Books like 'Fireflies'
Readers who enjoyed Fireflies by Alice Hoffman also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary fantasy action / adventure children season-winter magical-realism survival outdoors drama myths
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Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsWelcome to the Shop Where the Lost Things Go.If you ever lost a sock, you’ll find it here.If you ever wondered about favorite toy from childhood... it’s probably sitting on a shelf in the back.And the headphones that you swore that this time you’d keep safe? You guessed it….Antoinette has lost her father. Metaphorically. He’s not in the shop, and she’ll never see him again...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book coming-of-age contemporary -
The Christmasaurus and the Winter Witch by Tom Fletcher
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe eagerly-anticipated sequel to Tom Fletcher's bestselling magical adventure, The Christmasaurus.'She is the best-kept Christmas secret of all,' whispered Santa Claus. 'Which is surprising, because she is so powerful that Christmas itself would not exist without her. She is older than time itself, yet still as young as tomorrow. She is known only as the Winter Witch...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings season-winter action-adventure animals -
The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsDesperate to become a shark caller to avenge the death of her parents, Blue Wing is instead charged with befriending infuriating newcomer Maple. At first they are angry and out of sync with the island and each other...Categorized as:
outdoors magical-realism children myths low-fantasy retellings middle-grade action-adventure -
The Eyes and the Impossible: by Dave Eggers
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsThe illustrated story of a dog who unwittingly becomes a hero to a park full of animals.Johannes, a free dog, lives in an urban park by the sea. His job is to be the Eyes—to see everything that happens within the park and report back to the park’s elders, three ancient Bison... -
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Chew the Bullet by Martha Carr, Michael Anderle
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIdina Moorfield isn’t the only one on her team with unusual powers.Her buddy, Stop remembers everything he sees, and Cake is a new kind of man of steel.That’s the last two, which means everyone in Idina’s unit has a unique talent.Why would the Army want to bring them all together?Her commander, Hines is still refusing to answer her questions...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book coming-of-age contemporary -
Chaos and Gunfire by Martha Carr, Michael Anderle
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIdina Moorfield is a new kind of magical with a dark and twisty lineage.Any other combat engineer in the 82nd Airborne Division would be proud of how far Idina's come, but the visions and voices in her mind are only getting worse.When it affects her work, Idina gets transferred to a new unit—a unit of misfits with their own problems...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book coming-of-age contemporary -
The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThe complete volume of Robertson Davies's acclaimed trilogy, featuring Fifth Business, The Manticore, and World of Wonders, with a new foreword by Kelly Link Fifth Business Ramsay is a man twice born, a man who has returned from the hell of the battle-grave at Passchendaele in World War I decorated with the Victoria Cross and destined to be caught in a no man's land where memory, history, and...Categorized as:
drama low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure adult -
Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier by Michelle Cuevas
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsA TIME magazine Top 10 Children's Book of 2015The whimsical "autobiography" of an imaginary friend who doesn't know he's imaginary--perfect for fans of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Toy StoryJaques Papier has the sneaking suspicion that everyone except his sister Fleur hates him...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism retellings action-adventure arthurian audiobook book -
Pendragon, Before the War by Walter Sorrells, D.J. MacHale
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsBefore Bobby Pendragon. Before Saint Dane. Before the war . . . Every territory of Halla has a Traveler. They lived for years�some even for decades�before learning of their true destiny...Categorized as:
children myths retellings action-adventure book children-books contemporary dystopia -
Chalk by Bill Thomson
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThree children discover a magical bag of chalk on a rainy...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism outdoors action-adventure animals book children-books -
Caterflies and Ice by Asia Citro
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsWith magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure -- the brand new series Zoey and Sassafras has something for everyone! Easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page make this series perfect for a wide range of ages.In the fourth book, an unexpected snow storm causes trouble for the magical creatures of the forest... -
The Timeless One by James Riley
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFort becomes entangled with legendary creatures and foes in this thrilling fourth novel in the fantastical series from the author of the New York Times bestselling Story Thieves!The future has been saved, but at a cost: Fort Fitzgerald has been expelled from the Oppenheimer School, and some of Fort’s friends have been lost in time... -
Excantation by Honor Raconteur
