Firefly Hollow

Review by New York Times Review

APPLEBLOSSOM IS THE SMALLEST Of Mama Possum's babies. She may be little, but by the time she's just a few months old she must be prepared to face, on her own, the great big world and the many dangers it holds for possums. Appleblossom is timid, but she's also curious - and skeptical of Mama's warnings, which is how she becomes interested in a small monster (a human girl) and falls down a chimney into the monster's house. This is just the beginning of the wild and wholly engaging adventure on which Appleblossom unwittingly sends two of her brothers. It takes them from the safety of their neighborhood all the way to big-city night life. More important, it shines a spotlight on Mama's teachings about the solitariness of possums. In Holly Goldberg Sloan's delightfully amusing imaginings of possum life, the reader learns that possums are, above all else, actors - and heavily steeped in the tradition. When they are still tiny, they begin learning the craft. Mama teaches her babies about ensemble companies versus solo acts, overcoming stage fright ("Fake it until you make it, possums"), and of course death scenes: Playing dead is singularly vital to possums. "Dead is the only way to stay alive," Mama says. As entertaining as Appleblossom's early months are, she soon learns a tough lesson: Possums are solitary creatures. Mama grooms her youngsters to be independent - of her and of one another. Possum families do not stick together, no matter now much Appleblossom might wish otherwise. But Mama turns out to be a complex creature. When Appleblossom's brothers search for Mama so that she can aid in the rescue of their sister, they not only discover Mama's secret life, but find her championing the "tribe of possums." Solitary though these unforgettable possums may be, they are not alone. IN THE WITTY and captivating "Firefly Hollow," written by Alison McGhee, we enter an animal world inhabited by the tiniest of creatures - fireflies, crickets and wise Vole, a member of the river vole family who is "the last of his kind, the keeper of memories." Like Appleblossom, young Firefly and young Cricket have been schooled in the avoidance of humans. Here, humans are "giants" rather than "monsters." Either way, we don't come off well. The scariest item on display in the hollow's Museum of Giant Artifacts is the Jar. "The Jar! It contained actual firefly corpses! Once viewed, the Jar could never be forgotten." Tiny as our heroes are, they have big, nearly impossible dreams. Firefly dreams of flying to the moon. Cricket dreams of being a great ballplayer, despite the danger of flying baseballs to tiny insects. Vole yearns to sail to sea in the boat his grandfather fashioned, but being the only remaining member of his family, he must first teach himself to sail. Firefly and Cricket not only have desires that set them apart from their insect nations, they have questioned the teachings of their elders and befriended a human boy. Like Appleblossom, solitary but not alone, these four unlikely friends are drawn together one summer, the animals to pursue their dreams, Peter the boy to heal from the loss of his best friend. Along with charming illustrations ("Firefly Hollow" has luminous full-color plates in addition to drawings, and "Appleblossom the Possum" has playful drawings in black and white with a little pink), the gentle, empowering messages in these stories will resonate with young readers. Both books tap a deep vein of humor as well, something the adults who may be reading aloud will appreciate. ANN M. MARTIN'S latest book for young readers, "Rain Reign," will be released in paperback in January.

Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [September 6, 2015]

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Review by Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Firefly dreams of flying to the moon; Cricket, of being a baseball catcher like Yogi Berra; and Vole, of sailing to the sea. These three creatures of Firefly Hollow are brought together by their larger-than-life ambitions and a fascination with giants (humans) to tell a timeless story of friendship, perseverance, and growing up. Firefly is the daredevil of the firefly nation, constantly practicing aerial maneuvers and shocking her friends with bold ideas that knock them clean out of the air maybe not all giants are bad. Has she learned nothing from Fear of Giants class? Cricket has similar giant-related sentiments, only his views have made him the laughing stock of the cricket nation. When Cricket and Firefly run away, they pursue their dreams in earnest with the help of a miniature giant and a solitary river vole. Like Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (2003), this lights up darkness through camaraderie and knowledge. A quiet grief underpins much of the narrative, but it serves to strengthen the characters' understanding of the world and their resolution to take it by storm. Denise's gorgeous illustrations range from full-color plates that glow with warmth to delightful sketches. Each of the hollow's nations is richly imagined, as are their respective ambassadors. Brimming with adventure, friendship, loss, and courage, this story will set your heart aglow.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2010 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

