Backlist YA Book - In The Wild Light

Title: In the Wild Light

Author: Jeff Zentner

Publisher: Crown Books YA

Genre: Coming-of-age YA

A few weeks ago, I was having major #fomo while texting my friend @mommaleighellensbooknook as she was attending the ‘Fable Bookshop Book Lover’s Weekend’ where she got to meet many authors including, @jeffzentner.  My other friend @lyon.brit.andthebookself is always raving about ‘In The Wild Light’ so I decided to grab the audiobook via Libby from my Library.  Narrator Michael Crouch further immersed into this story and let’s just say I binged this from start to finish in one night.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night, IMO.

I know some people will say “no thanks, I don’t read YA” but 1.) You are missing out and 2.) Like many YA books this one has some serious topics and reads far beyond its years.  I’m aging myself, but when I was a teen the YA category didn’t really exist.  How lucky are Young Adults these days to have so many books written for them and to be seen!

“I’ve always loved when the light finds the broken spots in the world and makes them beautiful.”

Our story begins in a very small-town of Tennessee where we meet best friends Cash and Delaney.  Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and lives with his grandparents—Papaw and Mamaw.  Delaney’s mother is an addict and doesn’t have a very good home life.  But, they have each other, canoeing, and hiking.  Cash knows Delaney is destined for so much more.  She’s gifted.  When she makes a scientific discovery, this changes the whole trajectory of possibilities starting with an invitation to an elite boarding school.  She negotiates for Cash to come along too—she won’t go without him.  Cash is reluctant to go because his Papaw doesn’t have very much time left due to some health problems.  He’s also afraid he won’t be able to keep up.

“For every way the world tries to kill us, it gives us a way to survive.”

--I loved the way Papaw called Cash ‘Mickey Mouse’ and taught him to seize opportunities and see beauty in the world.

--I loved the way Cash thought a poetry class was going to be his least favorite class and it became part of his soul.  

--I loved the coming-of-age feel to this story and the character growth individually and together.

--I loved the love letter to a small town and Appalachian community.

All the stars.  A must read!  We all get distracted with shiny new releases, but this is a call to read those backlists sitting on your shelf!  You might just find a new favorite book or author!