Wildfire: The Culture, Science, and Future of Fire

Gr 7 Up–In this short informational text, the authors—an environmental scientist and a former teacher, respectively—pack a great deal of information on the science behind wildfires, current practices in fire prevention and management, and the traditions of Indigenous people surrounding the burning of wildernesses. An introduction detailing the recent wildfire that devastated Paradise, CA, offers a human face to the issues of fire ecology. The main narrative is interspersed with featured sections that offer more information on key concepts or historic events. The numerous photographs and graphs are mostly presented as full-page or almost full-page spreads, offering dramatic visual details to expand on the messages conveyed in the text. Chapter titles include “What Is Fire?,” “Land Needs Fire: Indigenous Fire Practices,” and “Fire Heroes: Confronting the Blaze.” A time line of fire from 3000 BCE to modern day is included, along with a glossary, source notes, selected bibliography, and a thorough index.