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsBeing an adult is the dumbest thing I have ever done.Our Heroine: still me. A sleep-deprived me, which, considering I’m a murder and ten cups of coffee away from showing my displeasure to the world, and there’re clans to save, is not a good combination... -
The Morrigan's Curse by Dianne K. Salerni
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this third and final book in the series that VOYA recommends “for fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter,” the war over the Eighth Day continues—and there’s more at stake than ever before.The battle between Kin and Transitioners that’s been brewing for centuries has come to a head... -
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Imagineer by Honor Raconteur
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsImagination has no limit… Our Heroine: Me. And boy, are we all in trouble. A seventeen-year-old with a love of fantasy and unmanageable hair? Hardly anyone’s idea of the knight in shining armor. I went about life with no idea the world around me was not as it seemed, until one dark night I saw glimpses of things I knew shouldn’t exist...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book coming-of-age contemporary -
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsSTORIES TO GO!Sylvester the donkey finds a magic pebble and unthinkingly wishes himself turned into a rock when he's frightened by a lion. How Sylvester is eventually reunited with his loving parents is a tender, magical tale of the transforming power of love. This Caldecott Medal-winning book is a modern classic beloved by children everywhere... -
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 71 ratingsMrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma...Categorized as:
children drama low-fantasy magical-realism outdoors survival 20th-century action-adventure -
If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Pseudonymous Bosch
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsBeware!Dangerous secrets lie between the pages of this book.OK, I warned you. But if you think I'll give anything away, or tell you that this is the sequel to my first literary endeavor, The Name of This Book is Secret, you're wrong...Categorized as:
children drama low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure audiobook -
The Demigod Files by Rick Riordan
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsHow do you handle an encounter with Medusa on the New Jersey interstate? What's the best way to take down a minotaur? Become an expert on everything in Percy's world with this must-have guide to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Complete with interviews, puzzles, games, and original short stories by Rick Riordan... -
Finding Bear by Hannah Gold
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe unmissable follow-up to the award-winning The Last Bear— perfect for fans of Rosanne Parry and Sara Pennypacker. April Wood has returned home from her adventure on Bear Island. But even though it's been a whole year, she can’t stop thinking about Bear...Categorized as:
survival children season-winter outdoors middle-grade children-books action-adventure fantasy -
Soul Stone Mage Complete Collection Boxed Set by Sarah Noffke, Martha Carr
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Magic could be the very death of you…or it could be what saves the world.” In the Kingdom of Virgo, witches and wizards have lived peacefully for thousands of years. On the other side of the Dark Forest resides the Land of Terran. The humans of Terran treat those from Virgo as second-class citizens, disgracing and trapping them at every turn...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book coming-of-age contemporary -
Guardians Inc.: The Four Legged Prophet: Guardians Incorporated #3 by Julian Rosado-Machain
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGUARDIANS INC. BOOK 3 THE FOUR LEGGED PROPHET "The Four-Legged Prophet, Defender of the People, will lead us, will bind us . . ." Thus begins the ancient prophesy the Guardians discover deep within the Halls of Remembrance...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book children-books contemporary fiction -
Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsOne of the New York Times’s Ten Best Books of the Year: These traditional stories of Italy, retold by a literary master, are “a treasure” (Los Angeles Times)...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings 20th-century action-adventure anthologies -
The Elephant's Tale by Lauren St. John
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhen Martine and her grandmother discover that they might lose their game reserve, Sawubona, because of a clause in her grandfather's will, Martine and her best friend, Ben, decide to take matters into their own hands...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy outdoors action-adventure animals book children-books contemporary -
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Brain Freeze: World Book Day 2018 by Tom Fletcher
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA little girl discovers that eating ice cream from her grandfather's old ice-cream truck gives her the power to travel through time, in this brilliant, funny and heartwarming story from bestselling author Tom Fletcher...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book children-books contemporary fiction -
Once Upon a Book by Grace Lin, Kate Messner
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom Caldecott and Newbery Honoree Grace Lin and bestselling author Kate Messner comes a modern folktale about the joy of reading.Once upon a time, there was a girl. She went to a place alive with colors, where even the morning dew was warm. Alice loves to imagine herself in the magical pages of her favorite book...Categorized as:
children magical-realism low-fantasy fantasy children-books action-adventure fiction family -
