Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent (15-Dec-2008) Paperback

Calloway Summers #1

by Jennifer Erin Valent

2010 Christy Award winner!Jessilyn Lassiter never knew that hatred could lurk in the human heart until the summer of 1932 when she turned 13. When her best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a tragic fire, Jessilyn's father vows to care for her as one of his own, despite the fact that Gemma is black and prejudice is prevalent in their southern Virginia town. Violence springs up as a ragtag band of Ku Klux Klan members unite and decide to take matters into their own hands. As tensions mount in the small community, loyalties are tested and Jessilyn is forced to say good-bye to the carefree days of her youth. Fireflies in December is the 2007 winner of the Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Historical, Young Adult, Coming Of Age

Paperback

First published December 22, 2008

About the author

Jennifer Erin Valent is the 2007 winner of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest and 2010 Christy Award winner for Fireflies in December. She lives in central Virginia, where she has worked as a nanny for over fifteen years. A lifelong resident of the South, her surroundings help to color the scenes and characters she writes.

www.jennifervalent.com.
http://twitter.com/#!/JenniferEValent
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
https://pinterest.com/jenerin76/

Reviews

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret that I often rate books not by plot but by how much I loved the characters. I know that makes me somewhat of an emotional reviewer, making allowances for horrible plot-holes because “the characters were just so wonderful” but I will freely admit to it.
This book, however, was not one in which I make allowances for problems with plot and pacing because of my love for the characters. This book, with its wonderful cast of realistic characters, also had a perfectly paced, tightly crafted plot. And I loved it. I loved every second of it.

Valent’s depiction of the south in the summer of 1932 and the racial prejudice that existed during that time was well done. Having already read the Shiloh Legacy (a trilogy by Brock and Bodie Thoene) I thought that this seemed, not necessarily watered down, but much milder. Still, it was believable, and that’s what counts in my book.

Secondly, oh my goodness, the characters. I didn’t rate this book for the characters alone, as stated above, but oh…how I loved them! They were amazing. The way they interacted was funny and understandable. Valent has an understanding for human behavior that impressed me very much. Jessie is a little tomboy, gradually growing into a woman. There were moments when she very much reminded me of a slightly older version of Scout Finch.
(Not to mention that I may be just a teensy weensy bit in love with Luke Talley. I don’t care if he’s six years older than Jessie, they must end up together! MUST, I SAY!).

Thirdly, the Christian message. It was done perfectly. It wasn’t preachy or overdone, it was just softly woven in and I loved that. I always cringe when Christianity comes over too loudly in a novel and just ends up seeming cheesy. This book gets it right. Jessie isn’t a Christian, but she believes that God exists. She just hasn’t seen a need in her life for repentance. I like when she’s locked in a shed, afraid she’s going to die and she says, “But even as I sat in that dimly lit shed, I wasn’t asking for salvation of my soul. I was asking for salvation of my body.” Sometimes I think we all lose sight of the fact that it’s not our body that will last for an eternity, it’s our souls.

“Jessilyn, ain’t no man can’t get someplace he never thought he’d get to. You let enough bad thoughts into your head, you can end up doin’ all sorts of things you never thought possible. […] We best be on our guard and keep our minds on what’s right and true so we don’t become things we’ll regret.”

I’m so happy my birthday is coming up soon, and I’ll probably get at least one Barnes & Noble gift card which I can “blow” on Cottonwood Whispers and Catching Moondrops. I must have them. I should buy the actual books, rather than the ebooks. But I get ebooks instantly, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait an extra week waiting for the physical books to get to me. But yeah, these books are worth buying the real thing. They’re phenomenal.

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent is a coming of age novel set in 1932 rural Virginia. The story is about 13-year-old Jessilyn Lassiter, whose family faces racial prejudice after they take in her best friend, Gemma, after her parents die in a house fire. The novel writes of intense racism, threats of violence, and incredible hate. The entire family faces as they choose friendship and love over skin color. The south is still segregated and ran by the kkk. White people cower behind their own morality and their fear of retaliation of those that hate so badly they threaten you g girls and turn their backs on another young girls because of skin color. This book really delves into it and doesn’t hold back on showing pure evil in this world. Jessilyn starts the summer as a naive girl and ends the summer knowing more than she ever wanted to. Seeing pure evil in mankind is something no one can ever forget.

[Katie Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man, reading this book made me feel hot.

