A Flash of Fireflies

Hazel is starting a new life in England to live with the aunt who raised her father before her parents join her at the end of the summer. Grant- her great aunt- lives in a cottage worthy of a fairy tale with a magical garden. But Hazel struggles with change, missing her family and the life she has left behind. She is visited by three fireflies who set her on quests, leading her into a fantasy world as she battles her personal demons.

Aisha Bushby is well known for her magical writing and ‘A Flash of Fireflies’ is no exception. At the end of this story, she shares her own experiences of OCD, explaining how it makes her feel and how she has built ways of fighting it. In the story, Hazel’s OCD is represented by the fireflies who take her on repetitive quests, but ultimately, she learns that she is not alone with her anxieties and that there are people who can help her. The story is sure to offer comfort and support to those who need it, but also to encourage empathy and compassion in those who have little understanding of a condition which is so often misunderstood.

Hazel’s move from Kuwait to England without her parents triggers her anxiety and yet attending summer school and exploring the topic of fairy tales helps her to make new friendships and combat the ‘scary newness’ of the place, allowing her to call it home. The writing is beautiful, cleverly combining the real with the fantasy and would make an excellent guided reading text or class read, offering much to discuss and enjoy.

A Flash of Fireflies Aisha Bushby

Farshore ISBN: 978-0755500642

You can read my review of ‘Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found’ here