We are Reading When the Fireflies Dance by Aisha Hassan!

Inspired by a shocking true story, this haunting debut novel of love, brotherhood, resilience, and redemption set in Pakistan calls to mind the modern classics The Kite Runner and The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

On the outskirts of Lahore, Pakistan, a large yellow moon hung low in the sky when the men came with dogs and guns and cricket bats. In front of his family’s small hut on the edge of a looming brick kiln, Lalloo’s brother was murdered.

Unable to escape the memory of that horrible night, Lalloo’s parents and sisters remain trapped, the kiln chimney churning black smoke into the sky as the family slave, brick by brick, to pay off their debts. To rescue them, Lalloo must free himself from his past and carve out his own destiny.

Reviews
"This book is incredible but also destroyed my heart. Read it, but only when you feel strong enough because it's painful but inspiring in the way that true stories can be." —Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened

"A thought-provoking and heartbreaking examination of forgotten families trapped in a cycle of injustice and a deep look into the sacrifices one man makes in order to save those he loves. Aisha Hassan’s gift for storytelling makes this a beautiful and poignant read." —Marjan Kamali, bestselling author of The Lion Women of Tehran

"As heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, When The Fireflies Dance is so good I had to check it really is a debut. Such evocative writing I could feel the heat of Pakistan's brick kilns and the despair of those trapped there. Yet love, hope and family never leave this epic tale, which becomes one of escape and redemption. Stunning and powerful." —Janice Hallet, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal