Paradise on Fire

Addy is the teenage protagonist of the novel. Her journey of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery propels the plot of the novel. As the novel opens, Addy is deeply traumatized from the fire that killed her parents, leaving her isolated from those around her. Due to her fear of fire—particularly its unpredictability—she makes elaborate maps with escape routes to ensure that she survives.

Addy begins to develop more self-esteem and confidence once she arrives at the camp and settles in. Leo takes an immediate interest in her, with Addy remarking that he looks at her “[l]ike [she’s] got magic buried inside [her]” (21). His faith in her proves to be justified because she feels an immediate kinship with nature despite never having experienced it before. She loves hiking and being surrounded by forest, and her enthusiasm is matched only by Jay. As the story progresses, Addy displays increasing skills for Survival and Resilience as she guides herself and her friends through the wilderness during a wildfire. She develops strong leadership skills, which allows her to save herself and her friends despite her deep fear of fire.

Addy’s biggest character growth comes from her connection to others.