Under the Light of Fireflies - by Lee Sanders (Paperback)

About the Book

"A big-hearted coming-of-age debut about a tiger, a Russian, a dead dad, a model airplane, and a bewildered twelve-year-old boy just trying to find his place in the world. It's 1981 in Texarkana, Texas, and Noah Ellis is trying hard to remember. Still reeling from the loss of his father in a tragic drowning, Noah is in an accident of his own-one that ends with a local boy dead, a tiger on the loose, and Noah in the hospital with severe amnesia. After that fateful day, everything changes. Noah becomes the key witness in a highly publicized court case. Local girls start to notice him and the kids who once bullied him accept him into their pack-at a cost. And rather than being the kid brother to his big brother Jack, now Noah's got a baby sister he's responsible for. But Noah's still stuck on that day-the accident he can't remember, and the boy he'll never see again. As town secrets come to light and summer comes to a close, Noah's got to figure what to do with all that grief"--

Book Synopsis

A Booklist Starred Review

A big-hearted coming-of-age debut about a tiger, a Russian, a model airplane, unexplainable disaster, and a bewildered twelve-year-old boy just trying to find his place in the world.

It's 1981 in Texarkana, Texas, and Noah Ellis is trying hard to remember. Still reeling from the loss of his father in a suspicious tragedy, Noah is in a tragedy of his own-one that results in another inexplicable death, this time leaving Noah to suffer from severe amnesia.

After that day, everything changes. Noah becomes an unwitting star in a highly publicized trial. Girls start to notice him, and kids who once bullied him now allow him to run with their pack--at a cost. Standing as always in his big brother's shadow, Noah also has a little sister he must look out for. But Noah's still stuck on that day and the accident he can't remember. As town secrets come to light and summer draws to a close, Noah must find a way to salvage all that he's lost, and to learn what is truly precious.

Review Quotes

"Debut author Sanders delivers a powerful, coming-of-age novel set in 1981 Texarkana... [and] weaves a perfectly paced, compelling novel that will challenge and ultimately reward readers... All told, [Under the Light of Fireflies] is a home run." - Ana Menchaca, Booklist

"A boy learns to accept the unpredictability of life and finds his own sense of self in the transformative novel Under the Light of Fireflies." -- Julia Dillman, Foreword Reviews

"The author's portrayal of the emotional landscape of a teenage boy adds rich dimension to the storyline, while creating sufficiently mean-spirited and detestable antagonists. Detailed descriptions of settings immerse readers in 1980s small-town Texas, creating a thoughtfully detailed coming-of-age story." -- Youth Services Book Review

"Debut author Sanders delivers a powerful, coming-of-age novel set in 1981 Texarkana... [and] weaves a perfectly paced, compelling novel that will challenge and ultimately reward readers... All told, [Under the Light of Fireflies] is a home run." -- Ana Menchaca, Booklist

"A boy learns to accept the unpredictability of life and finds his own sense of self in the transformative novel Under the Light of Fireflies." -- Julia Dillman, Foreword Reviews

"The author's portrayal of the emotional landscape of a teenage boy adds rich dimension to the storyline, while creating sufficiently mean-spirited and detestable antagonists. Detailed descriptions of settings immerse readers in 1980s small-town Texas, creating a thoughtfully detailed coming-of-age story." -- Youth Services Book Review

About the Author

Raised on radio, Lee Sanders is a Texas author who likes to write from the hip. His passions include guitars, grilling, and golf, although he's not afraid of perusing a classic novel or catching a football game. He lives in Fort Worth with his wife, Zina, and their two daughters, Emilia and Caroline. He was born and raised in Texarkana and graduated with a degree in History from East Texas State. Under the Light of Fireflies is his debut novel.