McGhee (the Bink and Gollie series) introduces three tiny creatures with big dreams in a whimsical tale that examines how friendships change and the value of chasing one's dreams. Firefly longs to fly to the moon, while her friend Cricket wants to be "the cricket version of Yogi Berra" ("Why shouldn't crickets learn how to catch falling objects?" Cricket reasons. "Wouldn't that make them all safer?"). Their respective clans think both notions are ridiculous. The two find kindred spirits in Vole, the last of his river-dwelling kind, and Peter, a "miniature giant" who is mourning the departure of a close friend. As Firefly and Cricket pursue their goals and explore new terrain, they come to understand their limits and the risks of being different. The book's portrayal of the world as an exciting but dangerous place filled with huge human "artifacts" (all warmly evoked in Denise's illustrations) will tickle readers' fancies, and the poignant conclusion may cause a few tears to be shed. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 3-7-The inhabitants of Firefly Hollow take comfort in their structured, peaceful community until two residents dare to dream big. Firefly flits to and fro, but she wants to fly to the moon. Cricket enjoys watching little giants (boys) play baseball and dreams of joining the ranks of his hero, Yogi Berra. Vole, a river vole, dreams of sailing the open seas. Cricket and Firefly's outlandish ideas are ill received by their peers. Only a little giant believes in their abilities. However, Peter's sadness over the recent loss of his best friend causes concern from his parents over his new imaginary friends and social withdrawal. During the summer, this eclectic group spark the courage inside one another and discover that big dreams can lead to big adventures. This sweet tale, woven with threads of perseverance and hope, subtly explores the strength and healing power of friendship. Jessica Almasy's lyrical narration is perfect. -VERDICT A great choice for fans of The Cricket in Times Square and Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (Candlewick, 2003). [A "charming tale of unlikely inter-species friendship": SLJ 6/15 starred review of the S. & S. Atheneum book.]-Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

A kindred spirit understands the deepest dream of your heart, Vole says to Firefly and Cricket. This trio of friends has big dreams: Vole dreams of sailing down the river to rejoin family and friends lost in a flood years before; Firefly dreams of flying to the moon; and baseball-loving Cricket yearns to be the best catcher since Yogi Berra. Vole has no community, and Firefly and Cricket feel like outsiders in theirs. The affectionate third-person narration follows each friends preparations for his or her quest, and when the time comes, Firefly does indeed shoot for the stars, Cricket makes the big catch, and Vole realizes he has not lost everything after all. McGhee has so ably created a believable world where dreams can come true that the entwined fates of a firefly, a cricket, and a vole (and their miniature giant friend Peter, a human boy) will move readers with its rightness. Where once they had sung Take Me Out to the Ballgame with abandon, Firefly now says, upon returning from her aerial adventure, Its not true, you knowThat part in the song that says you dont care if you never get backI cared. Fifteen full-color plates (only three seen) will embellish the finished edition. dean schneider (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