I literally mean that. It made me feel HOT. It's set in southern Virginia in the 1930s (ergo: pre-air-conditioning), and it takes place in the summertime; and I'm not kidding when I say every single chapter comes up with some new and inventive way of mentally re-creating the "steam bath" that is Deep South weather.

Really good descriptions. Very atmospheric. I liked that. I also loved the interactions between the characters--particularly Jessie and Gemma, and then again Jessie and Luke. Gemma is like the sensible older sister, the responsible kid who has to be yelling at Jessie every other minute to not do whatever it is she's doing (CAN I GET AN AMEN HERE); and Luke is adorable!!! "You and me, we gotta talk." "What for?" "WHAT FOR?!?" Yep, I loved him. The author did an excellent job making it clear how much he liked Jessie, without letting him seem at all creepy for it (I mean, sure, he's older than her; but it all stayed very innocent and appropriate and I appreciated this). I'm really looking forward to seeing more of them as a couple later in the series [even though my library doesn't have the rest of the books--DARN YOU, LIBRARY.]

The one thing I really didn't like was the fact that parts of this book made it feel like it was modeled after "To Kill a Mockingbird"? Like, I definitely understand that any story about racial violence in the Deep South in the 30's is going to have some broad similarities; but I just felt like the similarities were a little too strong here . . . Jessie's overall personality, the courtroom scene, Miss Cleta, the violent confrontation at the end, etc. And maybe I wouldn't have been so bothered by that if TKAM wasn't my 3rd-favorite book of all time; but as it is, I'm kind of sensitive on this point. (Sorry, guys . . . I mean, you've seen my profile picture and all . . . :-P)

So yeah. Overall, though, I thought this was a really good story; especially for Christian historical fiction, which (as you all know) is a genre of which I am not terribly fond. And I'm definitely interested in checking out more of the series and seeing how my ship turns out (Luke + Jessie forever <3)

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When her best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a tragic fire, Jessilyn's father vows to care for her as one of his own, despite the fact that Gemma is black and prejudice is prevalent in their southern Virginia town. Violence springs up as a ragtag band of Ku Klux Klan members unite and decide to take matters into their own hands. As tensions mount in the small community, loyalties are tested and Jessilyn is forced to say good-bye to the carefree days of her youth.

I want to really like this novel. I like the characters. Jessilyn and Luke in particular stole my heart and I'd take some more of Jem. I'm not normally a fan of coming of age novels but this one pleasantly surprised me.

The thing is...all the historical anachronisms and To Kill a Mockingbird comparisons aside, I struggled with how this book handles the rising conflict.

There is plenty of conflict already inherent in the story. The weather, KKK, and even the rowdy schoolboys all provide natural moments for danger. But THEN the story feels the need to up the danger with a fairly constant stream of threats of violence explicitly aimed at Jessilyn. It got too much. The story needed more space to breathe instead of the constant (and dare I say repetitive?) scenes. Dad leaves. KKK shows up. Ties up a beloved family pet. Threatens to burn something. Leaves. Bad guy catches Jessilyn in the woods and threatens her. She gets away in the nick of time. Dad leaves. KKK shows up. Ties up a beloved family pet. Threatens to burn something...etc.

A quick skim of the other books in the series looks like the ever-intense themes of racism and violence continue at a breakneck speed so I'm thinking I will sit them out...unless I just flip to the last one to see if my ship sails.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story, well-developed. Were it not for the obvious parallels to that novel, this story has the potential of being the To Kill a Mockingbird of our day. That and the many anachronisms.

If there was a 3.5 rating, I'd give it but gave this debut novel the benefit of the split.

The anachronisms. Supposedly set in the rural south the Summer of 1932, the heroines isolated farm house featured electricity, indoor bathrooms, locking windows, electric lights and a liberal use of battery-powered flashlights. The feel--even including the role of the Ku Klux Klan and the Federal involvement against it--spoke more of the 50s or 60s.

The few times she gave sufficient details about the farming, she betrayed her ignorance of that subject also.

Lest readers disbelieve thirteen-year-olds could be so stupid and willful, I suggest remembering oneself at that age.

Note: despite the protagonist being a thirteen-year-old girl, this is not suitable reading for children. It probably is appropriate for teens.

