Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of Holler of the Fireflies for me to preview.

Holler of the Fireflies is a coming-of-age novel about a young man from Brooklyn, NY attending a STEM Camp in West Virginia. At twelve years old, Javari has an adventure of a lifetime, being exposed to a completely different environment at the Appalachian Ridge Christian College and meeting a diverse group of campers and teachers. Javari makes new friends in the camp as well as outside of the camp, he has excellent interactions with his teachers, and experiences a wide variety of STEM activities including testing and providing feedback for a new VR Game. He is also exposed to some unpleasant aspects of life, such as racism, poverty, and environmental pollution. The book has a lot of elements to the story and moves pretty quickly during Javari’s two weeks at the camp. There were quite a few anxious nail-biting moments, which I think add to the story. I liked the way Javari tried to navigate his way through the camp and attempted to fit in, but not compromise his character. I could appreciate his brainiac moments of calculating math problems when he experienced uncomfortable situations. I would recommend this book for mature middle graders and anyone who feels like they have a hard time fitting in or trying to find their place in the world. STEM Camp is a contemporary topic that will draw middle graders to this novel.

While I did enjoy reading this novel, I have a feeling that the book will probably come under some criticism. It just seemed like there were so many heavy social topics that were in the story, environmental pollution, racism, poverty/homelessness, drug addiction/overdose, and homosexuality. I can see how all these topics were relevant to the storyline, but it just felt like a lot to have them all in one book. This is why I recommended it for MATURE Middle Grader Readers.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Middle-grade books are really important. Having a middle grader, I know how hard it can be to keep them engaged in reading. And as much as I love a book that has a purpose in educating children, some books try to take on more than they should. This book was one of those. Instead of tackling racism, police brutality, classism, pollution, queerness, and wealth, just pick a couple and expand upon them. This book was very shallow in a lot of subjects instead of deep in a couple.

From Goodreads: Javari knew that West Virginia would be different from his home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. But his first day at STEM Camp in a little Appalachian town is still a shock. Though run-ins with the police are just the same here. Not good.

Javari will learn a lot about science, tech, engineering, and math at camp. And also about rich people, racism, and hidden agendas. But it’s Cricket, a local boy, budding activist, and occasional thief, who will show him a different side of the holler–and blow his mind wide open.

Javari is about to have that summer. Where everything gets messy and complicated and confusing . . . and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

This book just never came together. Javari is a fun kid, but the dialogue is just not authentic. Cricket is a cool friendship, but some unnecessary wrenches are thrown in. The wealth and class issues are forced. And while the racism is the predominant issue that Javari faces, it’s more just vignettes of microaggressions rather than a deep dive into the real issue. I wanted to like this book, and it was okay, but I can’t say I’ll be trying to get my middle grader to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Our main character, living in NYC, is invited to Kentucky to participate in a camp for young scientists. He is very uncomfortable and unsure of his place when he arrives to a predominately white camp, in an area that still flies the confederate flag.
He manages to befriend a young man from the area who is not attending the camp. Through his friendship, a number of lessons are learned and his view of the world begins to change.

I found this to be an excellent book. The characters are well developed, with a variety of personalities just like you would find at any summer camp. The book is action packed, between camp events and his late night escapades.

This book would be a good fit for upper elementary school students, especially those who are looking to broaden their horizons.

The book went in a total different direction than I expected, but it was still an enjoyable read. I thought it would be more about a city boy at a rural STEM camp and while it was, the focus was more on the problems in rural Appalachia. My only knock would be that they seemed to be throwing the whole kitchen sink of social justice/environmental justice topics, but it does give students a big overview of all sorts of world problems going on. Used for a 5th grade book club and it sparked a lot of discussion and further research.

In Holler of the Fireflies, a pre-teen black boy, Javari, from Brooklyn goes to STEM camp in the Appalachians of West Virginia. He attends camp with the worry of his family's financial status and the threat of eviction weighing on his mind. He becomes campmates and acquaintances with kids with a variety of backgrounds, but his closest friendship is with a local boy who Javari sneaks off of campus to hang out with. With him, Javari learns about the poverty and racism that is prevalent in Appalachia. His group's final STEM project is driven by environmental issues that affect the local area.

I was excited to read this book because representation matters in middle-grade literature, but this story had so much going on. For me, it felt like the STEM aspect that pulled me in was frequently on the back burner, and that was what I wanted most to be represented - a fun, positive experience at STEM camp. The book was riddled with issues though - racism, financial worries (self), poverty (greater area), vandalism, bullying, cancer, and environmental concerns. It was too much in one book so it was hard to really get into it and care about the characters.

I'd only read part of this book before I lost access to it. I wanted to like it, but I didn't connect with it.

Holler of the Fireflies is a book about too many things. Javari is a black boy from NYC who attends a STEM camp in West Virginia, and meets Cricket, a boy who teaches him about a lot more than science. This book opens with a police brutality protest, and I was led to believe this would mainly be a story about race. It is a story about racism, but also environmental issues, queerness, classism, capitalism, poverty and much more. I appreciate the effort, but it is often too much and these issues are not given the page time they need. There are things covered here that never come up again. Mainly, a vivid drug overdose scene that has no bearing on the plot whatsoever.

