Molly's Fire

Thirteen-year-old Molly won't accept the official declaration of ""presumed dead"" when her father's plane is shot down over Holland in 1944. Her resolve remains strong long after her father's memorial service, even after her mother starts inviting a wounded veteran over for dinner. Searching for clues that her father is still alive, Molly gets help from two friends: Jane, a half-Japanese classmate, and Peter, who is rich but unloved. They go so far as to sneak out to the prison camp for German soldiers at the edge of town to see if the pocket watch Molly saw on a prisoner is the one that belonged to her father. In turn, Molly stands up for Jane when she is harassed at school and protects Jane's grandmother (the townspeople accuse the former German teacher of being a spy when they discover the note she writes for Molly to pass to the German soldier). Debut novelist Carey falters in places, particularly in scenes that describe Molly's budding romance with Peter and in the tidy ending. Much of the symbolism also feels forced, as with the stained-glass window of St. George fighting the dragon that Molly builds for her father (also named George). But the details about food ration coupons, victory gardens and Japanese internment camps breathe life into an important period of history. Ages 10-14. (May)