First published 2015
Jeff watches smoke rise from the house across the street. The fifteen-year-old has always been afraid of fire, ever since the accident that left him with scars and nightmares. Now flames consume his neighbor's home while sirens wail in the distance. Jeff's mother wants him to stay inside, but something pulls him toward the chaos. His neighbor Mrs. Chen might still be trapped. The firefighters haven't arrived yet, and every second counts. Jeff must choose between the safety of his fears and the danger of action. As the fire spreads, he discovers that courage isn't the absence of fear but what you do despite it. This story explores how trauma shapes us and how we can find strength in our most frightening moments.
Genres: fiction, drama, contemporary, action
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-fear
Setting: House
Period: Fifteen-Year-Old
204 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Content warnings: anxiety