Old Harmonie is a corporate owned utopian community. Nearly free of disease, with food and resources for everyone. Technology is so advanced there compared to the outside world that parents can even select certain aspects of their children’s genetic make-up to dampen or improve. And, most importantly, at the age of 13 everyone undergoes the latency. A procedure which unlocks a deep, inactive portion of an individual’s brain, giving them access to a talent or skill they might otherwise have never learned.
Twelve year old Mori and her friends live a seemingly idyllic life on Firefly Lane in Old Harmonie. Yet when new girl Ilana moves to the lane, she disrupts the fabric of the group in ways no one expects. This strange girl who seems to be good at everything except making friends is great to some, interloper to others. However, she eventually joins them on an adventure and becomes an official member of the Firefly Five.
But Ilana has a secret. One that she doesn’t know about, but the company does. One that makes the rest of the Firefly Five question the nature of her reality. One that, unless they do something, could get her killed. Faced with Ilana’s reality, the Firefly Five will have to choose between everything they’ve known and what they know to be right.
I really enjoyed this children’s Sci
The character of Mori is one that you really want to root for and her problems are very relatable both for children and adults. I can see some boys having a hard time getting invested in her emotional journey, but not all. The themes of friendship and figuring out who you are, what you stand for, and how far you’re willing to go to live up to those things that permeate her story arc make for a story anyone can sink their teeth into.
*Minor Spoiler Alert*
I will say, the book ends on a rather unexpected cliffhanger. Normally I wouldn’t mind that at all, but this one took me by surprise to the point that I have a hard time deciding whether I like it or not. On the one hand, the book was good so I don’t really mind it. On the other, this particular cliffhanger makes it feel a bit like this book is just a long first act.
*End Minor Spoiler Alert*
Nevertheless, that one small issue aside, I really liked this read and it easily earns 4/5 stars from me. It may be for children, but it’s definitely worth a read as an adult as well.
