MOUNTAIN OF FIRE: THE ERUPTION AND SURVIVORS OF MOUNT ST. HELENS, by Rebecca E. F. Barone, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), May 14, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 10 and up)
Learn about the events leading up to and following the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Mountain of Fire, by Rebecca E. F. Barone.
Mountain of Fire is the narrative nonfiction account of the violent volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the story of the people who died, those who survived, and the heroes who fought to raise an alarm.
For weeks, the ground around Mount St. Helens shuddered like a dynamite keg ready to explode. There were legends of previous eruptions: violent fire, treacherous floods, and heat that had scoured the area. But the shaking and swelling was unlike any volcanic activity ever seen before. Day and night, scientists tried to piece together the mountain’s clues―yet nothing could prepare them for the destruction to come.
The long-dormant volcano seethed away, boiling rock far below the surface. Washington’s governor, Dixie Lee Ray, understood the despair that would follow from people being forced from their homes. How and when should she give orders to evacuate the area? And would that be enough to save the people from the eruption of Mount St. Helens?
Includes a QR code for a website featuring eye-catching photos of the eruption. —Synopsis provided by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Books like Mountain of Fire are the way to get young readers excited about nonfiction. From start to finish, it’s an engaging read that makes you want to know more.
Author Rebecca E. F. Barone has meticulously researched the topic, including first-person interviews with some of the scientists and survivors.
Barone’s writing is accessible and full of energy. Her pacing is spot on, building up anticipation with every turn of the page.
As an adult, I was glued to Mountain of Fire, and after describing it to my 10-year-old, it’s on her to-read list. I plan on purchasing a copy — my review is based on a digital advance review copy — and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it for older middle readers, young adults or adults. It’s excellent.
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