This is a fantastic read! Brilliant adventure, love the build up, the use of two dads is just beautiful!

I like how this is not just a simple story of a boy finding a Firefox, it was about how the adventure turns the boy into a responsible young person.

A great story. Really loved the idea of The Last Firefox. Charlie, the main protagonist, has been left in charge of the Last Firefox after an unusual encounter at a local landmark. He only expected to have Cadno (the Firefox) for the weekend but things do not go as planned so he enlists the help of his two fabulous friends, Lippy and Roo. What follows is a story of friendship, family and love. This is a heartburst of a story. A worthy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC.

This book is a fabulous read. I am looking forward to using it as my lower school (Y3 and Y4) readaloud in our reading assembly. It covers so many issues in a gentle and non threatening way including bullying and friendships, as well as family relationships. Alongside this, the story is such a good one which I know will be enjoyed by many,

Charlie is a bit worried that he's not brave: brave enough to stand up to the bullies at school, brave enough for high school after the school hols, brave enough to protect the new brother and sister that his dads want to adopt.
Then one day he finds himself having to protect a Firefox..
A charming tale which explores lots of ideas in an age appropriate way. Along with some great funny parts. A great way to start discussions around families (and its varied forms), anxiety, resilience, going to high school.

A great story, about a boy who is lacking in self belief and self confidence, but is able to find his inner fire through Cadno the Last Firefox. The normalising of adoption and same sex parents also drew me to the story, something that isn't seen in many books, but should be. Charlie shows what it means to find inner strength, but also what kindness and compassion can do.

This was adorable. The characters were lovely and the story really held by attention. A really solid middle grade with some beautiful illustrations.

When I was offered a review copy of The Last Firefox by Lee Newbery I didn’t even have to think about my response, how could I say no to a cover that cute?

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.

The Last Firefox is an adorable middle-grade story set in the fictional town of Bryncastell in Wales. Charlie lives in Bryncastell with his Dad and his Pa and is about to enter his final week of primary school with his two best friends Rupert (Roo) and Philippa (Lippy). Frequently bullied, Charlie is an anxious kid who worries about never being brave enough, especially when compared to his Dad who works as a firefighter.

Charlie and his friends play a game where they hide painted stones around town for the others to find. While looking for a good hiding spot inside the town’s castle ruins after school, Charlie is knocked over by a strangely dressed boy who seems to emerge from within a solid stone wall. The boy, who eventually introduces himself as Teg, reveals that he is on the run after rescuing a fox cub from the menagerie of the King of Fargone who Teg knew would mistreat the creature. Of course, this is no ordinary fox cub, it’s a firefox cub and possibly the last of its kind.

Suddenly, Charlie finds himself in charge of an adorable ball of fluff that can burst into flames at will or whenever it feels scared or excited. Naming the fox Cadno (the Welsh word for fox), Charlie smuggles the fluffball home but his attempts to keep his new friend a secret are frequently thwarted, and it’s not long before the family’s possessions are going up in smoke. At the same time, Charlie begins to suspect he is being stalked by the terrifying Grendilock, a magical shapeshifting beast dispatched by the king to retrieve his lost possession. Can Charlie find enough bravery to protect Cadno and himself and save the last firefox?

This was an exceptionally cute story about finding your inner bravery that will particularly appeal to kids who are worried about facing new challenges, such as Charlie’s upcoming transition to secondary school. I loved the understated LGBTQ representation from Charlie’s family and the strong friendship between him and his two best friends. Naturally, Cadno is the star of the show but that doesn’t mean the other characters are two-dimensional, even those in the background have something unique about them to make them feel like a real person and not a caricature.

The Last Firefox blends plenty of comedic moments with some more meaningful ones about the nature of bravery. Sure, a firefox that literally bursts into flames when facing its fears is quite the heavy-handed metaphor for finding your inner spark, but no middle-grade reader is going to notice that, and besides, the image of an adorable fox cub with a tail made of flames is more than enough to make up for it. There are some tense and spooky moments in the book when the Grendilock is on the prowl, but nothing that would scare most middle-grade readers.

The Last Firefox is out today and has just been made the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month. I would highly recommend it to all middle-grade readers but especially pokemon fans and those looking to find some extra inner fire.

A cool kid that finds a creature called a Firefox, the last of its kind and his life takes a dramatic turn. My 10 year old loved this book and found the characters funny and brave and would love to read more Firefox adventures. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Children’s UK and Netgalley for the ARC

Charlie is afraid of many things: other pupils, conflict and even geese! When he stumbles across a mysterious boy, who entrusts him with a rather unusual pet, he is not the obvious first choice to act as protector. But when a dangerous foe begins to sniff around, it is up to Charlie to protect his new pet, Cadno.

