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Heroes Next Door Trilogy #1
Fireflies - A Tale of Life and Death
In the buzzing city of New York, 12-year-old Gabriel Scott retreats from his parents' constant arguing into a virtual world of adventure and companionship. Unfortunately, as summer comes along, his parents ship him off to Kenton Woods to stay with grandparents he hasn't seen in years. Trapped in a world of small town life, Gabriel suddenly finds himself cut off from the only friends he ever had when he discovers that his grandparents don't even own a computer.
After sulking in the house for a few days, his grandfather drags him outside and Gabriel takes his first steps into the real world. Gathering all his courage, he talks to Liam, their neighbors' son, who hands him a small sheet of paper and asks for his help. From that day on, Gabriel follows Liam and his friends on a treasure hunt across town. With the entire school on their heels, they rush to solve riddle after riddle, slowly closing in on that which no one has ever found before. Along the way, Gabriel meets the head-butting twins Jack and Jordan, their dog Cat, the insane story-teller Eddie and Hannah, a young girl locked up in her room.
Hand in hand, they work to help Hannah escape and take her along on their adventure. Having spent her entire life cut off from the rest of the world, Gabriel finds a kindred spirit in the red-haired girl with the glowing eyes. But one day, a secret Hannah has been carefully hiding from the group rears its ugly head and threatens to shatter Gabriel's new life and the place he thought he'd finally found in the world.
After sulking in the house for a few days, his grandfather drags him outside and Gabriel takes his first steps into the real world. Gathering all his courage, he talks to Liam, their neighbors' son, who hands him a small sheet of paper and asks for his help. From that day on, Gabriel follows Liam and his friends on a treasure hunt across town. With the entire school on their heels, they rush to solve riddle after riddle, slowly closing in on that which no one has ever found before. Along the way, Gabriel meets the head-butting twins Jack and Jordan, their dog Cat, the insane story-teller Eddie and Hannah, a young girl locked up in her room.
Hand in hand, they work to help Hannah escape and take her along on their adventure. Having spent her entire life cut off from the rest of the world, Gabriel finds a kindred spirit in the red-haired girl with the glowing eyes. But one day, a secret Hannah has been carefully hiding from the group rears its ugly head and threatens to shatter Gabriel's new life and the place he thought he'd finally found in the world.
190 pages, ebook
First published September 1, 2013
About the author
Bree Wolf
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Excited for my new series? The Flames of Winter Series:
An epic love story that spans across an entire series. Ensure that you have a good cup of tea, something to nibble on and perhaps a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this slow-burn Regency romance full of enchanting moments between Sarah and Keir, the little wisp and the highlander.
Excited for my new series? The Flames of Winter Series:
An epic love story that spans across an entire series. Ensure that you have a good cup of tea, something to nibble on and perhaps a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this slow-burn Regency romance full of enchanting moments between Sarah and Keir, the little wisp and the highlander.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 23, 2016
This book was nominated as a Great Middle Great Reads Book of the Month, in a special edition for indie authors. I was a little doubtful about the book from the blurb, but got drawn in, and read it in two sittings. It’s the first of an as yet unfinished trilogy, but it stands alone.
Gabriel is virtually ignored at home in New York, and spends most of his time inside video games. When his parents ship him out to stay with his grandparents in the country for a ‘couple of weeks’ he is completely at a loss – no internet, no games, nothing. Gradually he discovers he can go outside, which leads to meeting people. Fortunately there is a treasure hunt set up by the school’s seniors to give kids a challenge over the summer vacation, and he finds his more cerebral ways helpful when it comes to solving clues. He teams up with some other kids, all of them slight misfits, even if the others do live there, and unravels the mystery of the haunted house… which brings both joy and sorrow, and was so beautifully written that it even hard me in tears!
It’s a book that gave our group a huge range of responses. I found it read well, the kids were believable in their own ways, and didn’t notice any particular dialogue difficulties, unlike other members of the group. I wondered whether people expected all the kids to speak in the way their own did, or whether there is a ‘standard US kid speak’ outside which kids who copy their elders’ speech patterns are thought to be peculiar. Maybe I read it in a different accent. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and the writing, which risked getting mawkish at times, but managed not to turn me off, which was a great feat!
