alone. 
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