The Fire Balloon

by Ruth Moore

In the small Maine town known as Granite Hook to the rich summer people and Scratch Corner to the natives, young Theo Sewell chases the unattainable beauty that she has witnessed at a fireworks display. Theo and the rest of her family, including the 80-year-old Gram Sarah, are depicted in vivid detail as they face the difficult challenges ahead of them. Although first published in 1948, The Fire Balloon still impresses readers as an entrancing study of Maine fishermen and the seascape they have made their home.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Ruth Moore (1903–1989) was an important Maine author of the twentieth century. She is best known for her honest portrayals of Maine people and evocative descriptions of the state. Now primarily thought of as a regional writer, Moore was a significant literary figure on the national stage during her career. Her second novel Spoonhandle spent fourteen weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in the company of George Orwell, W. Somerset Maugham and Robert Penn Warren. In her time, Moore was hailed as "New England's only answer to Faulkner".

In 1940 Ruth met Eleanor Mayo, an aspiring writer also from Maine, and the two soon became a couple. They returned to New York where Ruth got a job with The Readers Digest while writing her first novel, The Weir, which was published in 1943.

Reviews

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the story of the Sewell family and life in 'Scratch Corner'. Scratch Corner was the nickname for Carter's Landing, a small coastal Maine village. But when the summer people started coming they wanted something nice to call 'their' town and successfully had the name changed to Granite Hook.

The Sewell's consisted of Gram Sarah, the sharp tongued matriarch and her two sons, Sylvanus and Morgan and their families. Sylvanus lives by the old school. Slow and methodical, provides for his family, but doesn't want for all the trappings and extra's in life. A man of very few words, but strong and honest and well respected. His wife Phoebe is much like him. They have five children and the two oldest, Wes and Theoline are prominent in the storyline.

Wes has spent his summers working for the Beacons, a wealthy summer family. He's been led to feel he is part of the family and expects to be offered a fine job, his ticket out, when he finishes school. But as this summer of his 17th year plays out he finds out things aren't always as they seem and there is a big divide between classes. When the job is offered will he take it or stay in Scratch Corner?

Theoline dislikes the Beacon's and their snobbery and it drives her crazy that Wes 'grovels' to them for acceptance into their world. She knows it will never happen and it is a bone between the brother and sister. Theo takes a summer job at the diner in Bellport and finds love or what she thinks is love. But will she learn what real love is from an unlikely source?

Morgan is the younger Sewell and like his mother, driven. He works like tomorrow might not come and wants to have lots tucked away for a rainy day. He has purchased some land and intends to build a weir there. But the previous owner has let old Job Carter and his two sons live in an old farm house on the land for years and Job feels like it's his land now. What lengths will he go to to sabotage Morgan's weir? Will blood be spilled over it? Morgan's new bride, Emily, from the south is pregnant and depressed in her new isolated life here on the rough coast of Maine. She is alone all the time because Morgan is on the sea from way before sun up to after dark. She and her mother-in-law, Gram Sarah do not see eye to eye on anything. When Emily befriends old Uncle Wheat and Floyd Craddock in her desperate need for friends will she push Gram too far?

Several climactic build ups and exciting scenes in this book. I have to say I don't think this one is as good as The Weir, but I still enjoyed it and looking forward to all the rest of her books.

Beautiful, evocative descriptions of the rugged Maine coast and it's unpredictable weather, and solid authentic characters give us the kind of superb tale we expect from Ruth Moore.

[Alexandra Pfeifer]

Another great Ruth Moore book, this time set in Scratch Corner/Granite Hook, Maine. it revolves around two families, the rich summer people, the Beacon's, and the salt of the earth locals, the Sewells. In one summer, a lot of changes and growth happen. This book was published in 1948, and is set in 1947, so there is a lot of post-war trends with those returning from war and funding jobs, and teenagers finding out who they are and who they want to emulate as they grow up. A great book and look forward to reading more Ruth Moore. Books just aren't written this way anymore.

[Lindsay Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8; this was a gorgeous book with rich language and authentic characters that you couldn’t help but connect with. The narrative moved at a solid pace, and there were true moments of discomfort, fear, and triumph while reading.

But I didn’t love that Roger drummer storyline. That was pretty disgusting to me. Hence, not a full five.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a phenomenal writer, thinker.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love finding old battered books in the library - I figure if they have seen that much use, they must be good. And this one proved my theory - a very well-written novel about the coast of Maine. Written in 1947, it almost reads like historical fiction at this point. I will try some more of her books.

[Sue Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ruth Moore - Rereleased by her estate in 2004 - a wonderful find.