Erin Soderberg Downing


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Controlled Burn



A New Middle-Grade Novel, Coming from Scholastic in Fall 2022!



Twelve-year-old Maia’s parents say she’s lucky she noticed something as early as she did. Lucky to have smelled the smoke, lucky to have pulled her sister, Amelia, out of their burning house. But is it really “lucky” when Amelia’s stuck in the hospital, covered in burns? And is it "lucky” when Maia knows it was her candle, left unattended, that started the fire in the first place?


When she’s sent to spend the summer with her grandparents in Northern Minnesota while her sister heals, Maia discovers that her anxieties and demons are intent on following her wherever she goes…unless she can figure out how to overcome them. But what if she can’t? Maia barely knows her grandparents, she desperately misses her sister and home, and she’s not thrilled to be spending the summer with Grandpa Howard on his daily motorcycle rides out to the middle of the woods, where he spends all day keeping watch for forest fires. There are no kids her age in Gram and Pop’s small town at “the end of the road”—just the chatty nine-year-old neighbor who is intent on getting his Bear Scout badge at all costs, and a friendly, stray dog who’s been lurking around.


But Maia will soon learn that nature is a powerful teacher, and sometimes our greatest strengths show themselves when we have to be there for someone else. As Maia begins to figure out how to face her guilt and paralyzing fears, she’ll discover there’s a fine line between fear and adventure. And when danger strikes again, Maia must summon all her bravery and overcome her self-doubt if she wants to save those she loves most.


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What Others Are Saying



“CONTROLLED BURN is a testament to the power and beauty of everyday moments of bravery, compassion, and love. It shows us that though these moments might feel small, they can add up to something profound and even help a wounded heart Find healing. A gorgeous, tender, wonderful book."
- Anne Ursu, Author of The Trouble Girls of Dragomir Academy


“A compelling and moving exploration of the bonds of family, overcoming fears, and the power of friendship.”
- Hena Khan, Author of More to the Story & Amina's Voice





The idea for CONTROLLED BURN has been living as a spark inside me for years. This story has taken time to build and grow, but was ultimately inspired by my own childhood adventures exploring Minnesota’s north woods, and some of my personal family history captured in the photos below: my Grandpa Howard’s stories from his years working in a fire tower and with the Department of Natural Resources as a Forester the peaceful tranquility of the old fire tower and surrounding wilderness outside Tower, MN and my mom’s experience fighting forest fires in the western United States when I was a kid and teen.


CONTROLLED BURN is the story of twelve-year-old Maia, who is battling some huge personal demons and anxieties, but begins to conquer her fears while spending the summer with her grandparents after her younger sister is badly burned in a house fire. I am SO proud of this book, and can't wait to share Maia's story with readers later this year!



My grandpa's true story that inspired me to write this novel



The story that inspired me to write this novel



fire tower outside tower, MN



My Mom fighting forest fires



My Mom's fire crew in western United States



View from partway up fire tower



My mom fighting forest fires



fire plane dropping retardant



My planning documents while writing Controlled Burn


ART CREDITS:
Great Peach Experiment Design/Art: Michelle Cunningham
Controlled Burn: Oriol Vidal
Quirks Illustrations Kelly Light & Colin Jack
Puppy Pirates Covers: Luz Tapia
Puppy Pirates Interiors: Russ Cox
Daring Dreamers Club: Anoosha Syed
Close This Book Tight: Lesley Vamos
Moon Shadow: Julia Blattman