Molly's Fire

by Janet Lee Carey

Not wanting to give up on the thought that her father may have survived being shot down over Holland, Molly doesn't participate in his memorial but rather waits for that magical sign that proves that she is right.

196 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

About the author

~Things are never what they seem. Find the lost inside the dream ~
Janet Lee Carey is the award-winning author of nine Children's and YA novels. Her YA fantasy is critically acclaimed: "Verdict: This is quite simply fantasy at its best–original, beautiful, amazing, and deeply moving.” School Library Journal starred review. Janet links each new book with a charitable organization empowering readers to make a difference in the world. She tours in US and abroad presenting at schools, children’s book festivals, and conferences.

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Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly's Dad is a fighter pilot in World War II and she has just received word that he has been shot down and is presumed dead. Her world falls completely apart, but she will not accept that her father is dead - he must have escaped somehow! She begins to search for clues of his survival with friends Peter and Jane, and this leads them down twisty paths of danger and intrigue that threaten to completely undo them all. Will Molly find the evidence she so hopes for or will she have to accept that her life will never be the same again?

Strengths:
- Fantastic pacing - no dragging or rushing.
- Showing emotions rather than spelling them out - the author causes you to feel what the characters feel by skillfully describing the physical manifestations of their emotions.
- Not overwritten.
- Exploration of racism that shows its awfulness without being preachy or obvious.
- Great capture of the time period - nothing felt anachronistic.

Weaknesses:
- Most of the adults act pretty immaturely and are not good role models for the children.
- There is quite a bit of objectionable content, sadly (especially the language department).

Personal Thoughts:
I was quite impressed with the writing and the story. It definitely captured my attention!

Potentially Objectionable Content:
Language - jerk (2), Jeeze (2), shut up (6), screw up (2), what the hell, bastard, stupid (name calling - 4), God's name taken in vain (3), butts, damn

Romance/sexual content - Girl wonders if boy will kiss her multiple times; boy kisses girl; a child is being described as being born "out of wedlock"; widowed mother flirts with a man; boy brushes girl's hair back; girls asked if she is "sweet on" a boy

Disrespect of authorities - boy calls his father a jerk (rightfully so?)

Violence - Girl threatens to "kill" boy for being mean; children shoot BB guns at German POWs; a POW gets shot by guard - graphically described; boys wrestle down and capture girls and do some very mean things to them

Dishonesty - children lie multiple times

Other - girl steals markers put on trees by a tree company; a family grapples with the death of a parent; cigarette smoking; a boy's mother and father are divorced and a friend thinks it is because the father was still in love with another woman

[Joanna Esco · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars truly. I'm happy this book was just as wonderful as I remember it being when I was a child. It's definitely a middle readers book with the expected happy ending but it touches on some very gritty realities from WWII. I would highly recommend it to kids that have a taste for historical fiction. But if you are an educator stick to Anne Frank and Number the Stars which are overall better for the harsh truth.

[Em Reads Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book!!!! I would definitely recommend it for middle schoolers. I was not expecting the ending at all, just because most books nowadays don't have such happy endings, but this book was perfect!

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was great. i am doing a book talk on it in the first week of december.