The Last Firefox is a heart-warming story about courage, friendship and family. Charlie, the unlikely hero, is the perfect protagonist: it was great to see him grow and develop as the story progressed. The story was exciting, unpredictable and emotional from beginning to end. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for the preview! How I want to stumble across my own Firefox after reading this.

Cadno is the Welsh for fox and a perfect name for the Last Firefox, small touches like this really root the story in a Welsh setting, I wish we had discovered a few more Welsh words too.

Cadno is discovered by Charlie, well not quite discovered - Charlie stumbles across him and needs to guard him from the Grendilock. Cadno is the Last Firefox and not quite the typical pet. All this happens just as his dads announce that they want to adopt another child.
There is peril and escape, friendship and braver. What is it that makes you brave and can Charlie ever be brave enough so that he can be best brother ever?

This is a wonderful story about a boy called Charlie who has the most fantastical adventure. Whilst out setting a puzzle for his closest friends to decipher, Charlie encounters a strange character who has entered the modern day world through a portal. The chance meeting leaves Charlie as custodian to the last firefox whom he decided to call Cadnor.

Charlie has a lovely relationship with his parents but feels that he must hide his new 'pet' from them. With a dad who is a firefighter, a pyromaniac animal is unlikely to be well received! Things go from bad to worse as Cadno is being hunted by a dreadful predator who gets close and closer to his prey...

Charlie takes his friends into his confidence and they help his protect Cadno from all of the dangers that are pressing in on them. In addition to this adventure, Charlie is taken on a metaphorical voyage of self-discovery as he finds a way to address his anxieties and a bully who plagues his school life. There are so many wonderful parallels in this book.

On a final note, what I am most thrilled about, and because of this, it will absolutely find a place on the shelves in our school library to be read as often as I can get it into pupil's hands, Charlie's parents are in a same-sex relationship. His dads are wonderful role models and are loving and caring. I love how normalised the family set up is. This is so important for children to read about in our diverse society. Bravo!! This is a book that we really needed to see published.

I’m sure that anyone who knows my taste in middle-grade knew that I was always going to read this book. A cute animal friend, misfit protagonists and a motivational message at the heart? It’s safe to say I was very excited for it!

Charlie Challinor is struggling through his final year of primary school, no thanks to a pair of bullies. But one day, a magical stranger entrusts Charlie with the care of an adorable, mystical firefox, Cadno. There is a dangerous hunter searching for Cadno and Charlie has to use all the courage and strength that he didn’t know he had, in order to protect the last firefox.

Laura Catalan’s illustrations are so charming and there are some really heartwarming ones throughout the book. Seeing Charlie and Cadno play together and form their beautiful bond in front of my eyes was a pretty magical experience. Cadno has such a cute face and I loved seeing it again and again!

Charlie is lucky that he has friends like Lippy and Roo to remind him that bullies Will and Zack aren’t as tough and cool as they appear. This is an important lesson for all children, who are experiencing the horrors of bullying and I don’t feel that it’s a lesson that is taught enough. The whole book delivers the message of kindness and friendship being king, which makes it a book that every child and actually, every human should read.

Cadno is simply mesmerizing. He’s very cute and loyal to his carers but he’s also incredibly dangerous, which I did forget about at certain points because I was so taken with him! I was really intrigued about the origins and mythology of firefoxes. If there are any sequels on the horizon, I’d love Newbery to delve into this and give us a little bit of firefox history.

Charlie needs to find his inner fire and use it to protect Cadno and overcome his bullies. Igniting a spark inside your heart and discovering a fiery passion for something is one of the most rewarding things that any human being can do and finding that during childhood is often when it’s most powerful. I felt inspired to find the fire within me, so I’m sure many other readers did too.

The Last Firefox is a heartwarming, inspirational novel that balances contemporary, relatable themes with intriguing, beautiful fantasy elements. With loveable characters and a real sense of threat, it’s a story that I’ll be recommending for readers who love a bit of everything in their middle-grade books. I want more time with Cadno, so I’m holding out for a follow-up!

When the world is full of desperate headlines, we have to hold onto our belief in heroes, in angels and unicorns and …firefoxes!

Charles is absolutely terrified of going up to secondary school ..and he’s scared of the two boys who are bullying him. He’s scared that he doesn’t have enough courage ..so how will he be the best big brother to the boy or girl his two dads plan to adopt? And just when things feel particularly overwhelming, he meets a strange character who hands him a firefox to look after. This is the very last Firefox and he is in mortal danger ..where will Charles find his courage to keep him safe?
This is a joy of a book. It covers so many topics - transition to secondary school, inclusion, bullying, friendship, courage..all an integral part of the story and treated with sensitive and positive handling. It’s populated with some amazing characters - Charles and his friends; the two Dads and of course a little Firefox who is full of mischief and affection . This book has plenty of adventure, danger, a tree house and some great comedy - I loved the scenes in the supermarket when a fire breathing Firefox gets loose ..and the visit of a social worker who is not all she seems…and the book is full of wonderful illustrations.
Aimed at middle grade but go on adults let yourself loose in this beautiful story where you can take on a monster and learn where true courage is ..

