The sun is dying and the world is freezing. Mara’s sheltered existence has protected her from enemies who would kill her to steal the warmth from her phoenix blood. But she was not prepared to navigate the world she must confront after that her family has been abducted. Mara must choose whether to trust what she’s been told about her stolen family, or to rely on her potential friend Eli. Kara Swanson’s fantasy novel Ignite sparks and soars with its coming-of-age storyline. This first book of the Phoenix Flame series may also inspire further conversations about how heroes confront abuse and deceptions as well as disentangle heresy from truth.

Best for: Young-adult fans of coming-of-age tales with complex relationships.

Discern: Spiritual and emotional abuse by parents and other authorities, animals are hunted for food, and some lightly described scenes of torture.