The Last Leopard by Lauren St. John
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsMartine can't wait to spend the school vacation riding her white giraffe around the Sawubona wildlife reserve with her friend Ben. But when her grandmother gets a distressed call from an old friend, Martine's hopes are dashed. They must all travel to Zimbabwe, where Martine will face her greatest challenge yet... -
The Light Jar by Lisa Thompson
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA story of fear and hope, loneliness and friendship -- full of the heart, engaging characters, and propulsive, page-turning mystery that made The Goldfish Boy so beloved.Nate and his mother are running away. Fleeing from an emotionally abusive situation, they hide out in an abandoned cottage in the middle of a forest. Though it's old and run-down, at least it's a place of their own...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism survival abuse action-adventure book children-books -
Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAmerican Indian Youth Literature Award Best Middle Grade Book! Brian Young’s powerful debut novel tells of a seemingly ordinary Navajo boy who must save the life of a Water Monster—and comes to realize he’s a hero at heart... -
Dolphin Song by Lauren St. John
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsJust as Martine is settling into life on the wildlife game reserve, she is whisked away on a school trip. She must leave her white giraffe, Jemmy, for 2 weeks! Her class is going on an ocean voyage to witness the Sardine Run, a spectacular natural phenomenon, off the coast of South Africa...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism outdoors survival action-adventure animals audiobook -
Imagine a Night by Sarah L. Thomson
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsImagine a night when you can ride your bike right up the stairs to your bed. Imagine a night when your toy train rumbles on its tracks out of your room and roars back in, full sized, ready for you to hop on for a nighttime adventure. Imagine a night when a farmer plays a lullaby on his fiddle, and his field of sunflowers begins to dip and sway to the rhythm...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure book children-books contemporary family -
The Storm Keeper’s Island by Catherine Doyle
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsCatherine Doyle's stunning middle-grade debut, an evocative tale of ancient magic, bravery, and family bonds.“Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle.” – School Library ConnectionWhen Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure audiobook book -
The Ivory and the Horn by Charles de Lint
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsIn the city of Newford, when the stars and the vibes are right, you can touch magic. Mermaids sing in the murky harbor, desert spirits crowd the night, and dreams are more real than waking. Charles de Lint began his chronicles of the extraordinary city of Newford in "Memory & Dream" and the short-story collection "Dreams Underfoot...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure adult anthologies contemporary -
Ghosts of Greenglass House by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWelcome back to the irresistible world of Greenglass House where thirteen-year-old Milo is, once again, spending the winter holidays stuck in a house full of strange guests who are not what they seem. There are fresh clues to uncover as friends old and new join in his search for a mysterious map and a famous smuggler’s lost haul...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings season-winter action-adventure audiobook -
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The Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsThe second magical bookwandering adventure in the nationally bestselling Pages & Co. series, featuring Tilly Pages as she journeys to France to wander inside a peculiar book of fairytales. Perfect for fans of Inkheart and The Land of Stories...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings 21st-century action-adventure audiobook -
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsAuthor(s): Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen ISBN: 9781406352481 Binding: Paperback Published: 2014-01-01 On a cold, dark day in a dull, grey town, little Annabelle discovers a box of brightly coloured yarn. She knits a cosy jumper to keep herself nice and toasty warm and finds, to her surprise, that she still has yarn left over...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings season-winter action-adventure animals -
The Travelers by Carla Jablonski, D.J. MacHale
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsBefore Bobby Pendragon. Before Saint Dane. Before the war . . . Every territory of Halla has a Traveler. They lived for yearssome even for decadesbefore learning of their true destiny...Categorized as:
children myths retellings action-adventure book children-books contemporary dystopia -
The Unicorn Who Lost Its Horn: A Tale of How to Catch and Spread Kindness by Adisan Books
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDiscover the enchanting tale of "The Unicorn Who Lost Its A Tale of How to Catch and Spread Kindness.“ It is the heartwarming story of kindness, sharing, friendship, courage, and the magic of color.Join Sparkle, a beautiful unicorn, on her quest to restore her magnificent horn and bring color back to her world... -
The Revenge of Magic by James Riley
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsWhen long-dead magical creatures are discovered all around the world, each buried with a book of magic, only children can unlock the dangerous power of the books in this start to a thrilling new series from the author of the New York Times bestselling Story Thieves!Thirteen years ago, books of magic were discovered in various sites around the world alongside the bones of dragons...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure animals audiobook -