It’s a lovely story, which risks being one of those ‘misfit finds friendship’ tropes, but pulls out with powerful writing and keen visualisation. I could certainly feel the heat, see the river and the woods, and the potential for adventure. Hannah’s adventure is particularly well handled.
Gabriel is virtually ignored at home in New York, and spends most of his time inside video games. When his parents ship him out to stay with his grandparents in the country for a ‘couple of weeks’ he is completely at a loss – no internet, no games, nothing. Gradually he discovers he can go outside, which leads to meeting people. Fortunately there is a treasure hunt set up by the school’s seniors to give kids a challenge over the summer vacation, and he finds his more cerebral ways helpful when it comes to solving clues. He teams up with some other kids, all of them slight misfits, even if the others do live there, and unravels the mystery of the haunted house… which brings both joy and sorrow, and was so beautifully written that it even hard me in tears!
It’s a book that gave our group a huge range of responses. I found it read well, the kids were believable in their own ways, and didn’t notice any particular dialogue difficulties, unlike other members of the group. I wondered whether people expected all the kids to speak in the way their own did, or whether there is a ‘standard US kid speak’ outside which kids who copy their elders’ speech patterns are thought to be peculiar. Maybe I read it in a different accent. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and the writing, which risked getting mawkish at times, but managed not to turn me off, which was a great feat!
It’s a lovely story, which risks being one of those ‘misfit finds friendship’ tropes, but pulls out with powerful writing and keen visualisation. I could certainly feel the heat, see the river and the woods, and the potential for adventure. Hannah’s adventure is particularly well handled.
February 4, 2017
What to say? Only that I loved this book, I read it in a few days as it was well written and the story touched my heart. A great story of growth and compassion of a boy called Gabriel who finds himself in a new life staying with his grandparents in a small town. This story had a twist that tugs at the heartstrings.
The charecters are charming and in this small town so different from New York, Gabriel finds his real self and learns the true value of friendship. Bree Wolf wrote a heartwarming story that touched my heart and I found myself crying so many times. I recommend to read this book and I will soon read the next book of this series.
The charecters are charming and in this small town so different from New York, Gabriel finds his real self and learns the true value of friendship. Bree Wolf wrote a heartwarming story that touched my heart and I found myself crying so many times. I recommend to read this book and I will soon read the next book of this series.
October 7, 2014
Twelve year old, Gabriel’s real world is filled with bickering parents and a sense of isolation and loneliness. Is it any wonder that he would rather be living in a computer game, surrounded by loyal friends and off on important adventures? A nasty surprise comes when the parents who he feels have long ago abandoned him, decide to take away his only friends by sending him to stay with grandparents he hasn’t seen in three years, in a micro town, WITH NO COMPUTER. They seem to think it is for “his own good.” After all, THEY don't have any problems.
Gabriel, once at his grandparents, in the bedroom where his grandmother grew up, is practically agoraphobic, wandering the tiny home and staring out the windows and longing for his world of adventures. Then his Grandma tells him, with a huge wink, “only those who go out into the world will find adventures. Those who peer through windows rarely do.”
His grandfather throws in his own encouraging advice, “start small, No one starts out big. Take one step and see if you feel like taking another. If not, try again tomorrow.”
Stepping outside plunges him into riddles and hunts and a world that doesn’t fade into the background when he finds a computer to borrow. How can a computer game compare to a real life Damsel needing rescued from a tower? Or who really needed rescuing? Just a 5 star read, with a few tears thrown in as seasoning.
Gabriel, once at his grandparents, in the bedroom where his grandmother grew up, is practically agoraphobic, wandering the tiny home and staring out the windows and longing for his world of adventures. Then his Grandma tells him, with a huge wink, “only those who go out into the world will find adventures. Those who peer through windows rarely do.”
His grandfather throws in his own encouraging advice, “start small, No one starts out big. Take one step and see if you feel like taking another. If not, try again tomorrow.”
Stepping outside plunges him into riddles and hunts and a world that doesn’t fade into the background when he finds a computer to borrow. How can a computer game compare to a real life Damsel needing rescued from a tower? Or who really needed rescuing? Just a 5 star read, with a few tears thrown in as seasoning.
