The Firework-Maker’s Daughter

Image from chapters.ca

My main focus has always been books for children in kindergarten to primary grades, but as my son enters grade four, I find myself looking for books for older kids. Searching for something for him at our local library, I stumbled upon The Firework-Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman. (Pullman is the author of the His Dark Materials series, which includes The Golden Compass.)

The Firework-Maker’s Daughter is a novella, not even 100 pages in length. It is set in an Asian country (not specified) and tells the story of Lila and her father the firework-maker. She is determined to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a firework-maker herself, while her father laments her interest in the craft in this passage. It is humourous, but also very realistic in its depiction of the disconnect that can happen between parents and children when their visions of the future do not align:

“This is no place for a girl, and just look at you, now I come to think of it, your hair’s a mess, your fingers are burned and stained with chemicals, your eyebrows are scorched…How am I going to find a husband for you when you look like that?”

Lila was horrified.

“A husband?”

“Well, of course! You don’t imagine you can stay here forever, do you?”

They looked at each other as if they were strangers. Each of them had quite the wrong idea about things, and they were both alarmed to find it out.

Despite her father’s wishes for a traditional life for her, Lila does not give up on her dream of becoming a firework-maker. She goes on a dangerous journey to achieve her goal, and along the way encounters some funny situations with a band of “pirates” who are far from scary (and who make return appearances in various jobs until they find just the right one–one of the lessons in this book).

The book has its fantastical moments too—the talking elephant who helps save the day, the spectacular fireworks displays, and Lila’s encounter with the Fire-Fiend Razvani.

It is a simple, entertaining story with surprising depth. The life lessons it imparts include being true to yourself and putting your love and passion into all that you do.

There is some mild peril when Lila is climbing the mountain to meet with the Fire-Fiend and when it seems that Lila’s father will be executed, but there are happy endings all around. It is a lovely story, set in a world that some children may not know, and featuring a smart, courageous girl who gains wisdom and succeeds in her goal to be a firework-maker. (Amazon recommends the book for children aged 9-12.)