Book Review - Fireflies in December

Fireflies in December

Jennifer Erin Valent

Tyndale House Publishers (December 8, 2008)

In short: A heartwarming, and heartwrenching, novel, that will appeal to all ages as it showcases a practical faith in an evocative setting, rich characterization and a substantive plot.

“The summer I turned thirteen, I thought I killed a man.”

With a great opening line like that your expectations are high. Capturing the flavor of the South and filled with suspense, humor and homespun wisdom this debut novel does not disappoint.

“Momma always told me if people don’t want to be my friend, then they probably ain’t worth havin’ as friends.”

“Daddy takes his thinkin’ walks because sometimes a man needs to be on his own to figure things out and find some peace again.”

“And even though Momma told me time and again that there was no such thing as luck, only blessings, I figured as far as family went, I was one of the luckiest girls alive.”

Jessilyn Lassiter, thirteen in 1932, is having a typical hot summer in small town Virginia when a fire destroys the house of her best friend, Gemma. Her family takes Gemma in to live with them. Gemma, black, and Jessilyn, white, soon learn the Biblical truth of the sin in men’s hearts, as their relationship grows in depth and maturity.

“There’s only so much a girl can take, and I can’t take much more of this heat.”

“You ain’t got no choice. You ain’t God.”
“I don’t know why God likes to make us so hot.”
“Maybe it’s to remind us why we don’t want to go to hell.”
I laughed at her as much as I could manage on that sleepy day. “You do beat all, Gemma.”
“I ain’t kiddin’! There ain’t nothin’ wrong with rememberin’ what’s bad about hell.”…”Don’t make no sense not talkin’ about hell. It’s a place, anyhow, and we ought to remember how much we don’t want to go there. Makes us remember how good Jesus is.”
“I never said Jesus wasn’t good. I just wondered why He gives us so much heat, that’s all.”
My sharp answer put an end to our discussion. Sweltering heat didn’t make for easy friendships.

Winner of the Christian Writers Guilds 2007 Operation First Novel contest this heartwarming, and heartwrenching, novel, will appeal to all ages as it showcases a practical faith in an evocative setting, rich characterization and a substantive plot.

“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. Otis let evil into is mind and it took over his heart. 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.”

His words scared me….I was realizing all too quickly that the human heart is fragile and needs constant attention. I’d seen enough bleakness in my own heart to know my daddy was speaking the truth.”

“That’s why we all need to know Jesus in our hearts,” Daddy said. “Ain’t no one else who can keep watch over our hearts like He can. Ain’t no one else who can take the bad out and replace it with good. You best put thought to that, Jessilyn. Ain’t no more important decision you can make, you hear?”

Rating: Hardback