July 31, 2014
4.5 stars! This is a lovely, moving book. It's a sad story, in fact two sad stories in one. I may not have read it if I'd known, as I tend to avoid sad stories. I suspect most children do, too, and parents tend to shield them from unpleasant realities. But one never knows when reality will burst through the barriers, and perhaps it is good for children to be brought face to face with it in a gentle way, as in this book. I am so glad I read it, because in the end it's not the sadness but the courage, hope and laughter that stays with you.
Fireflies is a really well-written book, one that grabs the reader's interest and holds it throughout. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that I was slightly irritated by the overuse of adjectives and symbols; for instance, Gabriel's nails would dig into his palm every time he was tense. But that's a personal peeve. I loved the lazy, crazy summer days spent squabbling, solving riddles and fooling around the swimming hole, and the cozy small town setting, where everybody knows everybody. The children in this book are amazing, and the dynamics within the gang is cute and funny. Gabriel and Hannah are lovable characters that I think children will easily identify with. They learn from each other and are so wise, even while being vulnerable and childlike. I was really sorry to finish the book and would love to read a sequel!
Fireflies is a really well-written book, one that grabs the reader's interest and holds it throughout. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that I was slightly irritated by the overuse of adjectives and symbols; for instance, Gabriel's nails would dig into his palm every time he was tense. But that's a personal peeve. I loved the lazy, crazy summer days spent squabbling, solving riddles and fooling around the swimming hole, and the cozy small town setting, where everybody knows everybody. The children in this book are amazing, and the dynamics within the gang is cute and funny. Gabriel and Hannah are lovable characters that I think children will easily identify with. They learn from each other and are so wise, even while being vulnerable and childlike. I was really sorry to finish the book and would love to read a sequel!
October 11, 2014
Twelve year old Gabriel heads to his grandparents house in rural North Carolina to escape his life of being invisible to his fighting parents in the city. Arriving at his loving grandparents house with his computer games as his only enjoyment, Gabriel slowly comes out of his shell as he meets a group of new friends throughout the summer. Granted the freedom that only a small country town can provide, he learns that adventure in the real world is even better than his games. I really enjoyed reading Fireflies. It pulled me in with its rich dialogue between the kids, their escapades written with excitement and filled with likeability. I cared about their journey till the very last page. I can’t wait to read the next sequel!
November 2, 2014
I was given a free copy of this novel in exchange for a review.
I loved this book, and as someone that has grown up getting lost in video games in order to escape things out in the real world I really relate to this - think of it like Ready Player One for middle grade readers.
Disaster strikes when Gabriel is forced to go with his grandparents and leave his home comforts. For the twelve year old me who never left home without his gameboy, I totally got it. The personal growth that Gabriel undergoes was touching and I really wish I had read this when I was growing up.
The only thing, I wish I knew what game engine this game was running on!! Bioware can learn a thing or two...but that's me done geeking out!
I loved this book, and as someone that has grown up getting lost in video games in order to escape things out in the real world I really relate to this - think of it like Ready Player One for middle grade readers.
Disaster strikes when Gabriel is forced to go with his grandparents and leave his home comforts. For the twelve year old me who never left home without his gameboy, I totally got it. The personal growth that Gabriel undergoes was touching and I really wish I had read this when I was growing up.
The only thing, I wish I knew what game engine this game was running on!! Bioware can learn a thing or two...but that's me done geeking out!
April 22, 2016
When I first started reading Fireflies, I thought it was going to be another middle grade "parents fight and ignore kid so kid delves into computer life" book. But no! This story developed into a full-bodied, cozy, touching experience showing the importance and benefits of friendship, compassion, and living life to the fullest.
Gabriel, a 12 year old city boy, spends the summer at his grandparents' house in a small town. He joins forces with a group of local kids, riding bikes and swimming in the local swimming hole. But when Gabriel meets Hannah, he truly learns the impact that one person can have on another's life.
Gabriel, a 12 year old city boy, spends the summer at his grandparents' house in a small town. He joins forces with a group of local kids, riding bikes and swimming in the local swimming hole. But when Gabriel meets Hannah, he truly learns the impact that one person can have on another's life.
October 17, 2015
I very much enjoyed this book, and would recommend it. I'll be trying to get my two boys to read it when they finish the books they're currently in the middle of. Loved the characters, great morals, exciting, well written. Great middle grade to YA read, but also fun and a quick read for adults. Touching story. I look forward to book 2.
