Review Detail

Wildfire Rescue: A Branches Book (Disaster Squad #1)

Kids Fiction 36

On the road and helping out

November 11, 2024

Overall rating

3.8

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

3.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Jaden Jackson and his older sister Leela love traveling with their parents so that they can help out in areas of the US that are experiencing disasters. Their father, Lamar, is an award-winning doctor, and their mother, Jaya, is a famous journalist. The family travels in an RV with their dog Lucky, helping out with all manner of things in disaster areas. The father works with medical personel, their mother sends reports and photos to news agencies to raise awareness, and Jaden and Leela try to rescue animals whenever they can. They are involved in a dust storm in Kansas, where the kids manage to get some baby goats back to the barn, saving them. THe grateful farmer gives them some buckets as a thank you. The next stop is Northern California, where there are wildfires. This is even more treacherous, and the family helps out, making emergency packs, and Jaden even tries to rescue a bear cub, which is a bad idea. The fire is intense, and the Jacksons have to go to the emergency shelter with everyone else, where they still try to help. Jaden and Leela even use the new buckets to get water to some displaced deer that they pass.

Good Points

Mr. Rogers advice to children experiencing trauma and turmoil still rings true today: if things look bleak,"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Jaden and Leela are able to go above and beyond, and step into the role of helpers themselves. Storms and fires are often in the news, and can be scary for young children to hear about. This book is helpful in describing what some of these disasters would be like to live through, which is somehow comforting. The unknown is always more scary.

I'm not sure how first responders to wild fires would feel about freelance doctors and journalists entering disaster areas, but the Jacksons do try to follow the protocols and help out as much as possible. There is good information about disaster preparedness and equipment that is helpful to have in a go bag. Everyone stays safe despite the danger, and the children do save some animals.

This nicely illustrated early chapter book, the first in a series, will appeal to readers who enjoyed adventure titles such as Earhart's Race the Wild books or the more fantastical Battle Bugs by Patton.