Ablaze: The Story of America's First Female Smokejumper. Written by Jessica Lawson and illustrated by Sarah Gonzales. Viking, Penguin Random House. 2025. $24.99 ages 5 and up

"She worked on wildland crews, where brush trucks

traveled remote roads to access wildfires. 
Crewmembers hiked in with tools and supplies, 
clearing brush and branches that might
make the fire spread. 

She worked on hotshot crews
where she fought faster fires
and took bigger risks."

With uncontrolled wildfires burning in many places around the world, this picture book biography that describes Deanne Shulman, her love for the outdoors, and the passion and perseverance she found in working for the US Forest Service, first as a firefighter and finally as a smokejumper, is extremely timely.  

As a very young child, Deanna climbed a tall tree, and then wondered how she would get back down. Though nervous, she jumped. She loved that feeling, and being outside with her family as they pursued sailing and backpacking together. That love of nature continued to grow, as she did. While she recognized that wildfires could be beneficial to the land, she also knew that some brought death and devastation. 

Deanne's brother worked with the US Forest Service, building and maintaining the land for all to enjoy.  Deanne applied to do the same. Instead, she was hired as a fire fighter. She loved her work. 

"One-hundred-degree heat and 
twenty-four-hour workdays. 
Air scorching hot on her face. 
Smoke masking the light of sun and stars."

After all the hard and dangerous work, there was still one thing she had never tried ... and it was what she wanted more than anything else. She longed to be a smokejumper. No female had ever held that job. At 26, she took the tests needed to prove herself and passed every one. Despite that, she was not accepted because of her size. She spent the following two years working even harder to prove she was up to the job. The rest is history. Deanne made seventy-seven jumps, then worked tirelessly with forestry programs until retiring in 2011. Today, she is a speaker and consultant, offering advice and sharing her experience with others. 

An informative and personal author's note follows, as does a glossary of terms used.