Firebug

by Angela Morrison, Rachel Camacho (illustrator)

World War II has ended, but a fiery tomboy fights a whole new battle. When her struggles to save her mother from a scary mental hospital wreck her neighborhood kingdom, where can she turn?All Mary Lee’s fun is over. The nine-year-old troublemaker is used to running wild all summer with her best boy pal—climbing trees, catching water skippers, and lighting the best fires in Rexburg in their secret fort by the canal. After Grandma moves in to help look after Mother, Mary Lee fears the summer is ruined. When she hides in the living room and spies on Dad and her mother’s latest doctor, her happy-go-lucky world shatters when the awful fellow says he wants to stick her beautiful mother in the state mental hospital.

Like the brave folks she writes a report about who helped save the Jewish people during the war, Mary Lee joins her dad’s resistance. Never. Praying night and day that her mother will get better, Mary Lee clashes with the neighborhood bully, her big brother, and even her best friend.

Can her prayers and fights save Mother, or will the fires that burn inside Mary Lee burn out of control and destroy the world she loves?

Firebug is a heartwarming historical middle grade novel. If you like spunky heroines’ emotional journeys, World War II era tales, and an honest portrayal of a mother’s mental illness, you’ll love Angela Morrison’s inspirational story.

Buy Firebug and travel back to a beloved small town today!

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2023

About the author

Award-winning author, Angela Morrison, loves it when characters like Gavin in her debut picture book, ROCKHOUND, wake her up in the middle of the night and whisper their stories to her. She scribbles, listens, and revises until a story is born. When Angela isn't busy writing another tale, she enjoys playing with her grandkids, teaching writers young and old, and scuba diving with sharks. She holds and MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, along with an English BA from BYU. She and her husband live in Peoria, Arizona.

Reviews

[Susan G. Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

The time period and setting come alive, and one can't help but empathize with Mary Lee. I felt like I was right there with her through her struggles to cope with her mother's health issues and her own day-to-day childhood dilemmas. I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what would happen to Mary Lee and her family--right up to the gripping and inspiring ending.

[Jill Purtee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firebug will delight not only middle grade readers, but young adult and grown-up bookworms as well. The characters are relatable and the author’s voice is compelling. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. This story is captivating—even if you aren’t a history enthusiast.

[Rebekah Erikson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cute book!! It’s about my husband’s grandpa’s family, written from the perspective of his little sister. It was so fun to learn more about the family!