Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery

"Martin understands the power of story and he uses it to alter the souls and lives of both his characters and his readers . . ." --Patti Callahan Henry

"Colorful, memorable characters; Southern regional flavor that's drop-dead accurate; and lyrical, intelligent writing make Chasing Fireflies an exceptionally good read." --Aspiring Retail

When paramedics find a malnourished six-year-old boy near a burning car that holds a dead woman, they wonder who he is--and why he won't speak. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Mountain Between Us and The Water Keeper comes a story of self-discovery, healing, and hope.

On a stifling summer day, an old Chevy Impala ignored the warning signals and was annihilated by the oncoming train. What no one realized until much later was that the driver had paused just before entering the tracks and kicked a small boy out of the car. A small boy with broken glasses who is clutching a notebook with all his might . . . but who never speaks.

Chase Walker was one of the lucky ones. He was in foster care as a child but finally ended up with a family who loved and cared for him. Now, as a journalist for the local paper, he's moved on and put the past behind him. But when he's assigned the story of this young boy, painful, haunting questions about his own childhood begin to rise to the surface.

And as Chase Walker discovers, learning the truth about who you are can be as elusive--and as magical--as chasing fireflies on a summer night.

Chasing Fireflies is an emotional, powerful story of family, finding your place in the world, and healing.

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Published Feb 1, 2008

352 pages

Average rating: 7.92

51 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Margie Pettersen
Oct 27, 2025
10/10 stars
This books wallops a punch. Wow, what a good heartwarming book!
A young boy, is thrown from a moving car. Moments later, his mother is killed when a train hits the car.
The story is investigated by Chase Walker, who was once a foster child. He is moved by the story of this boy who is mute, but obviously a brilliant chess prodigy. He takes the boy under his wing and introduces him to his former foster father, Liam McFarland.

Spoiler alert: Eventually Chase connects him to an old woman in a nursing home and we learn about the boy's past. Liam McFarland is a great and caring man who not only takes in Chase, but also takes care of his niece, Tommye, who had run away from home. There are flashbacks to wonderful moments in his childhood when they were fishing and chasing fireflies. At the end Chase learns the the truth of his parentage.
Kbeagle
Feb 01, 2022
Beautifully written

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