A Southern California Independent Booksellers Alliance BESTSELLER!
A School Library Journal Most Anticipated Middle Grade Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
★ "This stunning novel in verse shows the impact of climate change and wildfires, and the struggle of living on the border between the forest and urban areas. ... Baron balances the emotional weight of trauma by showing characters healing in a variety of ways. Returning wildlife serves as a promise of regrowth and possibility for a different kind of future. Beginning before the fires, continuing through evacuation, and including the season of rebuilding, Spark highlights the impact of wildfires alongside the importance of healing, all while nourishing the brightest spark of all, hope." — Booklist, starred review
★ "This powerhouse novel uses short and accessible prose to evoke fear, rage, and purpose in the face of wildfires. [R]eaders who want an empathetic and ultimately hopeful read will likely find both sorrow and inspiration in Spark." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review
★ "A quietly powerful, compassionate exploration of environmental loss, friendship, and activism. A standout verse novel that belongs in every middle grade collection."--School Library Journal, starred review
"Baron’s verse novel successfully takes readers into Finn’s world, from daily life with family, friends, and school to their frantic escape from the “fires everywhere.” As the fires gather power, so do the poems—with active verbs, short lines, white space, and propulsive energy."--The Horn Book
"A deftly woven and poignant story . . . of a family and a community grappling with the aftermath of a fire, and the activism of young people to protect what is closest to their hearts." —Pam Muñoz Ryan, Newbery Honor–winning author of Echo.
"Copious details about dangerous fire conditions, first responder efforts, and the characters navigating PTSD will leave readers informed, while empowering depictions of the protagonists’ activism will inspire hope that healing from disaster is possible." --Publishers Weekly
""Its story and its characters are compelling (grown ups can enjoy it right along with their kids)."-~USA Today
"Beautiful, special, magical."--Colby Sharp, Bookalicious.com
"Even though Baron immerses us in the fear and the trauma of a fire like this, the book and these two characters determination give us hope for a better future. It’s not just a story about fire but also about friendship, family, the environment, and most of all, hope. (With masterful writing!)."--Imagination Soup
"Living in a small California town surrounded by redwoods, observant eighth grader Finn has learned about the natural cycle of droughts and wildfires, but nothing can prepare him for the trauma of evacuation and displacement when a catastrophic fire forces everyone in town to flee.... Divided into sections set before, during, and after the fire, the story effectively focuses on the impact of PTSD after a natural disaster. Descriptions of the fires pack a visceral punch....Fills a need for educational and hopeful stories about kids handling the realities of wildfires."--Kirkus Reviews
"Told in verse, this powerful and compassionate look at bravery, grief, climate change, and activism puts readers right in the heart of the action."--School Library Journal/Teen Librarian Toolbox
"For any young person who’s ever felt powerless against the world, here is a story about two kids doing all they can to understand their natural world and preserve it."--Pop Goes the Reader
"Having dealt with wildfires, evacuations, and the gradual loss of my beloved desert, the future has felt dark and hopeless at times. But beautifully written stories like Spark are a beam of sunlight breaking through the smoke. Spark reminded me that we all have a voice. We all have the power to make change. We can still have hope."--Dusti Bowling, bestselling author of Across the Desert and Dust.
"A compelling and timely story that burns bright with heart and hope.” -- Ernesto Cisneros, Pura Belpré Award-winning author of Efrén Divided
"This powerful verse novel couldn't possibly be more timely or more necessary. Written with sensitivity and deep insight, Spark will validate kids' feelings, help them understand, and, most importantly, give them hope for our planet's future."--Barbara Dee, author of Tear This Down
"A gripping and timely story filled with characters who will lodge themselves in your heart from the first page. Powerful, heartbreaking, and brimming with hope."-- Shari Green, author of Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams
"In the wake of devastating fires, Chris Baron has delivered young readers a timely and important story to heal hearts and open minds, giving kids the tools they need to combat climate change."--E Train, Award-winning Youth Literacy Advocate
"Brillantly written...illuminates the spark within all of us and shows how our words and actions can have a powerful, positive impact on our families, friends, community and the world." -- Wisconsin Jewish Journal
2025-04-19
A verse novel following a middle schooler’s search for hope after a devastating wildfire.
Living in a small California town surrounded by redwoods, observant eighth grader Finn has learned about the natural cycle of droughts and wildfires, but nothing can prepare him for the trauma of evacuation and displacement when a catastrophic fire forces everyone in town to flee. Once studious and organized, Finn is now scattered, plagued by nightmares and worries after returning home. Did the animals in the nearby state park survive? Will his best friend find her beloved missing dog? Can his father find construction work that doesn’t threaten the wildland-urban interface? Most of all, will Finn ever feel hopeful again? Divided into sections set before, during, and after the fire, the story effectively focuses on the impact of PTSD after a natural disaster. Baron covers different kinds of support, including therapy and journaling. Finn’s journey from despair to hope involves finding actionable steps to advocate for animals and humans in his community, making this title a good fit for classroom and book group discussions. Descriptions of the fires pack a visceral punch, compensating for the heavily expository and educational poems and the dialogue, which occasionally has a formal tone. Finn’s Jewish family is cued white, and there’s some racial diversity among his friends.
Fills a need for educational and hopeful stories about kids handling the realities of wildfires. (author’s note)(Verse fiction. 10-14)
