Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Time of the Fireflies by Kimberley Griffiths Little

This adventure begins when Larissa answers a phone in the antique shop her parent's run.  She's on the second floor, they are antique phones, and there are no phone lines connecting them.  But the phone is ringing...

Scholastic Press and Net Galley gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  The story will be published July 29th, so make a note to pick it up then.

There is an old antique doll in the doll display that is not for sale.  It's a family heirloom and it's not a doll for play.  It's formally dressed and is a bit odd.  It seems like it follows Larissa's movements with its eyes.  And it seems to move when no one is the room.  Larissa thought maybe her mother had moved it but when her mother questions her, she realizes it must have been the doll.

The phone call tells her to follow the fireflies.  She hasn't really noticed fireflies much, but when she looks for them they're there.  When she follows them, she finds they lead her into the past.

Larissa learns about her family history by watching from the woods as the family has picnics and plays outside.  She doesn't understand the significance of what she has seen until much later in the story.

With the magic of fireflies and time travel, a cursed doll, and a young adventurer, the story keeps your attention and makes you wonder where the author is going with the story.  It has an appropriate ending and will make you wonder if Larissa will more adventures in her life.  

I enjoyed this enough, I'm going to look for more books by this author.  I like how she handled the story telling.  This would be a good story to read aloud, a chapter at a time.  Everybody will be looking forward to the next chapter!

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