July 4, 2018
This was a great book. It was sad at the end but then got happy again. I would recommend this book. It is a fast easy read and middle to young adults would enjoy this book.
July 1, 2014
'Fireflies' by Bree Wolf is a story of innocent summer adventures that lead the reader and Gabriel, the principle young character, face-to-face with a major dilemma.
The red-haired, secretive Hanna shows lonely, troubled Gabriel how to find happiness and 'seize-the-day' as if it were his, or her, last. The two form a special bond that I thought quite sensitive and heart-warming. The dilemma is: Could he/should he choose to live with his grandparents in the country, rather than with his dis-functional parents in the big city, if it makes him happier? Is he brave enough?are kids old enough to make these sorts of choices?
The romantic North Carolina setting, with deep woods, fireflies and an accepting, if quirky community, is in sharp contrast to the unhappy, lonely life in the high-tech, big city, and his artificial computer game. After a shaky start, Gabriel finds acceptance within a close knit group of diverse, entertaining youngsters, each with their own talents, personalities and conflicts, but each contributing to the success of the scavenger hunt that occupies the summer.
A well written story that describes how kids can engage in successful cooperative teamwork, deal with life and death issues on a mature level and marvel over the mystery of fireflies at dusk.
The red-haired, secretive Hanna shows lonely, troubled Gabriel how to find happiness and 'seize-the-day' as if it were his, or her, last. The two form a special bond that I thought quite sensitive and heart-warming. The dilemma is: Could he/should he choose to live with his grandparents in the country, rather than with his dis-functional parents in the big city, if it makes him happier? Is he brave enough?are kids old enough to make these sorts of choices?
The romantic North Carolina setting, with deep woods, fireflies and an accepting, if quirky community, is in sharp contrast to the unhappy, lonely life in the high-tech, big city, and his artificial computer game. After a shaky start, Gabriel finds acceptance within a close knit group of diverse, entertaining youngsters, each with their own talents, personalities and conflicts, but each contributing to the success of the scavenger hunt that occupies the summer.
A well written story that describes how kids can engage in successful cooperative teamwork, deal with life and death issues on a mature level and marvel over the mystery of fireflies at dusk.
October 7, 2014
This was a surprising story in many ways from the beginning to the end! Every time that I thought the plot was taking a predictable route, it would surprise me by taking a detour into an unexpected area. I like how the story starts out focusing on a kid that is so obsessed with technology and really only lives his life online and then turns into that child growing and learning how to live in "the real world". I feel that is a subject that is applicable to many kids today. Far too many young people do live their entire lives online and fail to have many "real world adventures" which is truly a pity. Once Gabriel goes to the country to stay with his grandparents, many other interesting characters are introduced into the story, always keeping it exciting and providing ample opportunities for mystery and unexpected plot twists.
Overall, this is definitely an enjoyable read and is written very well. I am always pleased to find books by fellow indie authors who take the time to present a well crafted, captivating book for kids.
Overall, this is definitely an enjoyable read and is written very well. I am always pleased to find books by fellow indie authors who take the time to present a well crafted, captivating book for kids.
April 29, 2016
Gabriel Scoot lives in NYC with his parents. And he always is playing computer games is his spare time at home. The big reason is because his mother and father fight all the time so he becomes the
"hero" in his computer game. The other reason is he has no friends. It seems his parents don't have a clue about their son.
School has let out and Gabe's parents decide that he should live with his grandparents over the summer and Gabe is upset, he'd rather spend time playing his computer game. He makes a deal with his mother to stay there for two weeks.
He's in for a surprise. He starts to make friends and starts enjoying himself. But there is a spooky house on the way to the lake and Gabe spies a figure in the window. With the help of his friends, Gabe finds out there is a young girl with a mysterious secret, that and she has a thing for fireflies.
This book really touched my heart. It was written with very sensitive feelings about what happens when you lose your very best friend. I'm glad I read this book.
"hero" in his computer game. The other reason is he has no friends. It seems his parents don't have a clue about their son.
School has let out and Gabe's parents decide that he should live with his grandparents over the summer and Gabe is upset, he'd rather spend time playing his computer game. He makes a deal with his mother to stay there for two weeks.
