First published 2004
Dan Garland arrives at a lumber camp in New Hampshire's forests, ready to prove himself among seasoned woodsmen. The winter work transforms him from an inexperienced newcomer into a skilled lumberjack as he learns to fell trees, work the lumber operations, and survive in the harsh northern wilderness. When a dangerous forest fire threatens the camp and surrounding woods, Dan must help battle the flames. The crisis deepens when the crew discovers the fire was deliberately set. Dan joins the effort to track down the arsonist through the vast wilderness, using his newly developed woodcraft skills. Through these trials, Dan discovers his own strength and finds his place among the lumber crew.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, adventure
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: New Hampshire
Period: 20th-century
277 pages · Hardcover · Southern Skies