Ninth Ward

Black Brother, Black Brother

Towers Falling

Ghost Boys

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold

Elijah of Buxton

A Long Walk to Water

The First Collier

From award-winning and bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful coming-of-age survival tale exploring issues of race, class, and climate change.​
 
Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Years later, Addy’s grandmother has enrolled her in a summer wilderness program. There, Addy joins five other Black city kids—each with their own troubles—to spend a summer out west.
 
Deep in the forest the kids learn new (and to them) strange skills: camping, hiking, rock climbing, and how to start and safely put out campfires. Most important, they learn to depend upon each other for companionship and survival. 
But then comes a devastating forest fire…
 
Addy is face-to-face with her destiny and haunting past. Developing her courage and resiliency against the raging fire, it’s up to Addy to lead her friends to safety. Not all are saved. But remembering her origins and grandmother’s teachings, she’s able to use street smarts, wilderness skills, and her spiritual intuition to survive.

BCALA 2021 Best of the Best Book
A Cadmus Children’s Fiction Award for the Green Earth Book Award winner

Discover Your Child's Next Read

Ninth Ward

Jewell Parker Rhodes, 2010

Black Brother, Black Brother

Jewell Parker Rhodes, 2020

Towers Falling

Jewell Parker Rhodes, 2016

Ghost Boys

Jewell Parker Rhodes, 2018

Treasure Island: Runaway Gold

Jewell Parker Rhodes, 2023

Elijah of Buxton

Christopher Paul Curtis, 2007

A Long Walk to Water

Linda Sue Park, 2010

The First Collier

Kathryn Lasky, 2005