He's in for a surprise. He starts to make friends and starts enjoying himself. But there is a spooky house on the way to the lake and Gabe spies a figure in the window. With the help of his friends, Gabe finds out there is a young girl with a mysterious secret, that and she has a thing for fireflies.
This book really touched my heart. It was written with very sensitive feelings about what happens when you lose your very best friend. I'm glad I read this book.
April 15, 2017
5 starts
Please read this book, please
It's such an amazing and heartbreaking story.
The writing is breathtaking and beautiful.
In the beginning I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, but thanks god that I didn't put it down.
It talks about a boy and him coming out of his parents problems and coming out to the world, not with a second meaning, it literally means that the boy, Gabriel, left the house and started living life. Making new friends and discovering the real world, not the world inside his computer.
I personally loved his grandfather and Cat, the dog.
Try it, 190 pages won't take you much time
Please read this book, please
It's such an amazing and heartbreaking story.
The writing is breathtaking and beautiful.
In the beginning I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it, but thanks god that I didn't put it down.
It talks about a boy and him coming out of his parents problems and coming out to the world, not with a second meaning, it literally means that the boy, Gabriel, left the house and started living life. Making new friends and discovering the real world, not the world inside his computer.
I personally loved his grandfather and Cat, the dog.
Try it, 190 pages won't take you much time
January 25, 2017
Sweet and wonderful story.
Very sweet story about how much friendships and truly living can mean. Great book for kids with some meaningful messages about life and death.
Very sweet story about how much friendships and truly living can mean. Great book for kids with some meaningful messages about life and death.
November 6, 2017
I wasn't sure if I'd really like his book when I started. The main character is a harassed boy who chooses to become invisible in real life while his computer game avatar is a leader and guide.
Gabriel's home life is sad. His parents are self absorbed and can barely work together as a couple let alone as parents. What's even sadder is at that I am certain there are many children and young people out there who are in similar home situations. This one particular summer Gabriel's parents (they don't really want him around) decide to send him to his grandparents.
Gabriel's grandparents live in a small town; they have no computer and the only internet access is at the local library. He dreads the trip. However, when he gets there, things start to change and a new world opens to him. The computer game becomes the real world (not literally) and he finds a new quest and team.
From the very beginning you know this is not a happy-go-lucky quest story. It is rife with sorrow, so be prepared with tissues.
The story and characters are well crafted and take the reader along with them through a journey both external and internal. The main and secondary characters have depth and show growth throughout the story. The tertiary characters (mostly adults) stay more flat, but not unbelievably so.
Though uncertain at first, I truly enjoyed reading this book. I hope to read more in the series.
Gabriel's home life is sad. His parents are self absorbed and can barely work together as a couple let alone as parents. What's even sadder is at that I am certain there are many children and young people out there who are in similar home situations. This one particular summer Gabriel's parents (they don't really want him around) decide to send him to his grandparents.
Gabriel's grandparents live in a small town; they have no computer and the only internet access is at the local library. He dreads the trip. However, when he gets there, things start to change and a new world opens to him. The computer game becomes the real world (not literally) and he finds a new quest and team.
From the very beginning you know this is not a happy-go-lucky quest story. It is rife with sorrow, so be prepared with tissues.
The story and characters are well crafted and take the reader along with them through a journey both external and internal. The main and secondary characters have depth and show growth throughout the story. The tertiary characters (mostly adults) stay more flat, but not unbelievably so.
Though uncertain at first, I truly enjoyed reading this book. I hope to read more in the series.
June 16, 2018
I enjoyed this gentle tale of friendship. Gabriel is visiting his grandparents under duress from New York for the summer. Shy and normally crouched over a computer, he needs to adapt to the real world. The group of friends spend the summer trying to solve the clues of a scavenger hunt that takes them across the town and meets a new girl, Hannah, who has a deep secret of her own. I enjoyed the tone of the book and meeting the various characters.
March 20, 2018
When I started this book I thought it was going to be a a video game world, as it started off that way. (And I hadn't read the blurb). It turned out to be a lot better. I really liked this story from when Gabriel finally started to make friends. His personal growth was very interesting to read and although this was quite predictable, (the riddles were super easy to figure out as well) I liked it.
