Wildfire

Ben is a young boy who lives with his Grandma, Grandpa, and great grandmother Goomby in the Florida countryside. Wildfires are rampant in Florida in the story and it is the Fourth of July so fireworks have been banned. Ben, Elliot, and some other kids decide to set of some fireworks after the parade in the woods. Elliot's new dog is spooked by the rocket the kids set off and runs into the woods and the two boys are lost in the woods as a fire breaks out from the fireworks. The boys and puppy escape boars and thick smoke as Ben hears the bells ring-it's his Goomby and neighbors calling him. Ben and Elliot arrive safely at home and the fire was put out by the firefighters. Ben received his punishment but he gets the reward of keeping the puppy.

The plot is a good one for children because the story teaches about making the right choices and what happens if you don't. The character does not really say much about how much he wants the dog but his desire is understated.

Hill, Elizabeth, & Shepperson, Rob. (2004). Wildfire!. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).