Don't let these negatives dissuade you. This is an excellent book. Well worth reading.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very good. It's a coming of age story about a 13 year old girl, set in the south during 1932. It's a fast paced read that deals with friendships, racism, the KKK, and a budding romance. This is a series that should be read in order since it continues the story of the main characters life. I already downloaded the next book and can't wait to read it.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessilyn Lassiter tells her tale of mishaps, struggles and discoveries during the summer of 1932. She's just turned thirteen and she finds trouble, or trouble finds her, just about every time she opens her mouth. Her best friend is Gemma, a slightly older African-American girl whose family lives on her daddy's farm.

All is as it should be in the south in the 30s, including segregation of the races, and everyone knows their place in the world. That is until a freak lightning strike from a thunderstorm kills Gemma's parents, leaving her orphaned and alone in the world. The Lassiters take Gemma into their home as a member of their family, and thus starts the insanity of bigotry and hate delivered by friends and neighbors.

Even now, nearly two generations later, I can't grasp why anyone would treat other human beings with such disdain, fear and hate. Is it because I was raised in Kansas, where the fight to be admitted as a free-state made bleeding headlines in national newspapers in the 1850s? Or because I grew up with civil rights already a fact, albeit not equally applied, but definitely a step further down the road to freedom and tolerance.

This is a good first novel for Jennifer Valent. I struggled a bit with the amount of dialog, and the southern colloquialisms, and I was breathless most of the time trying to keep up with a headstrong impulsive foolish thirteen year-old girl with more guts than sense.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! A probing study into the effects of racism on families and communities. The characters are readily believable. Jessilyn, the 13 year old protagonist is engaging and likeable. The things that Jessilyn cares about, her friendship with Gemma and her relationship with her parents and within the community suit the place and time, 1932, southern Virginia. There's a staunchness of character and values displayed by Jessilyn and her parents as they reach out to help Gemma, when Gemma loses both her parents in a tragic fire. Supported by neither the white nor the black community, they do what they feel is right through genuine love and caring for Gemma. The family finds a good friend and supporter in their neighbor, Miss Cleta, but others whom they trust and care for as good neighbors and friends turn out to be more than just disappointing. The descriptive language the author uses so well reminds me of stories my Mother told me of her growing up years. Jessilyn reminds me of the kind of girl I think my Mother was, scrappy and not taking any foolishness from anybody, yet filled with kindness and the joy of life. A wonderful meaty book!

[Nicole Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gem I found glancing at the shelf on my way out of the library, and I’m sure glad I picked it up! Set in the south and dealing with racism, this book had elements that harkened back to To Kill A Mockingbird in my mind. In both books, I am drawn to the father, and deeply respect his views and how he treats people in his life, including his daughter.

The way the author reminds us that we can make a difference, as an individual, to those around us was a prevailing theme shown across multiple characters. A theme I enjoyed. I also appreciated that this was shown both through positive and negative examples.

"Jessilyn, ain't no man can't get someplace he never thought he's get to. You let enough bad thoughts into your head, you can end up doin' all sorts of things you never thought possible. ... We best be on our guard and keep our minds on what's right and true so we don't become things we'll regret."

Even more powerful than that reminder, for me, was the context behind the title of the book:
-------
I was tired, and I laid my head back, looked out at the star dotted sky, and sighed. "Sometimes I don't know what God expects us to do."

Daddy didn't say anything for a minute or so, and then he reached up and caught a firefly as it glowed beside him. "See this light?" he asked me when the firefly lit up his hand.

"Yes'r."

That light is bright enough to light up a little speck of the night sky so a man can see it a ways away. That's what God expects us to do. We're to be lights in the dark, cold days that are this world. Like fireflies in December."
-------
I’m glad to know there is another book following up on this one – looking forward to reading it.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best for me for 2012. If you like to Kill a Mockingbird and their strong characters, you will like this. Fireflies shows the smallest light can bring forth what is good and true. A story of Jessilyn and her family in the early 30's who had a farm, who worked hard, loved their neighbors. One of their neighbors house caught on fire and the family was killed except Gemma. Jessilyn's family takes her in, however, because she is black, her family is outed by the community. This story is about how they pulled together by faith and what is good and true. Because of the Klu Klux Klan, there are some thrilling moments in this story. It goes to show that what other believe you believe may be different than what you know is right, however, it is love that is sacrificial that stands and is the firm foundation.