May 18, 2017
Wow!!! It is surely a tale of Life and death. It captivated me.... It is an easy story to read but the meanings behind it are so deep. It gives you a lot to think about and change your way of living. I was crying like a baby at the end...
October 1, 2017
I quite enjoyed this middle grade read, a light fantasy story that deals with a few sensitive issues really well. I think this would be a great book for young readers looking for adventure and a bit of mystery.
November 6, 2017
Slow to start with but then develops into a lovely book. A sad but very heartwarming tale of parental abandonment, withdrawal, death and finding your way through it all with hope and a smile on your face.
May 28, 2018
A sweet story of friendship, belief and self knowledge. I enjoyed this story.
July 28, 2018
One of the best I read this year! I loved it!
August 31, 2018
An enjoyable story of making friends and growing up.
November 29, 2018
Great book
February 4, 2019
Kort och vacker
May 10, 2020
Oh this book had me in tears. It's for younger adults but what a read. I couldn't wait to read the next in the serie - Butterflies.
December 25, 2021
Interesting
This book clear told of a summer adventure in town. Poetic scavenger hunt. On to the next in the series.
This book clear told of a summer adventure in town. Poetic scavenger hunt. On to the next in the series.
November 13, 2019
A culmination of the experiences you have, life is the adventure you make it to be in Bree Wolf's Fireflies: A Tale of Life and Death.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Constantly exposed to the fighting of his parents, twelve year old Gabriel often retreats into the comforting realm of his video games and virtual friends. Accustomed to the bustle of anonymity afforded to the lonely masses in New York City when Gabriel is sent to a small town to spend the summer with his grandparents he's in for a bit of culture shock, especially as he's cut off from easy access to computers. Through his grandfather's encouragement, Gabriel begins to venture outside, meet new people, and ride a bike, all of which is beyond his comfort zone. Befriending and joining a treasure hunt with some people his age to solve a riddle provided by older students, the group finds a girl trapped in her room in a house rumored to be haunted and devise a plan to rescue her, setting them on a course for an even greater adventure than they could have imagined.
A touching story of adolescent friendship, growth, and adventure, the narrative moves quickly as it develops the story. While some of the scenarios and characters might seem to be a bit on-the-nose or too reliant on tropes for older readers it would likely resonate better with younger readers who are less familiar with them. Though adults may have a tendency to underestimate the capacities of children and preteens, some of the central characters' actions and speech felt out of sync with their supposed age, which impacted believability. The text is an evident proponent of in-person connection and exploring the outdoors, demonstrating the power of experiencing life beyond the screens that too frequently consume (and control) our lives.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Constantly exposed to the fighting of his parents, twelve year old Gabriel often retreats into the comforting realm of his video games and virtual friends. Accustomed to the bustle of anonymity afforded to the lonely masses in New York City when Gabriel is sent to a small town to spend the summer with his grandparents he's in for a bit of culture shock, especially as he's cut off from easy access to computers. Through his grandfather's encouragement, Gabriel begins to venture outside, meet new people, and ride a bike, all of which is beyond his comfort zone. Befriending and joining a treasure hunt with some people his age to solve a riddle provided by older students, the group finds a girl trapped in her room in a house rumored to be haunted and devise a plan to rescue her, setting them on a course for an even greater adventure than they could have imagined.
A touching story of adolescent friendship, growth, and adventure, the narrative moves quickly as it develops the story. While some of the scenarios and characters might seem to be a bit on-the-nose or too reliant on tropes for older readers it would likely resonate better with younger readers who are less familiar with them. Though adults may have a tendency to underestimate the capacities of children and preteens, some of the central characters' actions and speech felt out of sync with their supposed age, which impacted believability. The text is an evident proponent of in-person connection and exploring the outdoors, demonstrating the power of experiencing life beyond the screens that too frequently consume (and control) our lives.
Overall, I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
September 8, 2016
AUTHOR, ASTROLOGER, ACTOR J. Lee Graham
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014
FIREFLIES by Bree Wolf: a Review by J. Lee Graham
Bree Wolf’s FIRFLIES, her first it seems in the Middle Grade Genre, is an oddly wonderful fusion of The Well-Wishers by Edward Eager and the Southern Gothic stories of Truman Capote. Ms. Wolf has created a delightful, sweet twelve-year-old boy named Gabriel, who lives in New York City and inside his computer in a fantasy world adventure game where characters use stereotypical face-cringing Tolkien speak. I love how Ms. Wolf creates one of those god-awful fantasy games complete with cheesy dialogue and everyone eating stew.
