Lila is the daughter of firework-maker Lalchand. Her Mother died when she was little and Lalchand teaches her to make the fireworks. But just when she really wants to move forward with the vocation, her Father insists that she is just a girl and needs to find a husband. Here is the typical story of insurgent female equality rearing its ugly head against standard paternal constructs. Humorously told, Lila has after all the three gifts, which are talent, courage, and luck. One can only gain wisdom through suffering and risk, and Lila sparkles in the end.
If You Liked This, Try: Clockwork by Philip Pullman, Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman, The Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman, The Broken Bridge by Philip Pullman, The Tin Princess by Philip Pullman. ( )

Carolyn Phelan (Booklist, September 15, 1999 (Vol. 96, No. 2))
In an unspecified Asian setting "a thousand miles ago," Lila grows up with her father and learns to love his trade, firework-making. Confused and dismayed when she hears him despair that he will never find her a husband, Lila undertakes a quest to obtain royal sulphur, the magical ingredient that will make her a true fireworks artist. Along the way she submits to kidnapping by crew of bungling buccaneers, frightens off an attacking tiger, and boldly faces Razvani the Fire-Fiend. Aided by her friends, Hamlet the white elephant and Chulak his caretaker, Lila triumphs. She returns home to help her father escape a death sentence imposed by the king. Reminiscent in spirit of Lloyd Alexander's tales with their strong, clever heroines, this story is abundantly good natured and rich with humorous scenes and philosophical underpinings. Pullman portrays his main characters deftly, sets them in a colorful, convincing world, and brings the story to a memorable climax in a fireworks competition of grand proportions. Black-and-white, shaded pencil drawings will illustrate the text, though the finished art was not available for review. A dramatic tale for reading aloud or reading alone. Category: Middle Readers. 1999, Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine, $15.95. Gr. 3-6. Starred Review.
My Descriptive Review
Pullman, Philp, The Firework-Maker’s Daughter , Arthur Levine Books, Scholastic pres,, New York,
Unlike the settings of his numerous fantasy thrillers in Europe, the unbeknownst Asian home of Lila and her father, the fireworks maker, is where she mimics her father and discovers her own creations. Living alone with her father, she is ready to practice the trade, when he declares there are still secrets to be discovered. Traveling by foot, her magical quest takes her up seemingly realistic high mountains, against an evil fire fiend, and searching for mystical ingredients. Although Mr. Pullman began with a childhood fascination with ghosts, this tale is reminiscent of a Lloyd Alexander tale complete with magical animals and saving her father. In a far eastern culture where women do not become fireworks makers, upon Lila’s return she enters the town’s greatest competition with the prodding of her father. The fantasy reader in middle school will find the plot believable and mystical. Mr. Pullman depicts his female heroine as defying age restrictions, and surpassing gender bias. Ages 9-13. Illustrations by S. Saelig Gallagher