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After the Fire: A True Story of Love and Survival

By Karen Algeo Krizman, Special to the Rocky

Published August 21, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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* Nonfiction. By Robin Gaby Fisher. Little, Brown and Co., $24.99. Grade: A

Book in a nutshell: In the early-morning hours of Jan. 19, 2000, a fire raced through the freshman dormitory at Seton Hall University, in South Orange, N.J. Three students died and 58 were injured. Two of the most severely injured, Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos, weren't expected to survive.

Llanos was charred black with burns over his entire upper body and face, while roommate Simons suffered severe burns over his hands, head, face and lungs. Both were in medically induced comas for weeks at Saint Barnabas Hospital in New Jersey, where they were subjected to excruciatingly painful scrubbing of their burns to keep the open wounds from becoming infected.

Surprisingly, the two did survive and formed a remarkable friendship that sustained them through the worst of their recovery. Journalist Fisher details their miraculous story - and those of their caretakers - in this powerfully touching book that was originally a series in the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

Best tidbit: Above all else, this is a story of friendship best-illustrated by simple acts. For Llanos' birthday, the two shared cake in the hospital burn unit, and Simons presented his friend, scarred beyond recognition, with a box inscribed on the top with "a friend is one who knows you as you are, understands where you've been, accepts who you've become."

Pros: With a vast array of story lines to choose from, Fisher doesn't limit the focus to Llanos and Simons. As a result, she manages to share the stories of their families and those of the amazing doctors and nurses who cared for the teens. It all comes together smoothly, showcasing the author's superb reporting and storytelling skills.

Cons: Keep some Kleenex handy. After the Fire is a graphic and gut-wrenching read because of the horror of Llanos' and Simons' wounds.

Final word: In 2001, Fisher was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for this series but didn't win. She was robbed.