Her hero Gabriel laps it up. It’s all he has. His parents are a dysfunctional mess (taking no responsibility for Gabriel’s spiral into this addiction in the first place) and Gabriel tends to respond to their screaming and their horrible behavior by pressing his nails into his palms in a type of pre-adolescent PTSD which breaks your heart. To add to this, no one at school even knows or cares who he is. When Ms. Wolf writes simply, as she does describing a ridiculous game of hangman in the classroom, you want to reach out through the pages and take Gabriel on a long walk.
'As the class kept guessing, Gabriel crouched down in his chair, letting his hazelnut hair fall in his face. He had figured out the answer long before the hangman eventually died on the noose, but he didn’t raise his hand. He never did. They would all look at him if he did. The mere thought made his hands tremble.'
His parents force him to go to North Carolina (on a 10-hour train ride? I didn’t understand that one as they live in a two- story apartment in Manhattan and could afford plane fare.), but it is here that the novel kicks in. There is a lot of plot: a sick girl, a scavenger hunt and on and on, and while at times, it may feel like too many things happen in all of one summer, it was the characters themselves that kept me reading FIREFLIES. This was the glue Ms. Wolf uses to create some wonderful friends for Gabriel to slowly commune with. Their dialogue was fun and natural and even when one of them calls another a “drama queen” (do kids even say this, and do they know the actual history of the expression?) it didn’t matter. Relationships in an MG novel have to work for me regardless of the plot, and there are moments of real beauty when Ms. Wolf allows her characters to breathe and find each other and above all, commit to each other.
Many of my favorite scenes centered around the local swimming hole, and I had to marvel at the (subconscious?) themes Ms. Wolf utilizes. {In two of my own time travel MG novels, a lake is featured prominently, not simply for plot points, but as a strong metaphor for transformation.} It is an ancient metaphor, the ‘baptism’ if you will of a character coming to terms with a newer part of him/herself. In Fireflies, each character has an interaction with the water that subtly exposes his or her hidden fears and gifts.
Another powerful symbol is the use of scissors by a female character when interacting with Gabriel. What she creates with the scissors seemed to be pushing the believability envelope, but their conversation, her intention and the ritual and the symbolic meaning behind it all was quite moving.
The use of technology in MG is so difficult sometimes and often I find myself scratching my head wondering how to incorporate it into fiction without it erasing all the drama and tension. In this novel, the techno traps did confuse me. Gabriel has a cell phone (we learn much later in the story), but there’s no mention that he either calls or doesn’t call his parents and vice versa. The characters can take pictures and send them to each other on their phones, so that means emails and internet access, yet Gabriel doesn’t use the phone to play his fantasy game? He instead, goes into a library and simply logs on to his game. There is no mention that he has a library card that would allow him to do this.
Some continuity issues with months and school schedules (the North vs the South) also pop up, but these are all trivial details. Perhaps just a good copyeditor to tighten up the inconsistencies is all that’s required.
Gabriel comes through in the end, and I hope there perhaps is a sequel in the works. Ms. Wolf is getting her feet wet and one can feel her itching to write more. Again, Ms. Wolf’s sympathetic and sensitive writings around relationship, friendship, the power of living in the present, and living life to the fullest are tremendous enough reasons to read this charming book.
June 8, 2016
Gabriel is 12 years old, living a lonely life in New York City with his work obsessed parents who barely notice him between their verbal altercations. Gabriel retreats into the world of his computer game, where he feels a sense of control and companionship. But when his parents send him to his grandparent's country home for the summer, he'll learn what true friends are like, and how to reach out for life's real adventures.
It sounds like a good book, and I wanted to enjoy it. The themes are true to what's advertised in the blurb and I have no problem with that aspect of the story. That's really the book's one pro for me ahead of a long list of cons.
First, there are quite a few things I thought were unrealistic that kept me from really getting invested in the story.
1. The characters are supposed to be about 12 but I can't stop myself from seeing them as about 16.
2. The whole adventure is centered around a group of friends working to solve a bunch of riddles. Apparently no one has ever succeeded in solving all of them which to me seems like a stretch as the riddles weren't nearly hard enough for that to be believable, even for 12 year olds.