The Last Firefox is a charming, heart warming and magical book about finding your inner strength. Check out my full thoughts below. Thank you to NetGalley, Puffin Books and Lee Newbery for my early copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I had seen quite a lot of buzz for The Last Firefox prior to picking up my NetGalley copy and I was definitely not disappointed. This book blew me away with its charm, its humour and the absolute warmth and love it oozes from beginning to end. There is so much to love about this story: the wonderful characters, the plot itself, the messages it brings and of course the gorgeous Cadno!

Charlie is a wonderful protagonist. He is nervous, quiet but confident around his two best friends. He loves his Dads and wants nothing more than to make them happy but the idea of being a big brother or going to secondary school fills him with fear. What if he isn’t good enough? Then a Firefox comes into his life and turns it upside down! I adored the relationship between Charlie and Cadno as it built Charlie’s self-belief over the course of their adventure and by the end you could feel Charlie’s new found confidence oozing off the pages. I don’t have children but I know that when I do, this is a book I would definitely give them so that they could find their own fire in the same way that Charlie does!

I absolutely loved the humour in this book and found myself chuckling right from the offset. It is a truly charming novel that will have both adults and children laughing along at all of the mishaps Charlie encounters with Cadno and his friends. It would be remiss of me not to mention how much I adored the natural queer representation in this book. Charlie has two Dads and my favourite thing about this is that it isn’t part of the story. It is simply a fact that Charlie has two Dads and they both love him. Yet another reason I will be giving a copy of this book to my own future children. It also gave really lovely nods to adoption and I think for younger children there are definitely talking points to be had with parents afterwards. As well as this being a truly lovely, magical and captivating novel, I think this is one whose impact will be ongoing for so many families.

The Last Firefox captured my heart and emotions in so many ways. It oozes love and humour as well as providing so many heart warming moments. A truly joyous adventure of finding your inner fire.

The first thing to say about Lee Newbury's debut novel, which is a Waterstones Book of the Month for March, is that the cover is simply stunning. Seeing it in the flesh took my breath away and the fiery orange colour scheme implies there's a cracker of a story inside. There really is! The Last Firefox is a joyful, wonderfully written adventure that will set your heart alight.

Charlie Challinor finds it really hard to be bold and now he's about to start secondary school and become a big brother, life is feeling rather scary. But when he is unexpectedly charged with looking after a fox from another world, Charlie is forced to dig deep to find his bravery. Because this isn't just any fox, it's the last firefox and he has a sinister hunter on his tail. Can Charlie find a way to protect his flammable friend and find his own inner fire?

The hilarious opening to this novel sets the tone for what is ultimately a gentle, charming and genuinely heart-warming adventure. But it should come with a warning: Cadno the firefox will steal your heart! Perfect for both animal and adventure lovers, this is a tale of family, friendship and love that just happens to be mixed with a crumbling castle, a magical portal and a very ominous villain. Yet, I loved how the magical element didn't take over. Charlie's world and Charlie's experiences remain central to the plot and, as a shy, underconfident child myself, I really resonated with his character.

Without giving too much away, the story builds towards a great fiery finale with elements that reminded me a little bit of The Gruffalo's Child. There's also some cleverly plotted humour throughout, such as one of Charlie's dads being a firefighter (brilliantly apt) and Lippy's hamster food. It's cosy, cuddly, dark and sinister all at the same time but most of all this novel emanates as much light as Cadno himself-the sparks of which are bound to spread through readers of all ages and inspire their love of reading.

What a lovely, inspirational and magical children's book this proved to be
Filled with adventure, friendship, family and added mystery!
A story about Charlie Challinor, a quiet eleven year old
Who finds it very difficult to be brave or bold.

He's regularly bullied by two lads from school
But can't think what to say or how to be cool.
He does, however, have two friends who're the best
They're always there to help him have fun and to rest.

The three friends challenge each other in fun
And that leads to adventures when all is said and done.
Taking charge of the last firefox is a challenge it's true
But protecting it from harm is what Charlie will do.

However, keeping secrets from those you fear
Is easier than keeping them from those you hold dear.
Get ready for character growth as troubles arrive
And friendships proving essential if they're all to survive.

What a brilliant read this MG reader proved to be
A fantastic adventure I'm sure children will agree.
It deals with bullying, adoption and having two Dads, too
In a sensitive way that's easy to relate to.

It was magical and fun as I learned just how
Charlie learned to find his inner fire and grew more confident - wow!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say, 'Thank you!'
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

This was super fun to read and really heartwarming!