[Rap · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of a 13 year old girl growing up in the segregated south of 1932. The summer she turns 13 she learns new lessons in life when her family takes in her best friend who is black and suddenly orphaned. She grows up a lot that summer as she faces discrimination and danger for her families actions. It challenges us to not take for granted the advances we made or forget that there are those still filled with hatred and evil based on prejudiced.

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though marketed as adult fiction, this is really more a coming-of-age novel than anything else. The heroine, Jessilyn Lassiter, has had a somewhat sheltered childhood is rural Virginia. However, in 1932, Jessilyn turns 13, and things really change. Gemma, the daughter of a black couple employed by the Lassiters, is the sole survivor of a fire and after she loses her parents, Jessilyn's father declares that he will take in Gemma and raise her as his own.

Not surprisingly for the time, this decision unleashes a complete firestorm. Reactions from the locals range from kindness to ostracism to outright violent hatred. Through it all, Jessilyn and Gemma remain friends, but the trials faced by the family open Jessilyn's eyes to the real ugliness of racism and prejudice. On the one hand, this book was a really eye-opening read that told a much less sanitized than usual version(at least way less sanitized than anything I learned in school) of segregation history. The book is told in first person through Jessilyn's eyes, and she is a very convincing 13 year old who is sometimes wise and sometimes immature beyond anything I'd like to remember about myself at that age.

While this book had some very good points, it also had some real rough spots,too. Most of the dialogue employs a southern dialect that makes for frustrating reading. The setting of the book, Calloway County, is not a real county in Virginia, but based on the descriptions, it sounds a lot like the Southside region of Virginia. If that's the case, then I'd say the dialect seems accurate for what I've encountered there, but that doesn't make it any easier to plow through as a reader. Parts of the story also feel a little contrived and overly predictable in places, which I found distracting. Lastly, the story also started to drag for me about halfway through, and I think it's because the characterizations seemed a little simplistic. This may be because we saw everything through Jessilyn's eyes (and she's not the most perceptive heroine ever), but it still made for somewhat frustrating reading.

Even so, I found this an interesting, if uneven, read. Fireflies in December is inspirational fiction, but most of the inspirational content came from characters speaking of faith and justice in ways that reminded me very much of everyday conversations I've heard in rural Virginia in real life rather than protracted scenes of stilted preaching. One note of caution: This book is grittier than most, and there are some graphic scenes of violence toward people and toward animals that some readers will find upsetting.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. I got this book for free from the Tyndale Rewards program. The cover grabbed me and so I knew I had to read it.
I just loved it. Very descriptive, bringing everything to life. The story line is a sensitive one with the KKK at its heart, prejudice, hurts, fears ect. The story took place in Virginia, the same state as I reside in. I personally have even witnessed KKK flags and meetings in a small tucked away county and when seeing it, thought I was dreaming. I couldn't believe things like this still linger and go on today. I am not going to go into the description of the book, but this is a must read. Written very very well. I give it 5 stars!

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this book on my Kindle -I checked later and it turns out I had bought this book six years ago. Ooops! I devoured it in one sitting last night, it was that good. Jessie at thirteen is the kind of heroine I wish I was at any age. She's so strong and courageous and I loved the relationship she has with her parents, Gemma and Luke (LUKE YOU ALL. LUKE!!)

Onto the next book now. Thank goodness for e-books from libraries, I don't have to wait.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was instantly attached to the characters, feeling like they were old friends. There aren't many that can successfully pull off telling a story through a child's eyes, but I believed it. I was 13 years old again myself, experiencing emotions I didn't fully understand.

Fantastic work for a first-time novelist.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds me not of To Kill A Mockingbird like so many others have pointed out, but of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. True, Cassie (from ROTHMC) is black and Jessie (from FID) is white and they would’ve experienced the racial struggles differently, but in many ways, they were similar. I see the same bullheaded curiosity and spunk (for lack of a better word) that always gets them into precarious situations in them. I realize that a big part of that is so that we readers can see what happens from their POV, but sometimes it was just frustrating when they were doing something obviously stupid.
I liked the book right up until the ending, when it felt like the author just tried to quickly tie things up with a bow and make it semi-happy so that we readers could sleep at night. I suppose it worked, but it felt a little too simple, and I still had questions about parts of the story.
But I kept flipping pages until the very end, so I do think that I’ll be picking up the other books in the series.

[Shelby Rush · Rating 2 out of 5]

I delighted in the story ... up until the midway point. It started off emotionally engaging and believable. But the believability eventually broke down.

