FIREBLOOM

In this Scottish import, 12-year-old Taliesin Smuck tries to save her island community.

Stormcliff’s economy depends on both the jellyfish-sting harvest and the annual Firebloom Festival that draws tourists from the mainland to see the bioluminescent jellyfish. The stings are used in a variety of balms and medicines by apothecary Pickle Armstrong. Tally fears that her powers won’t manifest, and she’ll never become a Sting Winkler like her mum, Grandad, and generations before—back to Agnes Smuck, the first, Victorian-era jellyfish seeker (quotes from Agnes’ The Sting Winkler’s Handbook appear as epigraphs throughout). Understanding and communicating with jellyfish is the purview of Sting Winklers, as is the gentle harvesting of the stings from their tentacles. Tally, who has curly hair and light brown skin, was 6 when her mother died; she lives with her doting Grandad and his husband, Mandeep, whom Tally calls Mandad. This year, on the eve of the festival, something is very wrong. The moon jellies in their lantern jars are dimmer than usual, and the jellyfish in the sea are behaving oddly. Tally investigates, engaging in some brave scouting with best friend Farran and classmate Colette. They embark on a dangerous expedition up the cliffs to the castle, traditional home of the laird and lady. Every worldbuilding detail is amusing, appropriate, convincing, and charming, and all the pieces of the story fall entertainingly into place. Ficorilli’s grayscale illustrations add atmosphere and heighten the suspense.

Terrific fun; a cozy mystery infused with magic.