Pla, Sally J. Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn, The. Quill Tree, 07/2023. 336pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06-326879-1. GRADES 6–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Rising eighth-grader Maudie loves spending summers with her dad, Pedro, in Northern California. At home, her belittling mom, angry stepfather, and rigid behavioral therapist make her life a misery, and her anxiety and autism define her. When a wildfire forces father and daughter to find refuge in Pedro’s Southern California hometown, Maudie discovers surfing and the transformative effects of independence within a diverse, supportive community. But, as summer ends, can Maudie escape being forced back into a life she has outgrown? Full of big issues, common concerns, and lots of small joys, Maudie’s story about anxieties, adventures, and the secret she carries will resonate with tweens. An implausible element in the climactic scene detracts from a satisfying ending, but is unlikely to trouble child readers. Race is not discussed for most characters; Pedro’s mother is Venezuelan.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired