Reading Metrics
Description
Garth is working with a group of students from Plains College pruning trees for Treecorp to fund a trip to Hawaii. When two young and reckless ATV riders light what becomes a Crown Fire, Garth and five others race to get away.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a quick, heart-pounding adventure that mixes outdoor work with fire drama, "Running Hot" delivers just that. Garth and his fellow Plains College students are pruning trees for a tree-care company to earn money for a Hawaii trip, but when a pair of reckless ATV riders spark a massive crown fire, they find themselves racing against the flames and the clock to stay alive. The story is short under 30,000 words so the pacing never lets up, and each chapter feels like a new twist that keeps even reluctant readers turning pages. Kids who love nature, teamwork, and a splash of humor will appreciate the camaraderie among the characters and the way the author weaves in real-world details about tree pruning, fire behavior, and safety without turning the book into a textbook. Parents will be glad to know the danger is tense but not gory, the tone is upbeat despite the peril, and the ending provides a satisfying, feel-good resolution. Fans of fast-paced survival stories like Gary Paulsen's "Hatchet" will find the same adrenaline rush here, but with a lighter, more humorous edge.