Firefly and Cricket, two tiny animals with big dreams, challenge the status quo by befriending a miniature giant (a boy named Peter)and by pursuing their destinies with the help of an old river vole. Firefly wants to fly to outer space someday, and Cricket aspires to be "the cricket version of Yogi Berra." Although they both have been warned repeatedly by the cricket and firefly nations about the hazards of human beings, they are intrigued by Peter's way of life. After all, he and another miniature giant used to play catch, and others of Peter's tribe have reached the moon. Vole, the sole, determined survivor of his river people, has spent much of his riverbank life teaching himself to sail. As the story unfolds, readers of all ages will be captivated by a third-person voice, both soothing and gently humorous, that delves deeply and sensitively into such subjects as friendship, death, cultural conflict, dreams, and the adjustments that must be made on our lives' journeys. As with the beloved classic Charlotte's Web, bits of natural history are woven into a plot in which a human child's emotional growth is secondary to a whimsical tale of interspecies friendships. Illustrations reminiscent of The Wind in the Willows further enhance a wise and lovely reading adventure. This sweet and memorable tale deserves both a sequel and a film version. (Fantasy. 7-11) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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Firefly Hollow CHAPTER ONE I COULD FLY THAT HIGH? Swoop! Firefly flitted through a knothole in the hollow tree, straight out into the clearing and straight back in again. The night air outside the hollow tree was cool, and the air inside was warm. She whooshed back and forth from cool to warm, outside to inside, faster and faster and faster until--yikes--she accidentally sideswiped Elder. "Whoa!" he said. "Watch where you're going there, Firefly." His tone was stern. But when no one else was looking, he blinked their secret code at her: three fast and two long. "Sorry, Elder," said Firefly, and she blinked the secret code back. Most of the other elders viewed Firefly as slightly crazy and a clear threat to the safety and well-being of the youth of the firefly nation, but not Elder. He had been her hero since the night when she, as a one-centimeter-round baby, long before it was time to learn to fly, rolled right out of her spiderweb hammock and flung herself off the edge of her cubby. "Careful there, little one," Elder had said, swooping underneath her just in time. "Yeehaw!" she had yelled. "Higher! Higher!" And she had waved with one wing to the other baby fireflies, who were gaping from their spiderweb hammocks, as Elder piggybacked her around and around the inside of the hollow tree. He finally returned her to her cubby and tucked her in, pulling the milkweed blanket up to her chin. "Will you teach me how to fly by myself, Elder?" she had whispered. "Soon," he had said. "When the time is right." "But I want to learn now." "Soon," said Elder again, and he smiled. "Promise?" "Promise." Before she fell asleep that night, she turned her head so that she could look out the knothole into the dark night sky. There were the moon and the stars, shining high above. "They're so beautiful," she whispered. "That they are," agreed Elder. "But don't let the others hear you say that." And he blinked an hypnotic pattern to lull her into sleep. Elder kept his promise. Eventually she and all the others learned to fly. None of the other little fireflies flew as well as Firefly did, but at least they flew. Firefly spread her wings now and zipped back outside. She loved the feel of the wind whooshing her up into the air. Imagine if she had to plod along the creature path on her spindly legs. Imagine not being able to fly, when flying was all she had ever wanted to do! Midair flips, loop-de-loops, figure eights--all these were moves she had made up and practiced, at first in a corner of the clearing with Elder hovering nearby, ready to catch her if she fell, and then right in front of the others. The other little fireflies were too scared to try. Rules had been drummed into them in Air Safety class since they were tiny: Don't fly beyond the clearing; don't fly higher than the first big branch of the white pine; don't fly in the rain. There was Air Safety class, and there was Basics of Blinking class, in which the baby fireflies learned how to signal left, right, straight, and right of way. But nothing compared to Fear of Giants class. All small fireflies were required to recite the three Fundamental Rules of Giants at the start and end of every class. 1. Giants are to be feared. 2. Giants are the enemies of the firefly nation. 3. Giants are to be avoided at all costs. But it was hard to avoid giants entirely, because three of them lived in Firefly Hollow, in a house at the bend of the river: mother giant, father giant, and the miniature giant they called Peter. That was how it was done in their world--miniature ones lived with their parents in houses separate from other giants--unlike young and elder fireflies, who all lived in the same hollow tree, sharing their cubbies and eating their snails together. The mother and father giants were dreadful creatures. When they tromped about, their enormous weight shook the very earth. TROMP. TROMP. TROMP. "The giants are out!" the young fireflies would shout to one another when they were playing Death by Giant. "Flee!" Something else that all the fireflies lived in fear of was the Jar. The Jar was kept in a special roped-off corner at the Museum of Giant