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Updated November 21, 2003
Phoenix Rising, by Karen Hesse (Young Adult)
The phoenix is a mythical bird that burns in fire at death and then rises from the ashes to live again. In this book many things have died in the aftermath of a nuclear meltdown in the area of Boston. Millions have died or are dying of radiation exposure. Animals, plants, water, and even the air have been contaminated in the immediate area of the leak. Only in distant rural areas are people free of radiation. Will society will rise from the “ashes” of this disaster? Nyle and her Grandmother have taken in two survivors of this meltdown, Mrs. Trent and her son Ezra. Ezra is very ill and close to death. Nyle helps to nurse Ezra in spite of her fear that he may contaminate her. Ezra improves but is deathly afraid of anything outside his room. Nyle hopes that he too will rise like the phoenix and not die like everyone in her family.