3. The characters and their quirks were over exaggerated. Eddie falls a lot, which means he falls all the time. ALL THE TIME. And Jordan has a temper, meaning everything is an opportunity for her to blow up, even the most mundane questions.
4. As you can guess from the title, fireflies are involved in the story. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that in the book it's considered really weird that fireflies would come close to people. I guess that means my childhood of summer nights spent cramming fireflies into jars was really weird? Maybe these are a type of firefly I'm unaware of.
Aside from these general things that bothered me, there were plenty of specific issues that caught my attention. There were so many instances of odd words choice, such as
- describing a Shhh as "raucous"
-saying "The morning after their nightly expedition..." when the expeditions aren't a recurring thing yet, he's just snuck out the night before...once. Technically this can be considered a correct use of the word, but to me it was an extremely odd choice.
-using the past tense "She almost made it" when the speaker is watching Jordan still in the action of racing down a steep hill on her bike
- choosing to describe waiting room seating as "plastic chairs aligned along the wall". How about just "plastic chairs along the wall"
And lastly, there were plenty of punctuation issues that should have been changed in editing. Most notably, an odd lack of contractions in dialogue. It's not as if the author chose to never use them, which would be odd but at least consistent, instead it's "He is not here./ There is nothing I can do. /There is something else I need to do." It happened enough that I found it extremely distracting. It's compounded by an overuse of commas and even questions marks.
"Volunteers had spent weeks, decorating the floats with layers of paint and yards of fabric"
~~~
"There's something I want to do for her but I'm going to need your help." Without hesitating, they all nodded. "Sure, whatever you need?"
I realize this is a rather long and detailed review, but I feel compelled to support my reasons for being disappointed with this book. So many of these problems could and should have been fixed in editing. I most likely would have given it another star if they had been.
It sounds like a good book, and I wanted to enjoy it. The themes are true to what's advertised in the blurb and I have no problem with that aspect of the story. That's really the book's one pro for me ahead of a long list of cons.
First, there are quite a few things I thought were unrealistic that kept me from really getting invested in the story.
1. The characters are supposed to be about 12 but I can't stop myself from seeing them as about 16.
2. The whole adventure is centered around a group of friends working to solve a bunch of riddles. Apparently no one has ever succeeded in solving all of them which to me seems like a stretch as the riddles weren't nearly hard enough for that to be believable, even for 12 year olds.
3. The characters and their quirks were over exaggerated. Eddie falls a lot, which means he falls all the time. ALL THE TIME. And Jordan has a temper, meaning everything is an opportunity for her to blow up, even the most mundane questions.
4. As you can guess from the title, fireflies are involved in the story. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that in the book it's considered really weird that fireflies would come close to people. I guess that means my childhood of summer nights spent cramming fireflies into jars was really weird? Maybe these are a type of firefly I'm unaware of.
Aside from these general things that bothered me, there were plenty of specific issues that caught my attention. There were so many instances of odd words choice, such as
- describing a Shhh as "raucous"
-saying "The morning after their nightly expedition..." when the expeditions aren't a recurring thing yet, he's just snuck out the night before...once. Technically this can be considered a correct use of the word, but to me it was an extremely odd choice.
-using the past tense "She almost made it" when the speaker is watching Jordan still in the action of racing down a steep hill on her bike
- choosing to describe waiting room seating as "plastic chairs aligned along the wall". How about just "plastic chairs along the wall"
And lastly, there were plenty of punctuation issues that should have been changed in editing. Most notably, an odd lack of contractions in dialogue. It's not as if the author chose to never use them, which would be odd but at least consistent, instead it's "He is not here./ There is nothing I can do. /There is something else I need to do." It happened enough that I found it extremely distracting. It's compounded by an overuse of commas and even questions marks.
"Volunteers had spent weeks, decorating the floats with layers of paint and yards of fabric"
~~~
"There's something I want to do for her but I'm going to need your help." Without hesitating, they all nodded. "Sure, whatever you need?"
I realize this is a rather long and detailed review, but I feel compelled to support my reasons for being disappointed with this book. So many of these problems could and should have been fixed in editing. I most likely would have given it another star if they had been.
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