The best part of this is easily Cricket, who is scrappy, wise and has a taste for justice. His connection with Javari is quite lovely. and I wish the book was about them and nothing else. Cricket teaches Javari so many things, and these are the most valuable parts of the book. Cricket is deeply layered and we never quite break through them all because of the page time dedicated to less relevant topics.

Still, I appreciate what David Barclay Moore is trying to achieve here. He is clearly so knowledgeable and I would totally read more about Cricket and Javari. It's the other stuff that bogs them down. This would work better as either a book about a boy experiencing racism at a camp attended by mainly white and privileged kids or a book about a boy exploring Appalachia with his new, weird friend, Its less successful as both, but is still something I could see in our library.

Holler of the Fireflies is a coming-of-age story, about Javari, a boy from New York City who leaves home, for the first time, to attend a camp for gifted children. For the first time in his life, he's exposed to people from totally different backgrounds from his own, from all across the country - and then there's Cricket, a local from Horsewhip Hollow, the "holler" of the title, and native to the Appalachian area in which the camp is held. Through the course of the camp, Javari learns about cultural differences, the problems that plague people from different backgrounds, himself and, oh, yeah, about science and nature, which is the purpose of the camp.

Told in simple, first-person language that highlights Javari's age of 12, this novel addresses some complex issues, including racism, stereotypes about where one is born and into what circumstances, family financial problems, health issues, self-identity, and interpersonal relationships, between friends and potentially more-than-friends. Recommended for middle school and older; this novel would be a great class read-aloud.

What a unique book. Middle grade but really all ages can get something out of it. A true coming-of-age story, tackling weighty topics like financial scarcity, food scarcity, corporations damaging the environment, water insecurity, racism, learning about one's sexuality, classism, poverty, living up to expectations.

All wrapped up in a dang good story. Bonus points for being set in Appalachia, a region I am always interested in reading about.

Would love to see this book assigned as part of school curriculum.

Javier was an African-American boy who was very smart. Javier lived in New York, and he was spending the summer at a STEM camp that was located in West Virginia. Everything about West Virginia was new for Javier. His entire family loved anything STEM and Coltrane and Ella Fitzgerald. I was delighted for there to be a African-American, boy, which opens the opportunity to ask different question.
The author introduced issues that Javier was exposed, where not only does he learn math and science, but also prejudice. For fun there are sprinkled, through the book mathematical equations. David Moore introduced many relevant learning opportunities, although the topics are heavy, the author handles them well. This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, which would ask many questions and the opportunity to learn many subjects.
Thank you to David Moore, Random House Children's Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore is set in rural West Virginia. Not a place where you'd expect a black boy from Brooklyn to go to STEM camp, but go Javari does. Talk about culture shock! At camp, Javari learns about science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as racism and classism. But it's Cricket, a local boy, who shows him the real holler.
The cover is beautiful and almost magical, but it doesn't give you a great idea about the story. It's not a tech vs. nature thing.

Moore stuffs a lot of issues into one book - police brutality, gentrification, racism, corporate responsibility for pollution, race, and LGBTQIA+. It's quite a bit to take in, but I think the multiple problems are closer to real life than having just one to deal with. And Moore weaves them into the story so well that it does all seem natural.

This book is a great starting point for Middle Grade readers and their caregivers to start discussing one or more of the problems Javari encounters. I would definitely recommend this.

#HolleroftheFireflies #NetGalley

Javari is going to some STEM camp his uncle found, but Jay isn't good at meeting people. He finds himself with a snoring roommate, unlikable group members, and accidental rivals: basically camp isn't all that great. But that all changes when he meets Cricket, the sneaky kid who keeps creeping onto campus playing jokes and then fleeing into the night. Jay does his best to try to win the top prize as well as the virtual reality game, but soon sneaking out with Cricket is taking up all his time and allowing him to see a side of Appalachia that he never would have understood otherwise.

I'm not usually a fan of the unreliable narrator bit, and this one is leaning toward that. It's also not really clear what the main plot is for most of the book; even though there are a lot of problems, Javari doesn't really do anything until about 80% through the book. That last 20% was worth it though as all the little pieces came together in a dazzling finish. This'll never be one of my favorite reads, but I'll still be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Holler of the Fireflies by David Barclay Moore. While I haven’t read The Stars Beneath Our Feet yet, it does live on our classroom bookshelf.

Things I liked… the STEM that is deeply embedded throughout this MG novel. This is what I think my students would love the most. The projects, research, and video games are intriguing and well done. The environmental justice issues. As someone whose grandfather worked in a mine, the implications of the mining industry on local communities can be devastating and is often not addressed. I appreciated the connections made between the mining companies and the varied damage that they left behind. The social justice issues are also prominent throughout the story. Overall, there is a lot to generate discussion.

Things I didn’t like… there were a lot of issues brought up. While I think all of the issues brought up are very valid, a few of them felt a little forced and possibly overwhelming to a middle grade reader to be hit with all at once. Though, they often don’t register all of them, so could go either way. If you have a highly sensitive child, this might be one you would want to read with them. Also, this is definitely written for MG readers. It’s not so much the language itself, but more that it tells instead of shows sometimes in a way that I feel does a slight disservice to students.

