Thank you so much to NetGalley and TorTeen for giving me the opportunity to read this book early! I absolutely adored this book—I found myself taking any free moments today to read just a few more pages. It was utterly unputdownable. The propulsive pacing and the mysterious, winding narrative kept me hooked the entire way through. This book opens with Manny an already incredibly damaged young man who only thinks about how to survive the day, without any further purpose. We know that he has fled a horrible situation, but we don’t know exactly how horrible or insidious. Manny has been traveling with a family—the Varelas—who really seem too good to be true at first. Honestly, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, the exact same way Manny was, and I felt the same kind of utter relief he did when the Varelas really were trying to help him and offering him a better future. Sometimes when reading books that center around a character with so much baggage and trauma, the story can get bogged down by the constant self-deprecating, but that did not happen here. Manny is aware of his trauma and while he shies away from it (and his past), he deals with it and shows just how resilient he is. (And that’s not to say that every child who has faced what he has *has* to be as strong or resilient as he is—actually the opposite is true). As readers, we are pulled along this fast-paced ride through Manny’s history and insecurities until the surprising climax at the end. I don’t know what I was expecting when the twist was revealed, but it was incredibly interesting. Everyone at the religious compound thought that Eli was who Manny was always meant to be, and so couldn’t reconcile that idea of ‘perfection’ with Manny or when Eli began to remember where he came from. Manny was always meant to be Manny. In the end, all Manny wanted was agency—the ability to make choices for himself, rather than being shuttled around between foster homes or following his sister in her choices so they don’t get separated. But this story begs the question: if you can’t make choices for yourself—if you lose your agency, do you lose small parts of yourself, your identity, as well?
This book deals with some intense themes such as religious and adoption trauma, as well as the cruel reality many homeless teens face. There were also present some more insidious imageries present in this book as well, particularly the fact that all the ‘parents’ at the religious compound were white while their ‘children’ were queer and non-white. This is a particularly sinister, yet subtle, aspect included in this book (as it is only mentioned a few times) as it is certainly a commentary on the intended erasure of these kids’ identities.
Nevertheless, this book leaves readers with some hope in the end, as Manny finds a potential new family who has seen all that he truly is and accepts him, and as he forms a plan to help other kids like him. I loved this book.

An engaging and interesting take on cult life; surviving it, life after it, getting hooked in, and life on the inside. The lgbtq+ aspect was good as well. The twist was unexpected and didn't fit to me. I was expecting assault rather than sci-fi horror for the climax/twist moment in the story. Kinda killed it for me.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5/5 stars

I had to take some time and process this one - it has an exhaustive list of trigger warnings and deals with some extremally heavy topics and I needed time to make sure I wasn't just gut reacting, either giving it a higher rating to support what I believe the intent was or a lower rating because it was uncomfortable.

In the end I can't say I loved it, completely outside how important I think stories like this are. It was an unexpected blend of magical realism (I think? I'm honestly still a bit unclear) and therapeutic/traumatic realism. It discusses extremely important yet under-realized topics like religious trauma, child abuse/neglect/sexual assault, foster care/adoption, child death/murder, homophobia/conversion camps, racism....but the author keeps the reader in the dark by deliberately withholding the timing of the 2 POVs and mixing up the trauma of a child with a completely unexplained "miracle". I struggle to describe it without spoilers, though I'm honestly not sure I could even with them.

In the end, I think this is an incredibly important story but the execution wasn't for me - I don't mind being confused if the writing is well done and the author brings it to a satisfying ending - that, I think, is what was missing for me here. I didn't truly feel satisfied with the ending and it felt rushed and too unrefined - I spent more time confused and saying "well this already odd book just got super weird" than I did really feeling the impact of the story, which in my opinion took away from the power of the book.

I would still recommend this book, but only to people I know very well and would trust could handle the subject matter.

Full of emotion and angst this book is definitely a tearjerker. I flew right through this beautifully written book. A view into the life of a queer latinx teen, this was such a page turner and impossible to put down.

I don't read a lot of thrillers or mysteries and this book was SO unsettling. This is an intense book that will have your heart pounding with anxiety and tension as you read on, anticipating what the next disturbing revelation will be.

Mark Oshiro is a queer, religiously traumatized transracial adoptee (child adopted by parents of a different race) and this book dives into the broken foster/adoption system and the problem of white parents with a savior complex adopting BIPOC kids. While this is not an autobiography, Mark has said that this is the most autobiographical of all of their books. Now that I've finished this book, that's horrifying to think about. I hope this book can, as the title suggests, bring the horrors of the broken system into the light.

TW: homophobia, child abuse, conversion therapy, predatory adults, religious abuse

I've been thinking for a couple days about how to review Into the Light. This is a well-written book and for the most part, I enjoyed it. However, without spoiling things, this had a plot twist that I simply did not enjoy. I felt like this book would have been great without this twist and it didn't really add much to the value of the story. My other issue was that a lot of this book felt repetitive and it could have been shortened. I did like a lot of the book and that is why I ended up settling on a 3 star rating. I liked Manny, I liked seeing his growth throughout the book. The premise of the book was good. However I feel like this had the potential to be much better than it was.

