Ash Road is a book about three young boys who accidentally set a fire in the outback during the drought season. The fire quickly escalates to dramatic proportions endangering many towns, farms, and lives and a group of young children come together in a time of danger to help save each others’ lives and properties. The reader is instantly drawn into the story by the vivid descriptions of the burning forests, horrifying smells, and terrible heat. The fire is out of control and the firefighters have no choice but to let it run its course. I would highly recommend this book to readers 12+. Its underlying themes include tragedy, loss, relationships, and death with the realization that life is not a permanent thing that should ever be taken for granted. Southall does an excellent job of putting the reader in the middle of the dramatic storyline and evoking strong feelings, especially when the children have to scramble for safety and do whatever they can to salvage what they have left including their lives. (Trade Book)
Reviewer: Barbara Rosson
Pre-Service Teacher
Early Childhood Education
Suggested Themes: Relationships – peers; Death & Illness; Tragedies
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