Why do I always forget how much I love historical fiction? I read tons of suspense but I also read and love books that take place during other time periods like this one, A Frenzy of Sparks by Kristin Fields.

It’s 1965, and thirteen-year-old Gia, along with her older brother and cousins, are desperate to escape their sleepy, tree-lined neighborhood where nothing ever happens. The only thing Gia would miss is the surrounding marsh, where she feels at home among sea birds and salt water.

But when one of Gia’s cousins brings drugs into their neighborhood, it sets off a chain of events that quickly turn dangerous. Everyone will be caught in the ripples, and some may be swept away entirely. Gia is determined to keep herself and her family afloat while the world is turned upside down around her. Can she find a way to hold on to the life she was so eager to leave behind, or will she have to watch it all disappear beneath the marsh forever?

Out on November 3, you can order it here.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the first book I've read by Kristin Fields and what a beautifully written, yet heart-wrenching story it was. It's a coming of age story that is made all the more captivating because of the fact that it is unfortunately so timely even today.

While this book is set a few years earlier than when I was a kid, I remember the days of innocent summer fun that Gia had, just hanging out with my siblings, longing to be older and be able to "do stuff." That is until all that innocence is shattered when drugs make their way into Gia's neighborhood and nothing is the same.

This book took hold of me and never let go. I think because it is narrated from Gia's perspective, I found it to be extremely captivating. This book takes you on such an emotional journey as you watch first-hand how life turns upside for Gia and her family. Her brother becomes addicted and turns into a completely different person. Gia does her best to keep things normal but will she be able to keep this up?

I've seen how drug addiction can change people and I've seen what it can do to families. This book brought some of that to mind. When one person struggles, it affects the whole family and then some. Kristin Fields does such a phenomenal job portraying that and that is why I stated at the beginning of this review that this book is unfortunately still so timely. A Frenzy of Sparks may be set in 1965, but drug use unfortunately has not come and gone.

I highly recommend this book. It is a powerful, thought-provoking read that will stay with me for quite some time. And I think this will make a great bookclub read...so much to unpack and discuss!

Gia is a 13 year old growing up in a neighborhood made of aunt, uncles and cousins. In 1965 drugs were being introduced all around the nation and their neighborhood is no exception. Some harsh changes are coming. A coming of age story that was highly enjoyable. It's a quick flowing read that is hard to put down.

Thank You Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for providing me the ARC of this book!

A Frenzy of Sparks is a story set in 1965 about a teenage girl named Gia set in the 1960's and whose life changed when her cousins, Ray and Tommy introduces drugs to them.

This story is very emotional and realistic--the author has done a good job doing research about the life in the 1960's and how drug overdose became very common during that era. Gia's brother, Leo, gets addicted to drugs and due to his addiction to drugs, it shows how Gia and her family were destroyed due to consequences of drugs. The story is told from Gia's perspectives and the way she deals with the life, particularly her anger towards Ray who actually destroyed their lives by introducing drugs. The struggles that Gia's parents going through, particularly when Leo gets overdosed was emotional.

Overall, this is a heartbreaking, emotional read to be but was well written, keeping the reader hooked into the story--worth five stars!

This is a story about drugs and the insipid way they find their way into a community, a family and a
life. It's a sad story that is well written with characters that are heartwarming and devastating all at the same time. *I didn't love the book but I didn't hate it either. I guess it left me feeling very uncomfortable and edgy about my son's upcoming teen years and what he may be exposed to. I suppose if a book leaves you feeling a certain way - it's a good book - but if that feeling is a fearful feeling, it's hard to say "Wow, this is a GOOD book." So, I'll leave my review as middle of the road and look at this as an opportunity for awareness.

This beautifully written story by Kristen Fields, is a coming of age novel, about 13yo Gia. She lives in a 1960’s neighborhood, with her aunts, uncles and cousins on the same block and a part of her daily life. They’re in and out of each other’s houses. And although Gia’s parents both work, her and her brother Leo, run the streets with their cousins, creating fun and mischief. Her older cousin Lorraine is her best friend and role model.
The differences between the parenting of Leo and Gia, are typical of the era, the son who is destined to go farther than the parents and the daughter being prepared for a homemaker role, despite her passions for other things. The story really reflects the advantages that existed for boys but not for girls.
This is a story of family, sibling rivalry, loyalty, and the devastation created when an older cousin brings drugs into the neighborhood. It touch’s every member of the family and changes the relationships within it.
Kristen Field is a wonderful storyteller, with interesting characters. The book was a page turner from start to finish!
My thanks to #LakeUnionPublishing #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own!