I really enjoyed reading the bonds between characters: family, friends and of course between Charlie and Cadno. I also loved how Charlie having two dads was so positively normalised – I’m glad children (and anyone reading children’s books) now get to read stories like these! It’s so important for us to see positive, casual representation of different families. The friendships were all so funny and sweet, and I loved how they stood up for each other against bullies and beasts. It made me nostalgic for chilled hangouts with friends and their pets – though of course none were little fireballs like Cadno!

Onto Cadno – what a scene stealer. Completely adorable from the tips of his ears to the end of his tail, in physical appearance, personality and behaviour. He’s so brave and affectionate. If you like animals I’d definitely recommend this book!

The illustrations were super cute too, and for once this eARC was formatted properly for Kindle so the illustrations showed up as they should Honestly, this was THE BEST formatted ARC I have ever read on my Kindle. I was so happy that I could actually toggle between chapters with my Kindle button like a normal book! It’s a small thing, but helps so much with the reading experience so I can properly appreciate Newbery and Catalan’s hard work.

The fantasy elements were done well, with the world of Fargone built just enough to make sense but without overwhelming the main plot set in regular real-world Wales. I did want to know more about Teg, as he shows up so briefly but his role is so integral to the story. (A Teg/Fargone spin-off sequel? I’m intrigued by the world!)

This book was really funny too from the very first line, with distinct characters, a well-paced and believable plot, and I could really feel the action scenes too (the train!! The castle scene!! My heart!!). I also found it so funny that one of Charlie’s dads is a firefighter and it made for some great humour and plot points. The penny-cog red herring-ed me a bit, and because I was tense about it, that made it even creepier to watch how the clues about the antagonist gradually build up.

‘The Last Firefox’ is a truly impressive and and entertaining debut! I’m excited to see what Newbery writes next, and thanks to this lovely book I’ve now discovered a great new artist to follow.

The Last Firefox by Lee Newberry is a tremendous book indeed and today I feel the need to exalt its existence.

Most readers can empathise with the anxieties of childhood. Charlie is on the cusp of a new world – he’s about to start high school and his dads plan to adopt another child and he doesn’t know if he’s confident enough to be an older brother (this isn’t forgetting his bullies, who reminded me of Bulk & Skull and I wouldn’t have mind seeing chased by geese) – when someone from another world arrives and Charlie finds himself caring for Cadno, the last firefox of the book’s title.

When I began reading this book, I thought the author had done a cracking job in terms of writing. It is written with such verve, the prose is active and visual – there were times when I thought, “this is a great way of getting information to a reader, I wish I’d considered this for my own fiction.” (This is me talking in a very writerly fashion. The book is perfectly accessible to the target reader, and I think that they will gobble it up.)

I described this as “a good bowl of soup, where every flavour is just right” and I still feel this way, the characterisation is strong, the storyline is brilliant.

I felt a great sense of nostalgia reading this book. I’m not sure why, but this book reminded me of the CBBC after-school shows that I used to watch – in the best possible way – envisaging all the escapades Charlie and friends would get up to as they strove to keep Cadno a secret and safe from those that would hunt him down and treat him like a plaything.

With regards to Charlie and his friends, I thought the friendship at the heart of this book exceptionally well done. Over the course of The Last Firefox, we get to see a character go through discoveries about sharing his problems, and sharing his feelings, and learning how confidence can mask anxieties. I found the character growth and transformation inspirational and wish that this book had been around when I was younger.

I’ve said it before, but had this book existed when I was a child then it would have been one that I re-read regularly until the point that it fell apart. This is a tale filled with love; there’s a scene towards the end where the protagonist made a declaration that made my heart warm up – usually a difficulty considering I often see myself as an emotionless husk. It is a truly astounding debut that left me completely joyous about its existence and I hope that you go out and read it.

The Last Firefox
By Lee Newbery
Published by Puffin books

A beautifully written adventure story full of friendship and warmth telling readers to find your own fire, be brave and stand up for yourself.
Young Charlie finds life a little bit scary; school, bullies and the thought of an extending family. But when faced with the new role of guardian to a cute fox cub with a fiery character Charlie finds a new strength and some leadership qualities he never thought he had. A great chapter book for young readers to enjoy a magical fantasy with elements of love and cuteness.
But the biggest “Thank You” goes to author Lee Newbery for including a family of dads for all children to relate to, knowing that families come in many forms.

Joanne Bardgett - Year 3 teacher of littlies, lover of books
#Netgallery
#puffinbooks

This book was so much fun. I loved it from the very first page. A great adventure. Wonderful friendships. A loving family dynamic that isn't seen enough in books. And a loveable creature called a firefox that I now demand be an actual real, living creature because I want one. I loved loved loved this book and can't wait to see what Lee has up his sleeve for readers in the future!