It is summer vacation and twelve-year-old Javari Harris has a rare opportunity to attend STEM camp for two weeks in the heart of Appalachia. Coming from New York City, Javari encounters extreme culture shock on his journey to West Virginia, beginning first on the bus and then in myriad moments thereafter. Javari’s family is experiencing financial hardship, but they have been careful not to let that get in the way of Javari’s studies; and when Javari learns that the grand prize for winning a contest at camp comes with cash, he knows he must win it for his family. But camp is not just about STEM, and Javari quickly discovers an important education beyond the confines of his summer program.

This is a captivating middle grade novel that centers around Javari, a smart and sensitive boy from New York City. Told in the first person, the narrative utilizes a heavy dose of colloquialisms and informal language, which propels the plot and gives each of the characters a very clear definition in the mind of the reader. Javari spends brief amounts of time talking with his family back home, but the bulk of the book places Javari in the company of other people who challenge his perception of life. As a twelve-year-old, Javari is beginning to realize there is more to the world than he has seen, even in New York City, and he is learning about it first hand through raw and honest experiences in the Appalachian landscape.

Though this book is centered around the story of a boy at STEM camp, it manages to investigate several other, weightier subjects within its pages in an accessible way. From police brutality to poverty, racism, and the adverse effects of big business on the environment, there is a huge array of conversation starters from which to choose. These moments educate readers of all backgrounds, and by the end of the book, readers will have undoubtedly expanded their own perception of the world through Javari’s eyes. Filled with dialogue, a sizable cast of characters, and important considerations about the human condition, this is a thought provoking and well crafted book for middle grade readers.

You'll meet a lot of strange characters in this story. Holler is one of them.
Knopf Books for Young Readers and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on the27th of September.

Holler goes to camp hoping he can win the grand prize and save his family from being evicted. It's not an easy task. They have to become a group of four and they only have so many lives for their avatars.

He ends up with two girls. They need to find a cause, flesh it out and present it. Unfortunately it's lot like war. Even the girls in his group aren't fond of him and their ideas are all denied. They need to agree.

At last they come up with an idea that should work. But to accomplish it is harder than you would you would think.

Will they win? Will his family get evicted? Will he ever have friends?

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It seemed farfetched and quite unrealistic. I really could not engage with the narrator, even as a window book.

SYNOPSIS: Javari knew that West Virginia would be different from his home in Bushwick, Brooklyn. But his first day at STEM Camp in a little Appalachian town is still a shock. Though run-ins with the police are just the same here. Not good.
 
Javari will learn a lot about science, tech, engineering, and math at camp. And also about rich people, racism, and hidden agendas. But it’s Cricket, a local boy, budding activist, and occasional thief, who will show him a different side of the holler—and blow his mind wide open.
 
Javari is about to have that summer. Where everything gets messy and complicated and confusing . . . and you wouldn’t want it any other way.

REVIEW: This book touches on current/relevant topics in an age appropriate way. Topics include: police brutality, racism, discrimination, incorrect first impressions, drug abuse, cancer, poverty, homelessness, environmental impacts of human development (coal mines, mudslides, contaminated drinking water), corporate greed, friendships, gaining independence, critical thinking, self reflection, and even a smidge of sexual orientation. The characters were quite diverse, and all had their own backstory/baggage, which also added dimension and authenticity to concerns addressed in the book.

I thought the author did a great job accurately bringing attention to these topics for middle grade readers without it being too advanced/in-depth/heavy. The topics are woven naturally into the storyline, and because many of these topics are true in rural Appalachia, it didn’t feel forced or out of place regarding the location/setting. Though moral lessons are occurring throughout the book, actual science facts/lessons are also included, and with it being in WV, you can imagine that many are based around nature and coal mining; however, other topics are also discussed.

If you are wanting a young child to read a book with a STEM theme, but also touch on many aspects of social justice in an age appropriate way, this book is a fabulous option. With that saId, even if your child isn’t into STEM, the storyline is compelling enough that they would also enjoy it.

(Review will be shared soon on Instagram— @slowerlowerliving)

It's a bit difficult for me to review this one. I really enjoyed the idea of this book, and it delved into some very important topics, including racism, police brutality, environmental issues, gentrification, corporate greed, and many others. I liked some of the characters, particularly Cricket. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when Cricket was showing Javari the "true" Horsewhip Hollow. I enjoyed how each of their adventures peeled back more and more layers of the people and life in Horsewhip Hollow. There were times, however, that the story felt a bit disjointed to me and I had trouble following along. There were so many important topics in the book that I wished would have been able to be explored further or fleshed out more. And for so many things that were happening, I felt the end was a tad rushed. I would love to see these characters again and learn more backstory, and more about what happened after the events in this book. This would be a good choice for readers that enjoy realistic fiction that explores real-world issues. Fans of King and the Dragonflies, Take Back the Block and Isaiah Dunn is My Hero (all books I highly recommend) would likely enjoy this one.