After losing his job and getting grounded, Elijah is sure this will be the worst summer ever. Little does he know, it's about to get worse. News breaks that a wildfire is burning out of control--and it's headed straight for his town. As the fire nears, Elijah must act quickly. Should he evacuate? Can he and his friends escape the flames? And what will they lose along the way?
-- "Journal"
About the Author :
Vanessa Acton is a writer and editor in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She enjoys stalking dead people (also known as historical research), drinking too much tea, and taking long walks during her home state's annual three-week thaw.
Review :
A real disaster follows a competitive one for an Arizona teen. After Tyler freezes during his turn in the state high school speech tournament, causing his team to lose the competition, the bus ride home is pretty uncomfortable. The white teen is sulking by himself when the team's school bus breaks down in the middle of the Arizona desert. Stranded several miles from their home city of Phoenix, the students, coach, and driver are forced to wait out what looks to be a brutal oncoming dust storm, as the second relief bus will not arrive in time. Instead of waiting safely on the bus, one teammate, a cocky know-it-all, decides to leave the group and run toward the city, without the consent of the coach. Knowing this is a dangerous move and hoping to save their teammate, Tyler and his dark-skinned crush, Julia, sneak off to go get L.J. and bring him back. The two find L.J., who has fallen and twisted his ankle. They make it back to the bus in time, and the students seal themselves in the bus as the titular black blizzard blows in. Though the story takes its time getting to the action, once the storm starts, it reads like a tutorial on how to survive it, making for absorbing reading. Others series entries publishing simultaneously include Deep Freeze, also by Johnson, and Backfire and Vortex, both by Vanessa Acton. Emergency safety advice laced with teen banter makes for a quick read.--Kirkus Reviews
-- "Journal"
The books in this new high-octane series feature teen characters forced to make life-and-death decisions in the face of natural disasters. In Backfire, the narrative shifts between Elijah, who must determine whether or not to evacuate, and Breanna, who is camping and must help her friends make it to safety. In Vortex, Blair must help her brothers confront a relentless tornado on their way home from a weekend trip. After a speech tournament, Tyler's team is stranded after their car breaks down in the Arizona desert, and he must help his friends survive during the ensuing dust storm in Black Blizzard. Zach and his dog must fight their way alone through a terrifying blizzard in Deep Freeze, after the electricity goes out in their deep-woods cabin. VERDICT While these books are slim, their relatable characters and fast-paced plots will have a strong impact on teen readers.--School Library Journal
-- "Journal"
