For teens navigating complex family dynamics and the difficult emotions surrounding a parent's illness, this book explores a young woman's journey of self-discovery.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is navigating the impending loss of a family member, especially one they barely know, and is struggling with feelings of anger, confusion, and a fractured sense of identity. The story follows Iris, a cynical teenager with a troubled past, who is forced by her greedy mother to connect with the wealthy father she's never met because he is dying. What begins as a manipulative scheme to secure an inheritance becomes a profound journey of connection, forgiveness, and rebellion. This book tackles themes of grief, complex family loyalties, and the power of art to heal. It's best for older teens (14+) due to its mature emotional content, and it offers a unique, hopeful story about finding your true family and defining your own legacy in the face of loss.
Deals heavily with grief, family estrangement, and parental emotional neglect.
Moral AmbiguityModerate
The protagonists plan and execute an art forgery and theft for justifiable reasons.
Substance ReferencesMild
Brief mentions of adults drinking alcohol socially.
Sensitive Topics
The central topic is the death of a parent from a terminal illness. The approach is secular and emotionally direct, focusing on the process of building a relationship in the shadow of impending loss. The resolution is realistic about the grief but ultimately very hopeful, as Iris finds a new chosen family and a strong sense of self. The book also deals directly with themes of parental emotional abuse, neglect, and greed.
Ideal Reader
This is for a thoughtful, artistic teen (14-17) who feels like an outsider or is navigating a difficult family dynamic (especially divorce or estrangement). They likely appreciate character-driven stories with a unique plot and might be grappling with their own identity and what family truly means. It's perfect for a reader who enjoys a touch of mystery and rebellion mixed with deep emotion.
Parent Prep
Parents should be aware of the protagonist's past with pyromania, which is treated as a symptom of her distress. The father's illness and death are central to the plot and are handled frankly but gently. The emotional abuse from the mother is a consistent theme. The book can be read cold, but it opens the door for conversations about complex feelings toward family members and what defines a legacy. A parent has noticed their teen is withdrawn, cynical, or acting out, particularly in response to family tension, illness, or divorce. The teen may have expressed feeling used, misunderstood, or that they don't belong, and is putting up walls as a result.
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) will likely connect with Iris's rebellious spirit and the exciting art heist plot. They will appreciate the found-family aspect. An older teen (16-18) will more fully grasp the nuanced exploration of grief, the critique of materialism, the complexity of forgiveness, and the philosophical questions about the value of art versus human connection.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many young adult books about grief that focus on the aftermath of loss, this story is about the active process of saying goodbye to a parent you are only just getting to know. The integration of an art caper plot provides a unique, engaging framework for the grief narrative, making it feel less like a heavy 'illness book' and more like a clever story of love and legacy.
Read plot summary
Sixteen-year-old Iris, who has a history of setting fires, is uprooted by her manipulative mother, Hannah, and stepfather. Their goal: move in with Iris's estranged, terminally ill biological father, Ernest, so Iris can charm him into leaving them his fortune, including a famous painting called Fire Color One. Instead of playing along, Iris forms a deep, genuine bond with Ernest. Together, they devise a plan to create a forgery of the painting, allowing Iris to fulfill her father's last wish and prevent the masterpiece from falling into her mother's hands.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Iris has a history of setting fires. What do you think fire represents for her at the beginning of the story, and how does its meaning change after she meets Ernest?
2
Ernest and Iris connect deeply despite having very little time together. What qualities in each of them do you think allows their bond to become so strong so quickly?
3
Iris's mother, Hannah, believes she is entitled to Ernest's painting. Do you think she has any right to it? Why does Ernest go to such great lengths to keep it from her?
4
The title, Fire Color One, refers to a very specific and rare color. Besides the paint itself, what do you think this color symbolizes in the story?
