Fireflies in December Audiobook By Jennifer Erin Valent cover art

Fireflies in December

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Fireflies in December

By: Jennifer Erin Valent
Narrated by: Kate Forbes
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This award-winning, coming-of-age gem by Jennifer Erin Valent recounts one farm family's struggle against racial bigotry in Depression-era Virginia.

When Jessilyn's parents begin raising her best friend as their own daughter, this kindness toward a dark-skinned orphan triggers threats and violence. While teetering on the brink of womanhood, Jessilyn must learn to be a shining light in a dark world.

©2008 Jennifer Erin Valent (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC Christian Fiction Christianity Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction

Critic reviews

"Winner of the Christian Writers Guild's 2007 Operation First Novel contest, Valent has created a darkly evocative historical novel that boldly explores the divisive effects of unreasoning hatred, greed, and fear on a community already struggling with the economic and racial tensions caused by the Depression and exacerbated by the Ku Klux Klan." ( Booklist)
Riveting Story • Captivating Narrative • Rich Southern Setting • Faith-filled Perspective • Awesome Reader
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I was just scrolling through when I picked this. Not really expecting much, just trying it out. Turned out to be a great story. The narration is pleasant to listen to, which has been difficult to find lately. Liked it so much, I am moving on to book 2 in the series.

Surprisingly Good

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This is my first book by this author. The narration was fantastic and the story was very captivating. I found myself prolonging driving trips to finish chapters and taking work breaks to finish it off. I hope to listen to this narrator again and hope that she does more by this author.

Great narration

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This book kept my interest and attention and I finished it quickly. I look forward to the next two books in the series.

I loved this story.

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The story that exposed the hearts of both sides is a good example to follow.

The contrast between good and evil.

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overtly preachy. Reads a bit like "Cold Sassy Tree" or the "Education of Little Tree" and felt more like reading a Newberry teen book rather than an adult novel. There are a couple internal inconsistancies in the book, few rough spots in the dialog and I had to suspend my disbelief a couple of times where the plot and situation felt forced. However, for a first novel this is fantastic. I enjoyed the 1932 Southern setting, coming of age theme and strong family values. Good narration.

Audie for Inspirational/Faith based but not

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Depression era Virginia and families with black farm hands still working on their farms . . . the more things change, the more they stay the same . . . until a fire killed little Gemma's parents, leaving her orphaned . . . and the Lassiter family (the family her folks had worked for) took her in as their own . . . Jessie Lassiter, thirteen years old and Gemma had always been best friends . . . but even Jessie had no idea how taking Gemma in would change things . . . in the south, you never knew who to trust, who was KKK and who wasn't . . . through the bravery and steadfast love of the Lassiter family, one day at a time, Gemma was kept safe . . . Fireflies in December is a story told through the eyes of Jessie, a young girl, turning into a woman, learning to defend herself, her family, her friend and her own beliefs . . . in a time in our history that doing so could have cost her her life . . . the tale is beautifully and courageously told, and is different than many books of this genre . . . it isn't filled with bitterness and anger, but with faith and conviction . . .

1932 Virginia The Dark and the Light

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The difficult truth of where we've come from, delivered in a riveting story with truths to help us navigate the times ahead.

Truth told in a riveting story

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The reader was awesome! As was the story, I got caught up in it right away & didn't want to put it down. Now excuse my while I get started on the next book:)

Great book

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Beautiful sentiment and beautifully written and narrated. Although Jessie does get herself in a lot of trouble - she is very likeable. Highly recommended.

Heartwarming

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this was a really easy book to listen to. The narrators voice was easy on the ears.

Great read

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