Review: In the Wild Light

Title: In the Wild Light

Author: Jeff Zentner

Publisher: Random House Children’s

Publication date: August 10, 2021

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Summary

Cash’s life hasn’t been easy so far. Growing up in a small town in Tennessee, he lost his mom to an opioid addiction, and his grandfather is dying from a lung disease. His main bright spot is his best friend Delaney. He spends the summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen.

Thanks to a scientific discovery she made, Delaney has secured both her and Cash spots at one of the most elite boarding schools in Connecticut. At first, Cash isn’t so sure he should go. Not only does he not feel like he belongs there, his grandfather also has been on the decline. Will he have the courage to forge a new path for himself with Delaney by his side?

Review: In the Wild Light

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy of this to review! This is one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I’m happy to say that it lived up to the hype. Like, I already want to read this again if I knew it wasn’t going to emotionally devastate me. I’m going to do my best to put my feelings into words!

Jeff Zentner has a way of writing grief that just melts from the page. That’s something that connects each book that he’s written, all of which I highly recommend. This book is no different. At its core, this is a book about grief; about how we work through it, how we move forward. How we let friends and family help us through it. And how we take hold of opportunities handed to us.

One of the things that Zentner added to this book was poetry. Cash is on a journey learning how poetry and art is important in life (and his teacher is the best. She’s one of my favorite characters). The poetry included in the book fits so well with the characters and the story. It feels effortless. Zentner’s prose feels like poetry at times, and it really just shines in this book.

And the characters! You’ll fall in love with Cash right from the beginning. Delaney, too. The friends they meet at school, Alex and Vi, are also so well-rounded. Their little squad is beautiful and ever teenager deserves a squad like that. Cash might be a little oblivious at times, but you’ll be rooting for him throughout the whole book.

Like always, there are nods to Zentner’s other books in here, too. I won’t spoil them, but I love these little nods. You have all summer to catch up before this book comes out, so do it now!

All in all, this book will put you through an emotional ringer, but it is so worth it. I can’t wait to do a quote round up for it when it comes out in August!

5/5 stars