Winter of Magic's Return by Pamela F. Service
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsConvinced that a new age of magic is about to begin in the wake of the nuclear holocaust, a young resurrected Merlin and two friends set out to bring King Arthur back to the land...Categorized as:
children myths retellings survival action-adventure apocalyptic arthurian boarding-school -
The Little Mermaid by Deborah Hautzig
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIllus. in full color. Andersen's sweet, sad story is beautifully retold for young readers. When the little mermaid gives up her voice in exchange for legs and a chance to meet her beloved human prince, she earns a real human soul...Categorized as:
children myths retellings action-adventure book children-books classics contemporary -
Interesting People by Matthew Storm
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt's been six months since Sally Rain shattered Earth's timeline and was banished by Artemis to the Island, a mystical prison, to live out the rest of her days alone. Oliver Jones, once called the most dangerous man in the world, still hasn't forgiven Artemis for her decision. Things are bad enough at the office when Oliver is sent to investigate two killings that seem oddly familiar to Artemis...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure adult book contemporary -
Sugar and Spite by Gail D. Villanueva
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCan a bully be defeated by a magical love potion?Jolina can't take Claudine's bullying any longer! The taunts and teasing are too much. Though Jolina knows she's still in training to use her grandfather's arbularyo magic, she sneaks into his potions lab to get her revenge. Jolina brews a batch of gayuma, a powerful love potion.And it works. The love potion conquers Claudine's hateful nature...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure animals asian-mc -
Immortal Stories: Eve by Gene Doucette
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFrom the pages of the Immortal book series, it’s Eve.“…if your next question is, what could that possibly make me, if I’m not an angel or a god? The answer is the same as what I said before: many have considered me a god, and probably a few have thought of me as an angel. I’m neither, if those positions are defined by any kind of supernormal magical power... -
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Thundersword by Julian Rosado-Machain
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGUARDIANS INC. BOOK 2: THUNDERSWORDThe search for the Book of Concord is on the brink of failure. Guardians Inc. can’t move without being followed by the Azure Guard, and the balance between Magic and Technology has begun to shift giving Magical creatures a stronger hold in our world...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure book children-books -
This Is Not a Werewolf Story by Sandra Evans
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis is the story of Raul, a boy of few words, fewer friends, and almost no family. He is a loner—but he isn’t lonely. All week long he looks after the younger boys at One Of Our Kind Boarding School while dodging the barbs of terrible Tuffman, the mean gym teacher.Like every other kid in the world, he longs for Fridays, but not for the usual reasons. The woods have secrets...and so does Raul...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure animals boarding-school -
The Snow Rabbit by Camille Garoche
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo sisters look longingly through their window at the snowy sky. One goes out and sculpts a little rabbit, but when she brings it back inside to her wheelchair-bound sister, it begins to melt. So they take it outside and into the forest where enchanted things begin to happen. A follow up to her hauntingly beautiful Fox’s Garden, Camille Garoche (a.k.a...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism season-winter action-adventure animals book children-books -
The Raconteur's Commonplace Book by Kate Milford, Jaime Zollars
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNothing is what it seems and there's always more than one side to the story as a group of strangers trapped in an inn slowly reveal their secrets...The rain hasn't stopped for a week, and the twelve guests of the Blue Vein Tavern are trapped by flooded roads and the rising Skidwrack River. Among them are a ship’s captain, tattooed twins, a musician, and a young girl traveling on her own...Categorized as:
children low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure audiobook book -
Interesting Places by Matthew Storm
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOliver Jones, a man who once discovered he had the power to change reality itself, used to be called the most dangerous man in the world. Now he's joined The Araneae Group, a team of paranormal investigators under the command of Artemis, a seemingly immortal ten-year-old girl...Categorized as:
low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings action-adventure adult alternate-history book -
Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traoré
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA richly imagined magical adventure set in West Africa by a prize-winning new voice in children's writing, Children of the Quicksands introduces readers to Yoruba myths and legends while showcasing the wealth of culture, traditions, adventure, joy, pride, and love found in Nigeria. In a remote Nigerian village, thirteen-year-old Simi is desperate to uncover a family secret...Categorized as:
children myths magical-realism outdoors retellings low-fantasy africa western-africa
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