Nyle's life with her grandmother on their Vermont sheep farm advances rhythmically through the seasons until the night of the accident at the Cookshire nuclear power plant. Without warning, Nyle's modest world fills with protective masks, evacuations, contaminated food, disruptions, and mistrust. Things become even more complicated when Ezra Trent and his mother, refugees from the heart of the accident, take temporary shelter in the back bedroom of Nyle's house. The back bedroom is the dying room: It took her mother when Nyle was six; it stole away her grandfather just two years ago. Now, Ezra is back there and Nyle doesn't want to open her heart to him. Too many times she's let people in, only to have them desert her. If she lets herself care for Ezra, she knows he'll end up leaving her, too.
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"Hesse remains one of my favourite young adult authors. Her books are full of hope and deep emotion; they are original and approachable. Hesse's writing is often beautiful (in 'Out of the Dust' she writes in lovely free verse.) 'Phoenix Rising' follows a young girl after the area south of her has suffered a nuclear meltdown. The effects of the radiation are devastating to the area both economically (the entire area more or less shuts down) and personally. Not only is Nyle's cousin very sick from radiation poisoning, but she and her gran also take in two radiation evacuees. Hesse gently pushes the reader to think about the choices we and our governments are making. Are we using power responsibly? Are we risking too much? And yet the book is far from a political or environmental story: it is about courage and hope; about letting people into our lives and hearts and about saying goodbye." — Arlie (4 out of 5 stars)
"Hesse remains one of my favourite young adult authors. Her books are full of hope and deep emotion; they are original and approachable. Hesse's writing is often beautiful (in 'Out of the Dust' she writes in lovely free verse.) 'Phoenix Rising' follows a young girl after the area south of her has suffered a nuclear meltdown. The effects of the radiation are devastating to the area both economically (the entire area more or less shuts down) and personally. Not only is Nyle's cousin very sick from radiation poisoning, but she and her gran also take in two radiation evacuees. Hesse gently pushes the reader to think about the choices we and our governments are making. Are we using power responsibly? Are we risking too much? And yet the book is far from a political or environmental story: it is about courage and hope; about letting people into our lives and hearts and about saying goodbye."
" I loved this book. It was moving and touched my heart. I would reccomend this book to people who love realistic fiction books that have you wraped up in its emotional story. However, people who favor action packed books should back away from this one. This book was inspiring and had me turning its pages as fast as i could. "
" This is probably one of my most favorite books ever. It's a hope-inspiring story. "
" This book reminded me how much I love Karen Hesse. Great read- strong and really well developed characters. Extremely moving ending. I loved it. "
" Great book about the wild west but needs less characters "
" The book was very depressing but it was a good read. It's about a young girl Nyle and her grandmother living in a farm. At the Cookshire nuclear power plant, an accident occurred which changes the story's whole climate. This leads to the start of contaminated food and protective masks. Being the kind woman, Nyle's grandmother takes in Ezra's family from the evacuations. Ezra's health condition wasn't good throughout the book. The book ended depressingly. After reading this, you can see how Nyle grew as a character. This was an inspiring read and everyone is recommended to read it. "
" I can't remember too much of this book, considering I read it maybe 5 years ago, but I do remember enjoying it, so four stars :) "
" Amazing! Terribly sad but so good! "
" I enjoyed this, but felt like it was slow to pull me in. I did find myself caring more and more about the characters as the story continued. By the end I liked it a lot. I also really liked the use of the Phoenix analogy. 3.5 stars. "
" I was pulled into this book! It is a fast read! I read it in one evening. I just love the charaters of the story they got me hooked. I love books that just pull at me emotionaly like this one did. "
" Sad book, I guesss "
" I'm not sure I agree with the underlying premise that nuclear power is too dangerous to use, but this book is so well written that I had trouble putting it down. It's a great story. "
" One of my favorite books of my youth. I "discovered" this book in my school library, and always went back to it time and again. Deep, touching story - a must-read! "
" Everyone should read this book. It made me cry. The characters are very real because of the complicated emotions they have. The plot about the radiation was relatable because although it's not as bad today, people still have horrible cancer. This book is really touching. "
" A bit depressing and lacked in character development. Interesting idea about a radiation spill similar to Chernobyl in the US. "
" Cyberpunk, cowritten by a New Zealander, but it just hasn't enticed me after two or three chapters. It's all bombs and corsets, but I haven't been hooked. I may come back to it, or it may end up back at the library. "
" Loved this book. Almost made me cry. "
" I would have to say I gave the book 3 stars only because of the ending. Other than that it would have definitely gotten a 5 star rating from me. "
" i liked it a lot but it was SAD. there was no real love story but there was a part where you could feel it coming, that's why my old update said it was concentrated on the love story "
" In 7th grade, this book changed my life. I've probably read it 8-10 times and still cry every time. It's written for middle schoolers however, so it may not be enthralling for many of you. :-) "
" Another book where you just pray it never happens to you. "
" Such a sad book. ``` She doesn't want him here. He'll end up dying. He lives in the dying room, sick with radiation. It took her mother and grandfather. She doesn't want to know him. Doesn't want to love him. Because then he'll die.`````` "
" I read this for summer reading, it was very good but also sad. "
" Fictional story of a nuclear accident. Ranks up there with Alas, Babylon. Self reliance theme subtle but there. Dangers of using wrong kind of energy. "
" I don't know how many times I've read this book, probably five or six. I know I used it for a few book reports throughout elementary and middle school because I loved it so much. "
" my daughter was assigned this book in school.....we read it together and i was genuinely hooked on it! "
" This book was well written, but the story was kind of slow and the content is heavy. It is a 5th grade reading level, but I don't think most 5th graders I worked with would like it very much. "
Karen Hesse is the author of some fifteen books for children, and was recently awarded a prestigious MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” for her contribution to literature for children and young adults. Her many novels have garnered considerable success, including the Sydney Taylor Award, the IRA/YA Award, 5 Notable Books for Children, 4 Best Books for Young Adults, and the Newberry Medal. Hesse has spent many years promoting her books to the school market, and is well-known in classrooms throughout the country. She and her husband, Randy, live in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Julia Whelan is a novelist, screenwriter, lifelong actor, and multiple award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and creative writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. She is a former child actor who has appeared in multiple films and television shows.
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