My gosh. What a story! A Frenzy of Sparks by Kristin Fields shook me, you guys. SHOOK ME. This is such an engrossing story about drug addiction, and how it can completely destroy an entire family. We witness how one person’s actions can impact so many others. I was captivated by thirteen-year-old Gia, her troubled brother, distraught parents, and extended family members. I wasn’t expecting to have so many personal connections to this novel. They took me by surprise, and also down memory lane. Without revealing too much of my own family’s dirty laundry and past struggles, I’ll just say that I know what it’s like to have a family member struggle with drug abuse, and go down that awful rabbit hole. It effects every single member of the family, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking. I saw my younger self in Gia as she watched her older brother trudge down that horrible road. On a lighter note, Gia’s relationship with her cousin, Lorraine brought a smile to my face. I grew up with a lot of female cousins, so the strong bond between the two girls brought back some fond memories for me. I do not have a sister, so I relied on my female cousins for guidance and advice on clothes, makeup, hairstyles, and all of that other girl stuff! Speaking of Lorraine, her storyline was my favorite, and I’d love to learn more about her journey. Can we get a sequel, Kristin Fields? A Frenzy of Sparks is a little dark and heavy, but don’t let that deter you from reading it. It’s such a powerful and absorbing story that will stick with me for a very long time. Highly recommend!

⚠️ Trigger warning-drug abuse, addiction, violence
This is a powerful coming of age story set in the 1960’s. It’s told from the perspective of Gia, a 13 year old girl who knows nothing but the innocence of her childhood in a neighborhood where she grows up across the street from her cousins, aunts, and uncles. Sunday lunches and running around with her brother and cousins is her everyday norm. Gia loves being on the water, and the marsh being close by is a second home to her-much to the dismay of the women in her life. However, she’s starting to notice changes across the water...new homes, new people, rich lifestyles. With all of that brings changes to her tired town. She starts to notice changes in those closest to her. Drugs have made their way into her family circle, which ultimately leads to a dangerous series of events. Life as Gia knew it is no more. She has to grow up faster than any young child should.
✨This book was heartbreaking, but beautifully written. The path of destruction that took its toll on Gia’s family is still heavy on my mind. It’s a story of hope and loss. It’s a story that is still happening every single day, in real life, for so many people. I know that this subject is near and dear to many hearts. It is to mine. Whether you’re the one struggling with addiction or you love someone who is struggling, it’s hard.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own

An emotional and raw account of Gia’s teenage years. Gia’s reality is hard and full of heartbreak and pain. This is a harsh upbringing. The whole story is very well written and memorable.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

CW: drugs

It's the 1960s in Queens, New York, and everything is changing around 13 year-old Gia. Her friends are growing up and not always in a good way; the neighbourhood is being gentrified; and she is losing her childish naivety and innocence as a result.

I loved parts of this book. The coming-of-age story itself was ambitious, the setting was described vividly, and the characters were mostly well-formed. But something about the writing kept me disconnected; I felt like I was watching the story happen from outside of a bubble rather than feeling immersed in it.

The pacing is a little confusing. Things are slow, but then days or even weeks pass in the space of a paragraph in a way that I found a little unsettling.

The lack of deep connection I felt was most obvious when there is a major character death. While the feeling of overall numbness is something that is a theme in the book, my total lack of empathetic reaction felt disappointing.

I seem to be in a minority here, having a quick scan of reviews, so am aware that this is an entirely subjective thing. If the book looks like it would appeal to you then please give it a go. I wish I'd enjoyed it more.

I found the author did a great job at introducing complex characters and creating an inter-woven storyline, but for some reason this one just fell flat for me. It lacked anything climactic.

An emotional family drama that resonates with the world we’re currently living in, Fields hits us with a well written book that will pull on your heartstrings and give you hope.

For me the point of view was the best part of the book. Instead of choosing to just write about the emotional pull of drugs on the cousin himself, the story is told by Gia and really gives this incredible look at how drugs can affect an entire family.

Thank you to Netalley, Suzy Approved Book Tours & Lake Union for having me on this book tour in exchange for my personal review!

Kristin Fields, the author of “A Frenzy of Sparks” has written a captivating, memorable, and thought-provoking novel. The genres for this story are coming of age, fiction, and family drama. The timeline for this story takes place around 1965 and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The setting for this story is in Queens, near the bay and swamps. There are new homes being built, and it now appears that there will be change. The author describes her dramatic characters as complex, complicated, dysfunctional, and adjusting to the environmental and psychological changes. The main themes throughout the story are the importance of family, the devastation of drugs, environmental and psychological change, and coming of age.

Gia and her brother Leo grow up with their cousins and family in a neighborhood in Queens, that will be changing. Gia is 13 years old and has a concern about chemicals that can destroy and harm wildlife near the marshes. She is also obsessed with being in her father’s boat and observing nature. Her brother Leo is a follower, and acts like a clown, trying to get attention and laughs.

