It is 2046, a year since Vancouver was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. Taylor West, Carlie Fleming, Mai-Li Wong, and Willie Arbuckle, four young adults, and three children, twin brothers Rusty and Eddie Coleman, and Debbie, who has Downs Syndrome, lived in constant fear of the violent gangs. Making a life-saving decision they leave Little Mountain and walk to the Interior, hoping to find a better life.
The journey is fraught with unimaginable hardship and danger. Surviving a firestorm in the Wastelands, they clash with the Desert Rats, and lose one of their own. Heartbroken they continue their trek, finding an old, abandoned cabin near Mount Davis. Winter is rapidly approaching, and they decide to delay their journey until Spring. Taylor admits to Carlie he has feelings for her, but she rejects his advances, as she is unable to accept Rusty's death. Willie is caught stealing food and is banished from the group. Realizing he might seek revenge; Taylor decides they cannot stay in the cabin, they must leave immediately.
Their progress is slow, the snow is deep and the steep mountain trails take their toll on the younger children. They arrive at Blakeburn, a deserted mining town, and meet Pete Johnson, a trapper and prospector. Pete is the Chief of the Similkameen band, who live in harmony with the Chinese people in Blackfoot, their destination. Relationships are tested time and again. Will they remain strong and what will shatter?
Editorial Review Nancy M. Bell
In this, the second book in Bigelow deKelver's Climate of Fire series, Taylor, Carlie, Mai Li and the children, along with Willie, make their way toward Princeton, B.C. and Mai Li's family home. Along the way they are met with changing weather and dissent within their group which threatens to evolve into violence. The group pushes on, fighting the environment and their own fears. They come to a parting of ways with Willie which leads to more problems.
Bigelow DeKelver depicts the travails of the journey in realistic terms and in the process the interior of British Columbia comes to life in vivid colours. Along with the twists and turns of the journey, Taylor and Carlie's relationship takes on a new awareness of each other. This reader can't wait for book three in this series.
