The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

Maudie—on the spectrum and afraid of change—must adapt to life in a camper on the beach after a raging wildfire upends her summer plans.

Maudie always looked forward to the summers she spends in California with her dad. But this year, she must keep a troubling secret about her home life—one that her mom warned her never to tell. Maudie wants to confide in her dad about her stepdad's anger, but she’s scared.

When a wildfire strikes, Maudie and her dad are forced to evacuate to the beach town where he grew up. It’s another turbulent wave of change. But now, every morning, from their camper, Maudie can see surfers bobbing in the water. She desperately wants to learn, but could she ever be brave enough?

As Maudie navigates unfamiliar waters, she makes friends—and her autism no longer feels like the big deal her mom makes it out to be. But her secret is still threatening to sink her. Will Maudie find the strength to reveal the awful truth—and maybe even find some way to stay with Dad—before summer is over?

Praise for The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn:

“A heartfelt story of courage and hope about Maudie, who navigates the world in her own unique divergent way, even while struggling with challenging family dynamics and loss. Readers will cry, cheer, and celebrate, and not soon forget Maudie McGinn.”  — Pam Muñoz Ryan, Newbery Honor-winning author 

“A gorgeous, bighearted, beautiful book. I loved it.”   — Elana K. Arnold, award-winning author of A Boy Called Bat

“A powerful and deeply affecting story that will carry readers along like the perfect wave.” — Barbara Dee, author of Maybe He Just Likes You 

“Anyone who’s different in a place where being different is feared will identify with Maudie’s struggles. Maudie’s journey from blaming herself for her neurodivergence to standing up for herself brings joy and hope to this autistic reader.” — Lyn Miller-Lachmann, award-winning author of Torch 

“A breathtakingly beautiful ride of a story about an unforgettable, neurodivergent heroine.” — Jess Redman, award-winning author of The Miraculous

“Through Maudie’s earnest, occasionally poetic narration, Pla vividly explores the ways that physical and verbal abuse can distort self-perception. A perceptive, poignant tale of self-discovery.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Any reader who has ever felt different will be able to relate to Maudie's journey to finding her home and her people.” — ALA Booklist

“A unique and memorable story that will appeal to middle grade readers open to a creative format and heavier themes.”  — School Library Journal

Awards

• Nominated for 17 different state-awards/lists

• ALA Schneider Family Book Award

• Cybils Awards Finalist

• Sakura Medal Finalist

• Discussion Guide and Activities, created by the publisher Quill Tree Books

  • • Open-ended discussion questions

    • Activities such as Create a Surfing Glossary, Analyzing Conflicts, Story Timeline, etc

    • Writing prompts

• Other discussion questions, created by Unleashing Readers:

  • • Why do you think the author chose not to tell Maudie’s secret from the beginning?

    • How does surfing both help and hurt Maudie’s situation?

    • How is Maudie treated differently with her mom versus her dad?

    • Why does her dad seem to understand her better than her mom?

    • Why did the author include sections in verse throughout the book?

    • Why do you think Etta helps Maudie?

    • Why does Maudie begin to find her voice more now that she is with her dad?

    • How is Paddi’s school different than Maudie’s school in Texas?

    • Masks are talked about figuratively within the book. Why does Maudie and her mom feel like they have to wear a mask?

    • What type of character traits does Maudie and her dad show by starting over after the fire?

• Information and Activities compiled by Texas Bluebonnet Award:

  • • Neurodivergence:

      • What is neurodiversity? videos for children

      • Kids’ Quest about ADHD

    • Wildfires:

      • California Fires

      • Fighting Wildfires

      • Track California Wildfires

• • • Mindfulness Activities:

      • 10 Grounding Exercises for Kids to Manage Anxiety and Worries

      • The 5-4-3-2-1 Method: A Grounding Exercise to Manage Anxiety (4:28)

    • Surfing

      • HUGE SURF AIRS by 10-Year-Old Surfer - Sky Brown

      • Surfing Walk of Fame

    • MakerSpace Activities:

      • Making Mini Surfboards (0:59)

      • Ocean Waves in a Bottle

    • Additional Discussion / Text-to-self questions

• Blog post by Sally J. Pla - frank and enlightening description of her personal experience of growing up neurodivergent

• Reader's Theater script, created by Bound to Stay Bound

• Video Interview with Sally J. Pla, created by Texas Bluebonnet Award

• Loads of other interviews with Sally J. Pla are compiled on TeachingBooks.net 

• Audiobook version narrated by Gail Shalan is fantastic - Audiobook Sample 

Thanks to TeachingBooks.net and the Texas Bluebonnet Award team for compiling many of the above resources!

• Author's website: https://sallyjpla.com/

• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SallyJPla

• Instagram: @SalllyJPla

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sally.pla