Artifacts, just down the trail from the neighboring School for Young Crickets. The museum held objects that had washed ashore from the giant nation: A blue knife with a terrifying serrated edge. A spool of yellow thread, thread that could be used for any number of evil purposes. A huge red shoe, which, if tromped down on a resting firefly, would mean certain death. These were just a few of the items in the Museum of Giant Artifacts. There were sections devoted to various other terrors of the giant world, among them games. Games with names like baseball and basketball and kickball and soccer, games with balls that could roll right over a resting firefly and crush it dead then and there. But it was the Jar that was especially horrifying to the firefly nation. The Jar! It contained actual firefly corpses! Once viewed, the Jar could never be forgotten. "This is what will happen if you ever get too close to a giant," the elders said, pointing with one wing at the dreadful object. Oh, the poor lost fireflies who had met their end inside that jar. What a hideous fate: caught in midflight by giants, giants with their long legs and their reaching arms and their glass jars with the holes punched in the lids. The Museum of Giant Artifacts filled with screams during this portion of every field trip, screams so loud that they drowned out the constant, robotic chirping from the School for Young Crickets. Despite the shrieks, the elders hovered grimly. The young ones had to learn what would happen if they got too close to a giant. Giants are the enemies of the firefly nation. All it took was one visit to the museum, and all the young fireflies accepted the wisdom of the elders: Stay far, far away from the giants. All but Firefly. The truth of it was, giants fascinated her. Unbeknownst to anyone but Elder, she sometimes snuck out of the clearing to spy on the miniature giant, the one called Peter. At first she spied on him playing catch with another miniature giant. The other miniature giant was gone now, but Firefly still spied on Peter from afar, as he sat on the sand or perched in the branches of a white birch by the water. Was he really that terrifying? Secretly, Firefly thought that there was a lot to admire about giants. They were the ones who had invented spaceships that flew them to outer space--poor wingless creatures that they were--and Firefly loved outer space. Sometimes, when she was out practicing her aerial maneuvers, she turned on her back and stared up. The vast darkness held the moon and the stars. When she was tiny, Elder used to sneak her outside after bedtime, so that they could look up at the night sky together. "Are you sure the stars are really that far away, Elder?" "I'm sure." There were thousands of them, tiny pinpoints of light, shimmering down on the two of them as they hovered on their backs in the clearing. They didn't look that far away to Firefly. "Double sure? Triple sure?" "Quadruple sure." Firefly sighed. She lay on her back for a while, fluttering her wings just enough to stay aloft. She had a question for Elder, a question that she was scared to ask. Gradually, she worked up her courage. "Elder?" "Yes?" "What if you were a little firefly, and you, you . . ." She trailed off. "You what?" he prompted her. "You wanted to see what it was like beyond Firefly Hollow." There. She had said it. She wanted to know what it was like beyond Firefly Hollow, something that went against every rule of the firefly nation. "Are you that little firefly?" Elder said. She looked around to make sure that they were the only ones out, then nodded. "Well," said Elder, "I'm going to tell you a secret." He floated close so he could whisper in her ear. "Maybe someday you'll get a chance to see." "Really? When?" "When it's time." Argh! That was Elder's answer to everything. "How about now, Elder? Right now!" Elder just smiled and shook his head. He blinked their secret code--three fast, two long--a code that could mean any number of things, such as Are you hungry? Or Do you want to sneak out and practice aerial maneuvers? Or Want to come look at the stars with me? but in this case meant I know you want to go right now, but you have to be patient. Firefly turned over on her stomach and tried to ignore him. Elder kept on blinking, though, and eventually she blinked back. But when she returned to her spiderweb hammock, Firefly thought about it some more. If someday she was really going to fly beyond Firefly Hollow, then she would need to build up her strength. That was something she could work on right now, wasn't it? So she practiced her aerial maneuvers over and over, over and over, hoping that one day they would come in handy. And she timed herself for nonstop flying. Her best time so far was three hours, twelve minutes, and seven seconds. Without one single break. Swoop! "Firefly!" "Firefly!" "Firefly!" Her friends were gathered by the lowest branch of the white pine that stood in the center of the clearing, waiting for her. Firefly spread her wings, did one of her famous loop-de-loops, and landed in their midst. Around and around the white pine they flew, sparkling and blinking. The moon hung round and yellow, and the night sky shimmered with light from the stars. "Imagine flying up that high," said Firefly, pointing with one wing. "Are you kidding?" said one. "No, thank you," said another. "I'll stay right here in the clearing," said a third. "The giants flew up there, you know," said Firefly. "Straight up to the moon." Excerpted from Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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