WILDFIRES

In this concise narrative, Mooney uses statistics, news excerpts, and commentary from scientists and survivors to explore destructive wildfires, their consequences, and community responses.

Wildfires are on the increase worldwide. The author opens with coverage of recent record-setting destructive fires in California, Canada, and Greece, followed by four chapters: “What Are Wildfires?”, “Why Are Wildfires Increasing?”, “What Are the Consequences of More Frequent, Destructive Wildfires?”, and “How Are Communities Adapting?”. The punchy prose delivers intriguing information (“some pine cones only open and release their seeds when exposed to heat from a fire”) interspersed with attention-grabbing quotations, such as one from a survivor of the 2023 Lahaina fire on Maui: “It’s like a nuclear bomb went off here. There’s nothing left.” Mooney notes the interconnected factors contributing to the uptick in wildfires: Climate change is a major culprit, human activity often plays a role (for example, through accidents, arson, or encroaching on wilderness areas), and environmental factors, like invasive grasses and insects, also have an impact. Some strategies for adapting to this new reality include thoughtful planning and policies for preventing and slowing the spread of fires, effective forest management, and public education. Red borders, subheadings, and callout boxes along with ample photos complement this work on an exciting topic that will be helpful for reports.

A well-written, science-based overview of wildfires. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)