At a plantation in rural Puerto Rico around the turn of the century the foreman pursues the mystery surrounding his family. Grade 5-7. In this turn-of-the-century novel, seventh-grader Teresa attends school in San Juan and travels home in time to celebrate the Feast of the Cross with her extended family, friends, and plantation workers on her parents' finca. The story centers on the summertime adventures of Teresa and her friend Mercedes. The girls uncover the identity of Ramon, an orphaned boy who has grown up on the finca almost as Teresa's brother. They learn the art of making lace, which Belpre describes so vividly that readers can nearly envision the process and the product. The author is most successful at revealing the details of everyday life as well as the special events and feast days of Puerto Rico at the time. The author re-creates the sights, scents, sounds, and color of the celebrations. Myriad characters move through the story and, if their names and number are difficult to keep track of, they do not detract from the narrative. Belpre submitted Firefly Summer for publication during World War II, but it was rejected because of a paper shortage; it is available now because of a national project whose aim is to locate, identify, preserve, and make accessible the literary heritage of U.S. Hispanics. A welcome addition to collections in communities with significant Puerto Rican populations or where ESL programs include numbers of Hispanic students honing their English skills but still longing for a story from home.?Sylvia V. Meisner, Allen Middle School, Greensboro, NC Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. Used Book in Good Condition