When the Fireflies Dance cover art

When the Fireflies Dance

The extraordinary and enthralling book club debut for fans of The Kite Runner!

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When the Fireflies Dance

By: Aisha Hassan
Narrated by: Jassa Ahluwalia
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About this listen

 'An intensely powerful story about friendship, unfairness, cruelty and love, from a brave new voice. Heartbreaking, touching, and thought-provoking' SANTA MONTEFIORE

'As heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, love, hope and family never leave this epic tale, which becomes one of escape and redemption. Stunning and powerful' JANICE HALLETT

"The young boys walked right through the fireflies, bathed in the warm blinking light. Lalloo tried to catch them between his palms but they were elusive, flying away or quickly going dark and invisible."

Even in the darkest moments, there is light to be found.

On the night that Lalloo's brother is murdered, a large yellow moon hangs low in the sky above the family's small hut on the outskirts of Lahore. Abandoned far from home only hours later, seven-year-old Lalloo will not see them again for a very long time.

Unable to escape the memory of that night, Lalloo's parents and sisters remain trapped at the brickyard, the kiln chimney churning black smoke into the sky as they slave brick by brick to pay off their debts.

Now that he is older, Lalloo saves every rupee he earns in the city in the hope that he might one day be able to rescue his family. Yet as he falls in love with a girl he thought he'd lost forever, he realises that their freedom will only come with unimaginable sacrifice.

And as the fireflies dance overhead, Lalloo must finally choose his own destiny...

Inspired by a true story, this mesmerising debut novel of love, family, resilience and redemption will appeal to fans of modern classics The Kite Runner and The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

** More praise for When the Fireflies Dance **

'A beautiful, evocative, heart-wrenching novel of love, courage and strength in the face of unthinkable adversity. A stunning, eye-opening, moving novel with the power to transform a reader's view of the world' RAJASREE VARIYAR

'A bold, beautiful novel that sweeps you away in an evocative story of family secrets, sacrifice and redemption. I read this in three breathless gulps and if you enjoyed The Beekeeper of Aleppo, or The Kite Runner, you're going to love it. A page-turning, heart-pounding thrill of a book, full of truth and insight and hope' WIZ WHARTON

'Deeply evocative and totally transporting, a story that will really stay with me' SAMUEL BURR

'A beautiful novel. Lalloo's story is evocative, heartbreaking, and full of hope. I loved it' CHARLOTTE LEVIN

'Thought-provoking and heartbreaking. Aisha Hassan's gift for storytelling makes this a beautiful and poignant read' MARJAN KAMALI©2025 Aisha Hassan Coming of Age Contemporary Genre Fiction World Literature Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Resilience

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Critic reviews

A heartrending tale of family, tenacity and love
A poignant tale. Love, sacrifice and redemption are intertwined
All stars
Most relevant
All the feelings - a truly wonderful book. I laughed and cried. Thank you Aisha Hassan.

What a book!!!

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Wow, just wow!
I am aware of charities who work to set families free from brick kilns… I didn’t realise that this book was a story about such a family… it is an unforgettable story… an outstanding book!

I was on edge for nearly the entire story

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It is impossible to stop listening to this wonderful book which tells the tale of courage and friendship in the background of an unbelievably difficult life. It is beautifully read and it will leave its mark on you as it has me. I am both saddened and uplifted by the telling of this story. It should be first on everyone's reading list.

An entrancing story that needs to be told

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Very moving book - an emotional rollercoaster. It had me fully immersed in the story set in Lahore, Pakistan. Captivating! Highly recommended.

Beautifully written

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