When a cousin gets involved in using and selling drugs, the naive and innocent boys make poor choices. Suddenly there is chaos, where there were uneventful activities and tragedy that will change the family’s lives forever.

I appreciate that the author discusses the devastation of using drugs, and the importance of family, love, and hope. I would recommend this compelling story.

This book is so much more than a coming of age story it’s emotional and pulls at your heartstrings. It’s 1965 in Queens, a time where men work blue collar jobs and family is important. .Gia is thirteen and lives in a sleepy town where nothing exciting ever happens, she has an older brother Leo and cousins who all live nearby and they spend their days wanting more. When Gias cousin Ray decides to bring drugs into the neighborhood, along with his dangerous connections this sets off a chain of events that sees everyone’s life change. Soon Gia is made to grow up way to fast. No one is spared from the horrible heartache that drugs have. Gia only wants to spend her days in the water with a boat surrounded by nature she doesn’t feel like she belongs, as her world begins to unravel she’s desperately tries to hold on to her family. This book is heavy at times, Gia is so brave at thirteen. So much heartache I wanted to just hug her at times. This book will have you still thinking about it even after the last page. Four stars

This is a well written and thoughtful coming of age novel set in the 1960s- with themes that continue today. Gia is 13 and she's recently read Silent Spring. She's also part of a large and loving family. There's trouble, though, in the form of narcotics, brought into the neighborhood and her family by her cousin Ray. How the family falls apart and then is brought back together in the wake of her brother Leo's addiction is at the heart of the story. We don't often think about Queens in quite this way-Fields has done a nice job bringing the marsh to life- nor do we think about how addiction has been with families for this long. The mid 1960s were not the idyllic time we like to think they were. This never gets too grim but it doesn't pull any punches. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good characters and fine storytelling make this a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Kristin Fields, for the ebook copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This writing in this book was excellent and had well developed characters, which made it an easy read. This book just wasn’t for me, I didn’t find there was much of a climax in the book. I’m sure a different reader will enjoy this kind of book, it just wasn’t the genre for me.

I would try another book by this author as the writing was enjoyable.

I adored Kristin Fields debut A Lily in the Light so I had very high expectations when I picked up this novel. I was once again blown away by her beautiful and heart wrenching writing.

This story takes place in a quiet town 1965 where thirteen year old Gia is on the cusp of childhood. She loves to spend her days on her dad’s boat and spending time with her cousins. But as one of her cousin’s introduces drugs into the neighborhood it sets off a series of events that changes everyone’s lives. Gia is suddenly thrust into situations she doesn’t fully understanding and is growing up faster than she could have imagined.

Fields has created characters who felt real and complex. Gia is a compelling character who pulls you in from the start with her aversion to chemicals, love for her pet rabbits and avoidance of dresses. She is caring, brave and has an need to try to make things better. With her family, there is a clear picture not only of the relationships between the cousins themselves but also between their parents based on events that changed their own lives from long ago.

While everyone is impacted by the drugs moving in, the impression it leaves on Gia is gut wrenching as she often feels overlooked and like she has nowhere to turn. I couldn’t help but falling in love with this character and her heartbreaking coming of age tale.

As a content warning, some of the scenes may be triggering for people sensitive to discussion of rape or drug use/addiction.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautifully written coming of age story, dealing deftly with a lot of heavy issues (drug abuse, sexual abuse). The author is able to effortlessly evoke a time and a place (mid-1960s in Queens) that is atmospheric and dense. The story is told from the POV of a 13-year old girl - Gia loves the outdoors, the marsh and the water, and worries about the effects of pollution, which is just starting to become an issue, on the outdoors. At the same time, she observes the introduction of drugs into the neighborhood, through a cousin, and the effects and drastic outworkings this has on her immediate and also extended family. Her voice rings true and clear, and her joy which is replaced by an underlying sense of menace almost leaps off the page. Highly recommended.

A FRENZY OF SPARKS by Kristin Fields is a compelling and heart-wrenching coming of age story set in Queens, New York in the 1960s. It is told from the point of view of Gia, a thirteen-year-old tomboy who doesn’t see why she can’t be treated just like her older brother Leo and her cousins in the neighborhood. Soon Gia is made to grow up way too fast, when her cousins start dealing drugs in the neighborhood and Leo becomes hopelessly addicted. No one is spared from the devastating effects drugs have on a family and neighborhood that were once so close. The author does an excellent job of depicting the times, the setting and the intense emotions of the characters. I was engaged in the story from beginning to end. I enjoyed this gripping and thought-provoking book and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

What an emotional read! This raw look at being a teenager in a realistic world is worth the read. The author was able to authenticate Gia's feelings as heartbreaking as they were. Loneliness, fear, and heartache... Well done.

Thank you for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.