Firefly

Volume XXVII / Issue 31 - April 16/ 2021
Firefly
Firefly
  • context: Array
  • icon:
  • icon_position: before
  • theme_hook_original: google_books_biblio

Firefly

Author: 
Philippa Dowding
Toronto, ON: DCB/Cormorant Books, 2021
206 pp., trade pbk. & html, $13.95 (pbk.)
ISBN: 
9781770865983 (pbk.)
9781770865990 (html)
Grades: 
Grades 5-8 /
Ages: 
Ages 10-13
Review by: 
Stephanie Johnson
4
Excerpt: 

“You look really good, Firefly.” Then she reaches across the table and almost places her hand on my arm. But I pull back a fraction before she can touch me. She takes her hand away. Then clears her throat. …
“I guess we should talk, at least a bit.”

She looks at me, awkward. Poor Aunt Gayle. Where, oh where, do we start? I think she’s hoping I’ll say something, but I can’t. I mean really. What do I say to start this conversation?

Sorry, sorry, sorry? Where have I been for the past six years? Who am I? What am I doing in your kitchen? Do you even remember me?

What would Joanne-the-mother say? A rant about privilege and wealth. Not where I’m going to start.

“I mean, we should probably talk about a few things. But we’ll go slow, okay? Just what you’re ready to talk about,” Aunt Gayle offers. …

“I’ve been trying to think of what to say. And I think the only thing I want to say right now is you’re welcome here, I want you to know that. I said yes right away when the social worker called last night and asked if you could stay with me.” …

And that’s pretty much how I spend the first night of my new life with Aunt Gayle.

Clean. Fed. Braided. Smoking. Reminded of marshmallows. Sitting in her kitchen. Surrounded by seven million film and television costumes, in an enormous warehouse.

And not at all living with her sister, Joanne-the-mother. My mother.

Or as I call her, Joanne-the-mother-in-the-house-across-the-park.

Firefly is the story of a 13, almost 14-year-old girl who had been living in the park across from her mother’s house. Firefly was rarely safe in her home due to her mother’s addiction problems and, therefore, took to the streets. When Firefly is apprehended by a social worker, she is put into the care of her Aunt Gayle who lives in a giant costume warehouse in downtown Toronto. Firefly suddenly has a warm place to sleep, has access to food and hot water and now has to relearn how to feel safe and loved. To help adjust to her new life and school, Firefly begins wearing her Aunt’s costumes to school which give her a sense of strength. As she becomes more confident, Firefly begins making friends and discovers that other kids have suffered like she and they can all learn to heal by being there for each other.

This book deals with the heavy topics of homelessness, addiction and PTSD in a gentle and accessible manner, making the book a great introduction to these topics for children. While there are a few grittier details, like Firefly’s mother selling their stuff to buy drugs, overall the book focuses mainly on the present and Firefly’s current state of mind. The author does a great job in expressing how such simple things, such as taking a bath or drinking hot chocolate, are earth-shattering to Firefly who has been living outside by herself. Even though the topic is heavy at a glance, there is a lot of lightheartedness as readers get to experience life inside a busy, costume shop and all the quirky characters that go along with that.

The vocabulary strikes a good balance between basic and advanced, and, therefore, the book is accessible to a wide range of ages. The font is slightly bigger than regular print so even though the book hits the 200-page mark, the length isn’t overwhelming. The cover design is eye-catching with the contrasting purples and yellows and also comes across as fairly gender neutral. Overall, 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
Reviewer: 

Stephanie Johnson is a graduate of the Master of Library and Information Studies Program from the University of Alberta and is the Director of Devon Public Library.