This book was just a delightful read.

It is the story of Hazel, who has just moved to England and thinks it will be like the fairytales - filled with magical gardens, pretty cottages and that wonderful cottagecore that we all crave. However, it is not that simple as Hazel has come from Kuwait and has her own demons to deal with.

Aisha Bushby is a master at her craft. The story is for children aged 9-12 but deals with some heavy stuff, including mental health in children. And it is done so well.

This book is just delightful but doesn't sugar coat the important stuff. Thank you for the ARC.

A beautifully written and delicately layered story with a fairytale-like quality and a heroine struggling with OCD, anxiety, and asthma. An important conversation starter around mental health issues.

Aisha’s Bushby’s latest middle grade novel A FLASH OF FIREFLIES more than lives up to the opener of Once Upon A Time with its fairy tale baddies and impossible quests. But with the timely theme of mental health woven seamlessly into the story, it manages to be both comfortingly familiar and wholly original at the same time.

We join 12-yr-old Hazel as she journeys from Kuwait to England, ahead of her parents, to stay with a great aunt in her gingerbread-like house. Adjusting to this new life triggers Hazel’s old anxieties; her real life blurs with a fantasy world where three fireflies drag her to their forest, threatening to make her worst fears come true unless she fulfils their increasingly challenging tasks and quests.

Soon, the creatures are occupying her every waking moment, and we
begin to understand Hazel is suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Using the fireflies to illustrate the intrusive nature of OCD, Bushby leaves ample space for interpretation, allowing the child reader to choose a comfortable depth at which to approach the story, taking from it what they are ready for.

Interestingly, it is delving deep into the world of fairy tales at summer school, and exploring their tropes and patterns from new angles, that Hazel begins to change her narrative. Finding the courage to share her own story with a budding new friend, and her great aunt, is an important step to challenging the fireflies’ hold on her emotions and fears.

The layers of this novel make it a valuable addition to any classroom. It is a great introduction to creative writing and the power of story and fairy tales, and a brilliant springboard to discussing OCD and mental health issues.

The shadowy silhouettes and play of light and darkness on Olivia Adam’s beautiful cover illustration invite the reader to take a closer look.

A Flash of Fireflies is a simple yet powerful tale of a young girl battling with OCD! Using fairytales as the tool to tell Hazel's story, Aisha's prose will always be *chef's kiss*. I hope this book gets into the hands of all children and parents too!

A beautifully tender story about a young girl with OCD learning to face her fears and finding that she needn't do it alone.

Such a clever mix of fairytales, through-the-wardrobe fantasy and genuine real world mental wellbeing.

At times quite dark, yet full of empathy, and utterly gorgeous. ✨

I've started this book a couple of time since being granted access to it but I'm really struggling to get into it. I loved the description and the cover but however hard I try to read it and enjoy it I just can't. I'm not sure what it is about the story, it's not poorly written or obviously wrong in any way it just hasn't pulled me in as many books do. This will probs be a rare DNF for me.

I sat down to make a start on A Flash of Fireflies and ended up reading the entire thing. I was completely drawn in by the magic and mystery of this unique story – a completely enchanting twist on fairy tales, forests and witches.

Hazel’s world is turned upside-down. Sent on her own from Kuwait to England while her parents prepare for the family’s move, she must find a way to settle into a new life with her very old fashioned Great Aunt. Everything is different and to make things worse, she has to go to summer school.

Their summer school topic is “fairy tales” and all the themes and typical tropes that go along with these familiar tales. As Hazel and her new friend, Ruby, research the dark forests, curses and enchantments of these stories, she finds herself being pulled into her own magical adventure. She must find away to complete the quest set out for her by the terrifying creatures who draw her in. As she learns to battle the darkness, she realises that she is the one in control and she has strength she never imagined.

Themes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and seeking support for difficulties are cleverly woven into this story of self-discovery. Children in Years 5-8 would thoroughly enjoy it and take away so much food for thought.

Following on from A Pocketful of Stars, Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found and Moonchild: City of the Sun, comes Aisha Bushby's fourth middle-grade novel, A Flash of Fireflies. Perfect for lovers of fairy tales, this is a cleverly crafted novel which powerfully explores anxiety and OCD.

When Hazel is sent to England ahead of her parents, she discovers her Great Aunt's house is the stuff of fairy tales - very similar to the Gingerbread House with a white rabbit hopping about. But as she struggles to adjust to her new life, she discovers that fairy tales have a dark side and that three whispering fireflies have a sinister quest in store for her...

I was very excited to read this novel as anything that involves the grittier side of fairy tales instantly attracts my attention. But while the story didn't disappoint on that front, with the appearance of some legendary fairy tale villains, it is SO much more than a fractured traditional tale. Hazel's story begins with her being uprooted and having to make new friends - something many readers will be able to relate to. However, it also gives readers an insight into what it's like living with crippling anxiety and OCD and the strategies that can be used in the struggle to step back into the light.

As an aspiring storyteller myself, I was in awe of how Aisha Bushby weaved the narrative. Hazel's story is fascinating and although she feels very isolated as a main character, I also loved the supporting cast. The awkward relationship with Grant, who has her own secrets and challenges, feels very real, whilst Amelie the rabbit brings a sense of innocence which contrasts with the fireflies' sinister darkness. The world jumping was smooth but unpredictable and you were never sure what was going to happen next.

This book would be an excellent class read and perfect for creating a dialogue around mental health and OCD. Through the familiarity of the fairy tale world, it shows not tells what it is like to live with a disorder that can potentially control your whole life. Wonderfully plotted and written with a deep insight, this is a book I will definitely read again in the future.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Farshore for allowing me a review copy. A Flash of Fireflies is out in the UK tomorrow, 9th June 2022.

A delightful thoughtful book. Sad in places, life affirming n others. Like nothing else I have read recently but really glad I read it. Will make me think for a long while.

At first I was a little unsure about this book, as it wasn't clear if it was a fantasy or a delusion that Hazel was having, and it left me feeling a bit confused. However, I soon realised what Hazel was seeing was a manifestation of her OCD, which was undiagnosed, therefore she didn't know that they weren't really real. Once I realised this, the whole book was brought into focus, and I enjoyed it much more.
the whole journey hazel goes on to try and overcome her OCD aka the fireflies that keep getting her to do harder and more dangerous tasks, is a wonderful read, but tragic to know that people have to go through such things every day, sometimes thinking there is something seriously wrong with them, or thinking they are insane, or thinking it's perfectly normal and the rest of the world is wrong, when really they need someone to take their hand, explain it and help them through it all.
the author takes time at the end to discuss their own problems with OCD and provide resources that may aid those who are in need of a little help.
what i think could be extra great about this book is that some kid, who may have similar issues to Hazel but doesn't want to tell anyone because they are scared, may realise that they can find someone to talk to. I feel like it could really help a lot of kids.
and i apologise if my wording in discussing OCD is incorrect or negative, I dont intend it that way, but I'm not very well versed on the condition and mean no offence.
overall this is a really good book, even if it took me a while to realise what was going on. The fairytale aspects really grabbed me and hooked me. And it was wonderful that Hazel made a friend who stuck by her, even once she told her about the things she saw, and she tried to help her as best she could.

This was enchanting and mesmerising. I love all of the messages around OCD and how Hazel manages to fight the fireflies. I thought this was such an original concept and Aisha writes so beautifully. I was gripped from the word go and my gosh what a story. I love Grant so much too.