White Fire

"White Fire" by John Oxenham is a tale set in the early 1900s that tells the story of Jean Arnot, a rich and curious young woman, and Kenneth Blair, a passionate missionary looking to work in the South Seas. When they meet, ideas about love, giving things up, and finding what you're meant to do become important, making the story full of deep feelings and tough moral choices. It starts by showing Jeane at thirteen, having an adventure close to home, where she meets Kenneth, a young boy who dreams of exploring. Their first meeting shows a growing interest and respect, hinting at what's to come. As time goes on, we see Jean becoming a wealthy young woman searching for meaning in her life. After she hears Kenneth talk about wanting to be a missionary, her feelings for him grow stronger, pushing her to make a big decision that connects her future with his. The beginning does a good job of setting the scene, teasing their linked lives and the problems they'll face side-by-side.