#MMGM middle-grade review: Fires Burning Underground, by Nancy McCabe
I am grateful to the author for my copy of this book, which I won in a giveaway.
Title: Fires Burning Underground
Author: Nancy McCabe
Publication Info: Regal House Publishing, 2025. 146 pages.
Source: Won it in a giveaway
Publisher's Blurb:
It's Anny's first day of middle school and,
after years of being homeschooled, her first day of public school ever.
In art, Larissa asks what kind of ESP is her telepathy, clairvoyance,
precognition, or telekinesis? Tracy asks how she gay, straight, bi,
asexual, pan, trans, or confused? And thus kicks off a school year for
Anny in which she' ll navigate a path between childhood and adolescence,
imagination and identity. In a year of turmoil and transition, with a
new awareness of loss after the death of a friend, Anny struggles to
find meaning in tragedy, to come to terms with her questions about her
sexuality, and to figure out how to negotiate her own ever-shifting new
friendships. And when her oldest friend's life is in danger, she must
summon up her wits, imagination, and the ghosts that haunt her to save
them both.
My Review:
I had a mixed reaction to this book, largely for personal reasons. Anny's parents are rather conservative Christians, and part of a church that condemns pretty much anything that doesn't look like their idea of a heterosexual cis person. Mind, the author handles it well. It's just that that sort of attitude makes me pretty hot under the collar, and it was hard to read about them saying those things to their kid.
The story actually handles a lot of this stuff pretty well, as Anny is at the point in her life where she's testing the boundaries--and the accuracy--of many of the things her parents, especially her mother, tell her. Her own questions about her sexuality felt pretty realistic: she's at an age when most of her friends are coming into their own sexuality, and it's hard to know if she isn't interested in boys because she's just not there yet, or because she's not interested in boys. Her uncertainty is, of course, magnified by the fear that her parents will reject her if she's not hetero.
The aspect of the story that I thought especially true was the way her friendships warp and morph and she has to learn to see people more clearly and decide who are really friends. I can remember those issues in Jr. High!
In the end, I felt like the author dealt pretty well with the issues, though I'm not wholly trusting of the parental responses to circumstances. I feel like Anny's mom is going to need some de-programming or she'll slip right back into intolerance.
My Recommendation:
This could be a helpful book for some kids who are struggling with their identity and possibly with religion. There is some pretty blatant homophobia and transphobia, among both the adults and the children, so some parental caution is advised.
FTC Disclosure: I won a copy of Fires Burning Underground in a giveaway, and received nothing further from the writer or publisher in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed are my own and those of no one else. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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I'm glad you enjoyed Nancy's book. I'd probably get mad at Anny's parents' reactions too. I'm glad the book dealt with these issues pretty well.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to read about that sort of thing.
DeleteYes... I probably wouldnt be able to read it. As you know, I'm pretty intolerant of intolerance.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I have reason to get pretty fierce about these things!
DeleteI was raised around a pretty intolerant church community, so I appreciate the warning about this book. I'm glad authors are telling stories like this for this age group. I imagine it helps not only kids who experience these things but kids adjacent to them, too. Thanks for sharing your review!
ReplyDeleteI’m thinking it might help a kid caught in that web to see a way out.
DeleteHi Rebecca—this is Nancy McCabe, the author, and a Google alert took me to this lovely review. The religious intolerance in the book echoes what I witnessed growing up, and I’m glad you picked up on the fact that things aren’t really fully resolved between Anny and her mom at the end. She is reassured that her mom loves her, but there will probably still be some struggles ahead. I was just hoping that by the end of the book Anny would have the inner resources to deal with what comes next. I appreciate your insights about Anny’s situation and friendships!
ReplyDeleteHi, Nancy! Thank you for the chance to read the book and for the comment. I’m sorry you had to deal with that sort of thing!
DeleteAnd dang it, I left off my shout-out to the MMGM group!
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never! I'm posting today with the fantastic Marvelous Middle Grade Mondays blog hop hosted by Greg Pattridge of Always in the Middle. Check out Greg's blog for a list of additional middle grade reviews.
DeleteYour shout out is always welcome no matter how late in arrives! I enjoyed this book but share your reactions to the parents. Thanks for being a part of MMGM this week.
ReplyDelete