Fanning Fireflies

There is something rotten in Harrisville.

It’s 1944 and Veronica works tirelessly just so she can afford to eat. Maybe one day she will save enough to own the home her family is living in, but for now, she doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier that she processed at the draft office, but she can’t seem to stop herself. As her ability to ignore Lazlo evaporates, so does her self-imposed ignorance about her hometown. There is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco with the roaches.

It’s 1944 and Veronica works tirelessly just so she can afford to eat. She doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time for love, even less for dangerous love. You see there is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco.

This discussion guide was shared and sponsored in partnership with the author, LS Delorme.

Book club questions for Fanning Fireflies by LS Delorme

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

What different types of dehumanization and othering did you find within the book?

This book was set in 1944 during World War 2 , in the segregated south, so violence was part of the cultural landscape of the time. Discuss the impact of violence on a society and the concepts of necessary and unnecessary violence

How would you compare the setting and conditions that the characters lived in to today’s world? If this story had been set in 2024, how might it have been different?

How is the use of supernatural elements used to examine the way in which being different from the “norm” can both alienate and draw together through shared experience l community and heritage?

Fanning Fireflies Book Club Questions PDF

Click here for a printable PDF of the Fanning Fireflies discussion questions

For Fanning Fireflies

“Fanning Fireflies is a fascinating story; moving, touched with magic and characters that intrigue and beguile. The book rings with authenticity as Ms. Delorme brings to life the era and its cultures with rich historical accuracy, yet with a judicious use of fantasy that gives the novel an air of otherworldliness. The issues of prejudice and discrimination are multi-faceted and complicated. The characters are entrenched in generational values that we still wrestle with today. This novel creates an appropriate sense of outrage that will stay with you. A masterwork by a multi-talented author.” – GoodCook, Goodreads

“From the outset, you sense that Veronica isn’t your typical girl. However, as the story unfurls, the phrase "playing with fire" takes on a visceral significance, weaving its way through a tapestry of racial tension that permeates 1944 Harrisville. The divide between what is perceived as good and bad becomes increasingly blurred, compelling readers to confront the definition of human morality. Moreover, the exploration of what individuals are willing to sacrifice of themselves in their pursuit of acceptance or belonging adds another layer of intrigue, transforming this book into an irresistibly gripping page-turner that resonates long after the last chapter has been read.” – Valerie Carrier, actress & producer

For Previous Book Bright Midnights

“Bright Midnights offers a remarkable exploration of the experiences of desire and love” – Booklife/Publisher’s Weekly, rated an Editor’s Choice

“Let me begin by saying that my ardor for this novel is only exceeded by my disappointment that it had to end. Reading Bright Midnights was the perfect experience and earned tenfold every single one of the five stars rated.”- Reedsy

“A page-turning YA novel about a girl who must reconcile her dream-dimensions with the real world. The author adds imaginative details of her own throughout, from clever allusions to Greek mythology (the code-name Amelie and Clovis work out for her is “Psyche”) to a continuing and sometimes ingenious intertwining of fantasy and science fiction.” – Kirkus

“With compelling characters, intricate plot twists, and a looming sense of foreboding, the novel offers a thought-provoking exploration of love, secrecy, and the almost otherworldly complexities of human connection.” – Indie Reader