Fire Color One

About Fire Color One

A finalist for the prestigious Carnegie Medal, this novel is a stunning tribute to fathers and daughters, and to the unique power of art to connect and change us.

Sixteen-year-old Iris itches constantly for the strike of a match. But when she’s caught setting one too many fires, she’s dragged away to London before she can get arrested. At least, that’s the story her mother tells. Soon Iris finds herself in the English countryside, where her millionaire father—a man she’s never met—lives. Though not for very much longer.

Iris’s father is dying, and her self-interested mother is determined to claim his life’s fortune, including his priceless art collection. Forced to live with him as part of an exploitive scheme, Iris quickly realizes her father is far different from the man she’s been schooled to hate, and everything she thought she knew—about her father and herself—is suddenly unclear. But there may be hidden beauty in Iris’s uncertain past and hopeful future, if only she can see beyond the flames.

Praise for Fire Color One:

“It’s not often—in fact, it has never happened to me even once—that I fall so hard for a young arsonist. The book moves swiftly, alternating between comedy and sadness, sometimes in the same paragraph. I loved Fire Color One.” —Daniel Wallace, critically acclaimed and bestselling author of Big Fish

* “Valentine writes about family dysfunction, arson, and art with equal levels of beauty and lyricism, creating a vivid landscape of heartache and redemption….A story about an ugly situation that explodes into beauty through cunning and resilience.” —Kirkus *STARRED*

* “From the first page to the last, Valentine has crafted a masterpiece.” —BCCB *STARRED*

“[T]his is a poignant story about the power of art to connect and transform.” —SLJ

“Beautifully written…a quiet, reflective novel that blooms into a thrilling mystery.” —Booklist

“Fire Color One is a stunning journey of a teenage girl’s struggle to find her place in a world that tries its hardest to keep her out….For fans of stories in which the good guys prevail, this book is perfect.” —VOYA

“Wise, brilliantly plotted.” —The Sunday Times

“Beautifully written…this latest creation is her most spectacular yet.” —The Guardian Children’s Books review

“A beautifully written, darkly funny and surprisingly poignant story of art, family and discovering the people we thought we knew.” —Kerry Kletter, critically acclaimed author of The First Time She Drowned

Praise for Me, the Missing, and the Dead:

A Morris Award finalist
Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize (under title Finding Violet Park)

* “Compulsively readable. A memorable new voice.” —Publishers Weekly *STARRED*

* “Lucas’ pitch-perfect voice and authentic family relationships…and the poignant, coming-of-age mystery will stay with the reader long after the book ends. Valentine’s debut novel shines richly.” —Booklist *STARRED*

* “Engaging from start to finish.” —School Library Journal *STARRED*

“An impressive debut. Valentine offers a rich cast of characters and marvelous writing.” —Buffalo News

“Charmingly told, this mystery manages to be both frothy and nourishing.” —Kirkus