Laura Reed, Serenity High School English teacher in S.
Carolina, is seeing small signs of possible bullying when
one of her smartest students begins missing her class on a
daily basis. The effort to talk with Misty and uncover the
problems is unsuccessful. Misty Dawson's predicament
becomes a huge thing as not only horrible and ugly things
are printed about her on the internet for all to see, but
now
nearly nude pictures appear on the internet superimposed
with
her own face. Misty has also pleaded with Dr. C.J.
Fullerton, the town's fairly new pediatrician, to write her
excuses from classes.
Approaching C.J. as information alights, Laura and the
doctor work together to get to the bottom of the hassling
and bullying of this student. Other residents of the town
are eventually brought into the battle in revealing
Annabelle Litchfield as the culprit, all because of her
jealousy over a boyfriend. The Sweet Magnolias, a cluster
of energetic and upstanding women of the town, become
embroiled in the situation and lend backing to Laura in her
endeavor to end it all. Laura and C.J. both have a history
of being bullied as well, so for them this becomes a
personal
vendetta to free the school of suffering for other
children.
Soon the entire town is involved which results in open
meetings, more slander by other students and a very
distraught mother who is fighting tooth and nail to prove
her very talented daughter is innocent. The unexpected
feelings between Laura and C.J. are not without notice by
the town residents as the gossip mill records every move
they make.
Another installment of the Sweet Magnolias of
Serenity, North Carolina, centers around the vast problem
of
school bullying, which even begins as early as pre-school.
CATCHING FIREFLIES is an excellent story which showcases
the small
events that take shape and become uncontrollable situations
for our children to deal with. Sherryl Woods has written
an exceptional eye opener that clearly shows how easily
this
could happen in any community. As usual, CATCHING
FIREFLIES is an extremely
difficult book to put down until the last page is turned.
I
couldn't wait to see how this problem would be resolved. I
look forward to her next book in this series.
When bullying threatens to destroy a teen’s life, painful memories resurface for dedicated high school teacher Laura Reed and pediatrician J.C. Fullerton. With the support of the Sweet Magnolias, they bring the town together to ensure that a promising student’s future isn’t ruined. And to establish once and for all that bullying has no place in Serenity, South Carolina. Both J.C.’s and Laura’s passion for the cause is deeply personal, and their growing feelings for each other are just as strong. But with so many secret hurts to overcome, can these two vulnerable lovers find the strength to believe in happily ever after?