Firefly
by Philippa Dowding
Subjects:
JUV039140 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV039070 JUVENILE FICTION / Social Themes / Homelessness & Poverty
JUV013000 JUVENILE FICTION / Family / General
Synopsis:
Firefly lived in the park across from her mother’s home. It was safer there. But after the bad night happens, and her baseball-bat-wielding mother is taken away, social services sends Firefly to live with her Aunt Gayle. She hardly knows Gayle, but discovers that she owns a costume shop.
Yes, Firefly might be suffering from PTSD, but she can get used to taking baths, sleeping on a bed again, and wearing as many costumes as she can to school.
But where is “home”? What is “family”? Who is Firefly, for that matter … and which costume is the real one?
Price: $13.95
Ages: 9 to 12
Publication Date: February 6, 2021
ISBN: 9781770865983
Format: Trade Paperback
Size: 5.375" x 8.00"
Winner, 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award for Young People’s Literature - Text
Nominated, 2022 Forest of Reading - Red Maple Award
Reviews
“With poetic prose, a memorable character and evocative settings, Philippa Dowding deftly handles challenging subjects in this emotionally honest story. Supported by a unique cast of characters, Firefly will shine for readers and resonate long after they close this quietly powerful book.”
— Governor General’s Literary Award Peer Assessment Committee: Aviaq Johnston, Karen Rivers, and Ken Setterington
“This is a terrific read from an accomplished author.”
— Monica Kulling, author of Mary Anning’s Curiosity
“I know Philippa Dowding is better known for her speculative fiction like Oculum, The Strange Gift of Gwendolyn Golden and Everton Miles is Stranger than Me but I think her first foray into realistic fiction has demonstrated that she has important messages to share and she doesn't need to dress them up in the fantastical. Reality can be just as powerful and colourful, even if stitched with anguish.”
— Helen Kubiw, CanLit for LittleCanadians
“In this affecting novel, 13-year-old Firefly is sent to stay with a relative, after her mother gets taken into custody. Life with Aunt Gayle, who owns The Corseted Lady costume shop, offers a beacon of light out of the darkness of the “Bad Night.” Firefly’s compelling story unfolds through her indomitable and spirited first-person narration, and flashbacks revisit her troubled childhood of neglect and parental struggles with addiction. Aunt Gayle’s care and kindness wraps around Firefly like a comforting, hand-knit blanket. Being surrounded by steadfast support, along with seven million costumes in the shop, allows Firefly the opportunity to try on different identities and begin to discover her true self in the process.”
— Linda Ludke, Collections Management Librarian, London Public Library, Canadian Children's Book Centre March 2021 Newsletter
“Firefly was an enjoyable read filled with interesting characters, emotional moments, and mental health awareness and education. A realistic book that youth may easily relate to. Highly Recommended”
— Stephanie Johnson, CM Magazine
“I believe the author provides readers who have had a hard life some comfort in knowing that others go through troubled times too and gives others a glimpse into harsh realities that some kids endure. The book is enlightening and invokes empathy in the reader.”
— Ashlynne N., Age 13, North Texas Mensa
“In Firefly, Philippa Dowding presents serious topics such as homelessness and mental health in a way that fosters the readers’ compassion for the dramatis personae, thus allowing them to develop sympathy for the characters that are often vilified. The novel would be useful as a natural segue to the mental health literacy component of the curriculum for senior elementary students.”
— Robin Ahamedi, Canadian Children’s Book News
“The appeal of Firefly, like so much of Dowding’s work, isn’t limited to young readers. Her nuanced depiction of trauma, the search for identity, and the desire to define what ‘family’ means will resonate with readers of all ages.”
— Open Book