 | Under the light of fireflies Author: Sanders, Lee | |
| Price: $16.36 | ||
Summary:
Even though he's suffering severe amnesia after two mysterious deaths, Noah becomes involved in a high-profile trial that gains him popularity. As he struggles to remember, Texarkana's secrets begin to come to light over the summer of 1981, and Noah needs to find a way to recuperate from his tremendous losses and gain himself back in the process.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/01/25)
Booklist (+) (12/01/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2024 *Starred Review* Debut author Sanders delivers a powerful, coming-of-age novel set in 1981 Texarkana, Texas. Twelve-year-old Noah Ellis is looking forward to summer, though he’s still coping with his father’s accidental drowning earlier that year. Early into vacation, Noah spends a day with Connor, a local misfit, which proves to be unexpectedly pleasant until a tragedy leaves Noah in the hospital with no memory of what happened. Fearing for Noah’s mental health, no one will tell him how he ended up in the hospital. The tragedy thrusts Noah into a courtroom fiasco involving a Russian zookeeper, an escaped tiger, a sleazy lawyer, and a towering judge. In his vulnerable state, Noah begins to associate with a group of teenagers that terrorizes Texarkana. Trying to find his place within his family and community, Noah is tempted to join them—but doing so would force Noah to betray himself, his friends, and his family. Sanders weaves a perfectly paced, compelling novel that will challenge and ultimately reward readers. He doesn’t shy away from discussing death, sexuality, gender roles, and other topics that become more pronounced for teenagers, and Noah’s own complicated choices are handled with nuance. Sanders also captures the ’80s beautifully, folding in references to social norms, such as smoking cigarettes indoors, and pop culture. All told, this is a home run. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.
