Short Synopsis
From bestselling author, Erin Soderberg Downing, Controlled Burn is a story that blends family, friendship, fire, and the rocky path toward healing our deepest fears.

Full Synopsis
2024-2025 Nebraska Golden Sower Award Nominee

2024-2025 South Carolina Book Award Nominee

2023 Northeastern Minnesota Book Award Winner

Twelve-year-old Maia's parents say she's lucky to have smelled the smoke, lucky to have pulled her sister, Amelia, out of their burning house. But is it really "lucky" when Amelia's in the hospital? And is it “lucky" when Maia knows it was her candle that started the fire?

When she's sent to spend the summer with her grandparents in Minnesota while her sister heals, Maia discovers that her demons are intent on following her. Maia barely knows her grandparents, she desperately misses her sister and home, and she's not thrilled to be spending the summer with Grandpa Howard on his motorcycle rides, where he spends all day keeping watch for forest fires. There are no kids in Gram and Pop's small town—just the chatty nine-year-old neighbor and a friendly, stray dog.

But Maia will soon learn that nature is a powerful teacher, and sometimes our greatest strengths show themselves when we have to be there for someone else. As she begins to figure out how to face her guilt, she'll discover there's a fine line between fear and adventure.