Phoenix Rising
By
Karen Hesse
Characters
• Nyle Sumner-13 year old girl who lives with her
grandmother
• Nyle’s grandmother-Nyle lives with her on the farm
• Muncie Harris-Nyle’s friend/she is very short with
blonde hair and glasses
• Ripley Powers-15 year old boy who likes to pick on
Muncie and Nyle
• Ezra Trent-a 15 year old boy who was sickened by the
“accident”
• Mrs. Trent-Ezra’s mother
Setting
• The farm where Nyle and her grandmother
live.
• The farm is in the town of North Haversham
• The story mentions the town of Cookshire
where the accident took place.
Chapters 1-5
• We learn that there was an “accident” and that they people in
North Haversham have to wear masks on their faces when
they are outside.
• Nyle and Muncie find one of Nyle’s sheep has been killed by
Ripley Powers’ dog.
• Nyle notices that the curtain in the back bedroom is closed
and that worries her.
• Nyle learns that her grandmother has taken in a mother and
son (Mrs. Trent and Ezra) who were effected by the accident.
• We learn that the accident happened at a nuclear plant and
radiation leaked out making people sick and killing others.
• Nyle sees Ezra but does not talk to him at first.
• Nyle takes a book to read to Ezra.
Chapters 6-12
• The town gets word that they can throw away their
protective masks.
• Ezra is very sick and now his mother is getting sicker too.
• Ezra finally speaks to Nyle
• Nyle likes Ezra and doesn’t want him to die.
• Ezra appears to be getting better and he and Nyle talk a
lot.
• Nyle sees Ezra and his mother in the window but so does
Muncie. She wants to know who they are.
• Nyle’s grandmother worries that Nyle is getting too close
to Ezra and will be hurt when Ezra and his mother leave.
Chapters 13-17
• Nyle and her grandmother get another
dog for the farm and for Ezra.
• Ezra is not happy with getting the puppy
and is afraid it will get him sick.
• Ezra comes out of the back room into
the kitchen something he hasn’t done in
months.
• Nyle visits her aunt and uncle’s farm. It
is not safe to live there.
• Her one cousin is sick from radiation
poisoning.
• Nyle and Ezra are hanging out more.
Chapters 18-26
• Nyle is asked to bring school work home to
Ezra.
• Ezra is cleared to go outside.
• Ezra tells Nyle about the day of the accident.
• Munice is mad at Nyle for not telling her
about Ezra and tells Nyle to leave her alone.
• Mrs. Trent and Ezra go with Nyle and her
grandmother to a concert at the school.
• Ezra writes a letter to Nyle to thank her for
all she has done.
Chapters 27-28
• Riley beats up Ezra because he thinks Ezra is
a “mutant”.
• Muncie comes to Nyle and Ezra’s rescue.
• Nyle’s grandmother, Mrs. Trent and Ezra
leave without telling Nyle where they are
going.
• We learn that Ezra has leukemia.
• Nyle visits Ezra in the hospital.
• Ezra dies.