At the beginning of October, the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Forest of Reading Award nominees were announced in the same week. When a book appears on both of those lists, it’s certainly one to consider reading. Firefly by Philippa Dowding certainly lived up to its nominated status!

Firefly has just started living with her Aunt Gayle above a costume shop on Queen Street aptly named The Corseted Lady. She’s there because she has been living in a park for the last little while instead of with Joanne-the-mother. As the story unfolds we learn how and why Firefly has come to live with her aunt and meet some very interesting characters along the way.

Philippa Dowding tackles addiction, mental health, homelessness and foster care in this beautiful story about a girl navigating some pretty serious trauma. Firefly’s mom has never really been the mom she needed leading her to live, for an entire summer, in a park. Integrating back into a more “normal” life has it’s challenges, ones she is not quite ready to rehash with anyone. She is experiencing PTSD and hiding behind the many costumes she wears to school thanks to the treasure trove at The Corseted Lady.

Speaking of The Corseted Lady, Philippa Dowding weaves the most incredible descriptions of an eclectic, buzzy, beautiful hub filled with the most caring and genuine people who all come together to help Aunt Gayle support Firefly as she transitions to life away from Joanne-the-mother. Her descriptions are vivid and clear and send the reader right to the racks and racks of clothing for rent to television and movie sets as well as Halloween party goers. Speaking of setting, the descriptions of Toronto hooked me immediately. I love when I can connect with a story thanks to the setting. I could picture many of the places described throughout the book.

The kindness with which Aunt Gayle approaches her new life with Firefly is so supportive. I loved how Philippa Dowding treated this new relationship, the space that Aunt Gayle gave Firefly and the mama bear protectiveness with which she envelops her niece is fierce and loving. 

Firefly is a not to be missed book and I can see why it has received the accolades that it has this year. So many readers will see glimpses of their own lives and their own feelings of otherness and will connect with Firefly in a deep and meaningful way.