Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

Fiction Short Stories (single Author)

The Moon's Fireflies

by (author) Benjamin Madison

Publisher
Oolichan Books
Initial publish date
Apr 2010
Category
Short Stories (single author)
Recommended Age
14
Recommended Grade
9
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780889822634
    Publish Date
    Apr 2010
    List Price
    $18.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

The eighteen linked short stories in The Moon's Fireflies take us inside the experience of living as a foreigner in an African village. Adopted by two village boys, Effiong and Little Etim, the narrator is drawn into the life of the West African village of Akai Ison. He has been posted there to teach in the local school but spends most of his time learning. In 'Night Studies', he begins to understand the West African magic called juju. It is a prominent theme in several other stories as well and through them we see that juju is not a collection of nonsensical superstitions but is a useful and important part of the lives of the villagers. These stories are not only filled with insight, they are engaging stories in themselves. We share in the adventures and misadventures of the narrator as he gets mixed up with local matchmaking, tries to introduce out-of-season corn, and is required to embrace all the village women. 'Shakespeare will debut in Akai Isong at noon,' he states at the beginning of 'That Cassius,' and the disaster that follows proves both hilarious and profound. This is an Africa we seldom see, an Africa of warm hospitality and tolerance, and the humanity and wisdom embodied in these stories lead us to examine our own lives and values. If you are interested in Africa, this book will turn you into a lover; if you love Africa, The Moon's Fireflies is a feast.

About the author

Trained as an anthropologist, Benjamin Madison lived and worked in the West African countries of Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia for seventeen years, generally working in Education and Development. He lived for several years as a volunteer teacher in villages such as those depicted in The Moon’s Fireflies. “These are stories from my earliest years in Africa. I consider myself privileged to have shared the lives of villagers such as those portrayed in The Moon’s Fireflies. Their wisdom and their warmth continue to inspire me.” Benjamin Madison now resides in Victoria and is working on a novel set in West Africa

Benjamin Madison's profile page

Librarian Reviews

The Moon's Fireflies

The Moon’s Fireflies is a collection of 18 short stories set in West Africa. The first 16 are interconnected and are set in and around the village of Aki Ison in Nigeria. The stories are about an American teacher posted to the village school who ends up learning more about life, tolerance and humanity than he ever expected. The characters are well developed and very likeable.

Madison is a trained anthropologist who worked for many years in West Africa as a volunteer teacher.

Source: The Association of Book Publishers of BC. BC Books for BC Schools. 2011-2012.