How?

This story is set in the rural South. As a 13-year-old Southern gal, you bet Jessilyn would know how to cook ... even entire meals. And yet she "never did any cooking besides cutting up potatoes and flouring biscuits" (pg 307).

Country folk are taught how to handle guns from an early age, boys and girls alike. This holds true for 2016. I'd be shocked if this weren't also true for 1932. In the Lassiter family, only the dad knows how to shoot.

Country gentlemen also carry pocketknives. True today and likely true back then too. Why didn't one of them loan Jessilyn his knife and teach her how to use it?

Mention is made of a sweltering day that's so energy-sapping that the girls take refuge in their beds ... upstairs. I don't know how the rest of the world works, but in my split-level house, there could be an eight-degree difference between the first and second floors. Guaranteed Gemma and Jessilyn would have rested downstairs, not up.

As the story progressed, I became increasingly annoyed at Jessilyn's father, who never teaches her any self defense. Why didn't he tell her to knee Walt in the male parts? Or gouge out Walt's eyeballs with her nails? Or scream bloody murder and run like the wind?

Jessilyn has a stupid habit of wandering off by herself (sometimes she's accompanied by Gemma). This provides a convenient way to have her cross paths with Walt or other nefarious folk. Reminds me of those horror flicks where the soon-to-be victim hears something and has to investigate ... the cellar, the attic, the shed. Why won't they stay put? Why won't Jessilyn stay put? Because there'd be no story. This feels majorly contrived.

Throughout the story, a particular item of furniture is referred to as a couch. One time the author calls it a sofa. Southern folk would never call it a sofa. That's what fancy folk have in their fancy homes.

The book cover is ugly. If I saw this book in a bookstore, online or at the library, I'd never pick it up. (I read it based on reviews.) Though the book was published only in 2008, the pages are already starting to yellow. True, an excellent job of copy editing was done. But the lack of quality in presentation doesn't speak well of Tyndale.

Ms. Valent can tell a story. She just needs to think everything through and ask herself, would this really happen?

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this as a free download in my phone's kindle app. A coming-of-age story told through the eyes of a courageous and independent 13 year old white girl. It is about the complexities of racism excalating hatred, descrimination and violence paving way to the notorious Klan in the southern of america during the mid-20th century. It tells of loyalty, morality, love and convictions. Chapter one's opening statement as told by Jessilyn, the young heroine-"The summer I turned thirteen I thought I'd killed a man" caught my attention and i can't stop reading since then.
Reflecting on the story, prejudices still hold true in this current time. It may come in different forms: not only between race--between black and white; but also between what we believe, how we worship, how we act, how we look like--thin or fat; ugly or pretty; gay or straight. People branding people, putting each other down, hating each other making this world such a cruel place to live.
We the readers, like the main characters, learned a very valuable lesson here as we are reminded to be tolerant amidst adversity and diversity, to be forgiving and not vengeful, to be light of this world thru this touching quote from the story: "Daddy didn’t say anything for a minute or so, and then he reached up and caught a firefly as it glowed beside him. “See this light?” he asked me when the firefly lit up his hand. “Yes’r.” “That light is bright enough to light up a little speck of the night sky so a man can see it a ways away. That’s what God expects us to do. We’re to be lights in the dark, cold days that are this world. Like fireflies in December.”
A good read indeed!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is based in the Southern US during Depression Era of the 1930's. Jessilyn Lassiter is a white girl living on a farm, who has an African American best friend named Gemma. Gemma's parents die in an accidental fire and Gemma comes to live with Jessilyn. Jessilyn has a temper, quick tongue and raging curosity that often gets her in trouble

The people in the town of Calloway are not accepting of the decision for a white family to take in a 'colored' girl. Because of this, they are made to be outcasts at the very best, and are violently threatened by the KKK at the worst. This book tells the tale of a 13 year old's journey though bigotry and violence over the course one awful summer.

I took a chance on this book, as it was free for the Amazon Kindle. It was amazing. I was hooked from the first page and read it in only two days. It was an adjustment to read the stilted Southern accent that all the characters had in the book, but once I got used to it, it was fine. I think this book would be an appropriate class reading project for 7-8th graders, but still has great appeal to an adult as well. It certainly could be likened to the lessons taught in 'To Kill A Mocking Bird'.

