Published: 2022
Author: Alan Gratz
Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Survival, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Climate Change, Contemporary
Audience (Grade Levels): Upper Elementary, Middle School, 3-7
Number of Stars: 5 Stars
Goodreads Link: Two Degrees
Triggers: Characters encounter dead bodies (drowning and fire victims), high-intensity natural disasters, separation from family, climate anxiety
Review By: Molly Clark
Publisher’s Summary:
Fire. Ice. Flood. Three climate disasters. Four kids fighting for their lives. Akira is riding her horse in the California woods when a wildfire sparks–and grows scarily fast. How can she make it to safety when there are flames everywhere? Owen and his best friend, George, are used to seeing polar bears on the snowy Canadian tundra. But when one bear gets way too close for comfort, do the boys have any chance of surviving? Natalie hunkers down at home as a massive hurricane barrels toward Miami. When the floodwaters crash into her house, Natalie is dragged out into the storm–with nowhere to hide. Akira, Owen, George, and Natalie are all swept up in the devastating effects of climate change. They are also connected in ways that will shock them–and could alter their destinies forever.
Review:
This was a gripping novel that was hard to put down. The publisher and professional reviewers indicate that this book is aimed at grades 4-8, but I would say that it’s more appropriate for grade 5 and up. The descriptions of some of the experiences might be disturbing for some readers. Natalie is floating on a car during the hurricane and sees the dead face of the car’s occupant through the window. Arika encounters a car whose occupants burned to death in the wildfire. The author’s notes at the end are both educational and frightening. He doesn’t pull any punches, and I worry that some readers may share Arika’s problem of having adults in the their life who don’t believe in climate change. Despite these concerns, I still highly recommend this title.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Science / Environmental Studies (Climate Change): This text connects perfectly with Earth Science units examining climate change, extreme weather patterns, and environmental preservation. The interwoven narratives provide tangible human perspectives on complex ecological phenomena like wildfires, melting tundras, and hurricanes, which are further backed by the author’s educational notes at the back of the book.
- Social-Emotional Learning (Overcoming Skepticism & Climate Anxiety): The book centers heavily on navigating extreme fear, survival instincts, and the psychological impact of natural disasters. Furthermore, Akira’s struggle with adults in her life who dismiss climate science provides a relevant baseline for discussing systemic skepticism, interpersonal communication across differing beliefs, and managing eco-anxiety.
Extension Activity / Library Application:
- “Author’s Note” Information Literacy Fact-Check: Capitalizing on the reviewer’s praise of Alan Gratz’s uncompromised educational data at the end of the novel, have students use the library databases to investigate one of the specific climate statistics or phenomena featured in the author’s notes. Students can compile a mini-research report comparing real-world environmental data against the events experienced by the characters.
- Multi-Perspective Interconnection Mapping: Because the novel tracks multiple protagonists across disparate geographic areas (California, Canada, and Miami) who eventually discover hidden connections, have students create a visual map. Using string or digital mapping software, students can track each character’s survival timeline, identifying where their thematic or literal paths intersect.
Diversity & Representation:
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The novel actively champions representation and equity by highlighting young, diverse characters across various geographic communities, uniting them under a shared global crisis. By portraying realistic domestic dynamics—such as a child dealing with family members who completely disregard environmental science—the book honors the authentic, multi-layered social backgrounds of modern youth finding their own voices amidst community divisions.
Readalikes:
- Refugee by Alan Gratz
- Wildfire by Rodman Philbrick
- The Carbon Diary 2015 by Saci Lloyd
