Robb White was the son of Episcopalian missionaries, but his stories are stories of adventure and war and survival. Mr. White is listed in Jan Bloom’s book, Who Should We Then Read?, A Busy Reader’s Concise Guide to the Best Authors of Living Books, Volume 2, and well he should be. I have read three or four of Robb White’s novels, and I was absorbed by each one of the ones that I have been able to find.
Firestorm is about a forest fire. It’s a short book, only 111 pages, but it’s perfect for reluctant but intelligent readers. The plot and characters and the ending are all surprising and give the reader food for thought. I was especially moved to think about what I would do in similar circumstances, as a boy and the forest ranger who believes him to be an arsonist are trapped together in a ring of fire that threatens to kill both of them.
I gave this book to Engineer Husband to read, and he was fascinated, too. I can’t tell much more, no spoilers, but this brief story reads like an excellent short story or novella with the same punch you would find in a well-written short story. I highly recommend.
If you like this one, you might also enjoy:
Deathwatch by Robb White. Another survival story, this 1972 novel about a boy surviving in the desert while being hunted and hounded by a predatory criminal was both exciting and absorbing.
If you find any more Robb White books (he wrote quite a few), grab them, and if you don’t want them, then send them my way.