I found out later that there are two more books in the series. I guess that explains why the first was free: I'm certainly hooked. I have just bought #2 in the series (Cottonwood Whispers) and will be begin reading that today.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

An old co-worker got a job at a christian book publisher, and gave me an ARC copy of this book back in 2008. It has sat on my bookshelf for 6 years, until last week when I decided to open it up for the first time.

I never do this, but I decided not to finish this book. I got to page 147, chapter 13, and decided that this book is just not worth my time to finish. I did read over half of it, so I feel that gives enough insight for a somewhat fair review and rating.

Set in the 1930's, Fireflies in December follows the life of a thirteen-year-old girl named Jessilyn who's relationship with her best friend is frowned upon in their society. This is a time and a community deep in racism, with references to the KKK and all the hate and ignorance that goes along with it.

This story has been told many times, and while it is a good story to tell (especially for young people), I feel that this particular version was not well written. The characters felt very one-dimensional, and I just didn't like or want to root for the protagonist. To me, this book was simply not interesting. I think it may be better suited for a young adult audience (perhaps that is the target?). If I were eleven-years-old, I'd probably like this book more.

[Chidori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you'd think would be on some required reading list. It has been compared to Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, but I honestly think it's better. The sequel is more along the lines of Mockingbird. This one is darker, uglier, with touches of both humor and romance. Think Mockingbird as Tom Sawyer and Fireflies as Huckleberry Finn.

The POV of a child makes this honest rather than preachy or melodramatic, be it about racism or faith. I love the interaction between all of the characters: girlfriend to girlfriend, mother to daughter, father to daughter, husband to wife, neighbor to neighbor, girl to boy. Each character has a clear voice, and there is nothing superfluous or generic at all. I love that Luke and Jessie aren't going to be together for a while (but clearly will!) Dad is just hilarious without sacrificing respectability as wise and protective man of the house.

Don't put this one off!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel really reminds me of "To Kill a Mockingbird". The narrator is a young girl from the south. It deals with the racial tension, especially the Klan. I really enjoyed it. In fact maybe as much or ever more than Mockingbird. If you liked Mockingbird, you will like this book. I feel the author developed the main characters so well that I felt like I knew them and they were my friends. It is a very good read. I even got it free on my Kindle. What more can you ask for. With the Kindle I have found a lot of these gems, that I would not of found in the bookstore. And they were free to boot!!! Needless to say, it was worth every penny I paid for it!

[Usako · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pleased with this free Kindle book. The reason for the title sets the tone of the entire novel!

That light is bright enough to light up a little speck of the night sky so a man can see it a ways away. That's what God expects us to do. We're to be lights in the dark, cold days that are this world. Like fireflies in December.

[Lohersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did not expect to like this book as much as I did but it totally sucked me in. I was invested in the characters, and the story really brought to life the helplessness many must have felt in the early 20th century South, being targeted by the KKK. The ending was a bit anti-climactic, but the plot kept me there, and there were a few twists.

[Jennifer Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

It was a good, wholesome story and was enjoyable. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending as I would have much rather they told what happened to all the characters, especially the main character as she grew. Nonetheless, a good message overall.

[Mich · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES YES YES YES>> one of the best books i've read in a long time!!
and yeah(freebie on kindle!)
well worth buying..

[kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

i bear no malicious intent towards this book, i'm just frustrated.
boring, repetitious, all tell and no show. the characters were wooden and their southern accents (or whatever that was) were tedious to read. the messages in this book were slammed over my head so much, i just wanted to roll my eyes.
my biggest frustration with this book is that I expected good things based on the opening chapters but did not receive them. this could have been a wonderful story, i truly believe that, but the writing was sub-par.

i appreciated the big brother/mentor relationship that luke had with jessie but apparently all good things must end and it turns into romance in the next books and so no thank you. for this reason, and the fact that i have zero interest in the story and it's characters, this series will receive no more attention from me.

[Dawna McLear · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world needs more people like the Lassiter's

If you liked to kill a mockingbird then you will enjoy this read. I was hooked from the beginning. Reading a story through the eyes of a child puts so much into perspective. The world could use more people like the Lassiter's. This story was beautifuly written and I highly recommend.

[Cassidy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great clean book! Had some heavy but important themes. It was really sad to imagine all the narrator and her family went through.

[Rebecca Sumler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to reread this book around the spring/summer time. A beautiful story about faith, family, and friends!!