I absolutely think this book is necessary, and appreciate what is trying to do and the themes it’s trying to address. And I can understand why the book makes some of the choices it does. But the writing style makes it such a chore to pick up, and constantly jerks me out of the story,

In his short life, Manny has known little more than heartbreak. For years, he and his sister have gone from foster home to foster home. He’s been homeless for the last year, following a set of rules to keep himself safe.

But the Valeras feel different. For some reason, they want to help. But the rules are there for a reason.

Manny’s journey is so reflective of LGBTQ+ youth in America. It’s heartbreaking, an epidemic, and needs to be addressed.
What an absolutely gripping read. This story comes together in broken pieces through Manny slowly coming to terms with his past. This story will take you on a journey that will change you along the way. It’s a startling and stunning read.

Many thanks to Tor Teen for the advanced copy.

TW: racism, homophobia, child abuse, death, abortion (mention), incest (mention), sexual assault, religious trauma, neglect

"It isn't love. It isn't a promise. It isn't anything but what it is. But when you've wandered a desert for most of your life, you are going to be overjoyed when it rains."

Seventeen-year-old Manny and his sister, Elena, have never had a 'real' family or a place to call home. All their lives, they've been shuffling between different foster homes and families without ever fitting in. That is until Elena finds herself absorbed into a religious group known as Christ's Dominion. Elena convinces Manny that this group will welcome and heal them, but Manny isn't so sure. Ever since joining the group, Elena has not been her usual self; she's been staying out late and hiding things from her brother. Elena has never changed for anyone before, so this worries Manny. While everyone else seems to overlook the odd behavior of Christ's Dominion, Manny can't help but believe that something isn't quite right.

"This is all I am anymore. Panic and terror and fear and bitterness. It's all I can be."

Things take a turn, and Manny is isolated from the group and separated from his only family, Elena. He is now homeless and lives on the streets of California. There he meets the Valera family, whom he is reluctant to trust. When Manny learns that a body was found near Christ's Dominion, he knows it must be his sister. Despite his initial hesitation, Manny begins to develop a deep bond with the Valera family as they search for his sister.

"All I know anymore is survival. I control what I can: the stories I tell. Who I tell them to. The people I stay with. The strength and power of being alone."

A heartwarming tale of resilience, hope, and strength, "Into the Light" will certainly make a deep impact on its readers. Oshiro's masterful storytelling and emotional characterization will stick with me for a long time. Manny is relatable, and I believe readers will resonate with him on a strong level. Manny's journey with trauma is portrayed with authenticity and sensitivity, and the way he overcomes his struggles is unforgettable. The novel's message is essential, reminding us that no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, there is always hope and light at the end of the tunnel.

One of my favorite subgenres that's gained traction in the past few years is queer genre YA that tackles difficult topics such as religious trauma and colonialism head on---books like H. E. Edgmon's The Witch King, Andrew Joseph White's Hell Followed With Us, Vincent Tirado's Burn Down, Rise Up, etc. Into the Light is a wonderful new addition to this category.

I fully believe that the most difficult books are some of the most worthwhile ones, and this is especially true of this book. Oshiro does not shy away from showing the traumatic elements of Manny's life (please check content warnings) and they do it in the most heart-wrenching but beautifully healing way. The writing is beautiful and really relatable, even though the characters are in situations I've never been in. It's clear that this is an issue close to Oshiro's heart and they write about it with such compassion. Manny is a complicated character but it's hard not to fall in love with him.

There are some supernatural/fantasyesque aspects to this novel but I don't think it takes away from the realism the story presents. The supernatural elements serve as an interesting form of symbolism that I think is unique and weird in a really cool way. It definitely kept me on my toes.

I devoured this story, and it's an absolutely important one so I highly recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those books that really has some moments that are hard to shake. Some of the stuff Manny goes through is tough to read, as he's a well-written, rounded character you grow to care about in short order.

Following a queer boy on the run from his religious upbringing and coping with a transient life that’s full of compromises no one should have to make. The writing is fluid and smooth, to the point where you almost forget you’re reading about some pretty horrific stuff.

I enjoyed this one. The shift near the end was something, although it did feel sort of abrupt, but overall, this was a book worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy

I loved this book from the first page. It kept my interest throughout the whole book, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the twist. It was a little too out of left field for me, I love a twist but I need it to be believable or have some references to the material in the book. I would definitely recommend, it's beautiful, heart wrenching and engaging.

Into the Light by Mark Oshiro is a gun-wrenching story of one young man trying to piece himself back together after dealing with trauma from a religious and homophobic cult camp and abusive adoptive parents.

This book is non-linear, but the prose is so raw and powerful that it flows together well. Manny is such a real character, and his grief and search for family is profoundly felt. There is some magical realism in this book, but it was so grounded among emotions that it still made sense and felt so real.

Definitely check the trigger warnings as this deals with abusive adoptive parents, predatory adults, conversion camps, queer shaming and homophobia, religious shaming and manipulation, and other difficult subjects.

Overall this book is a harsh but ultimately hopeful journey of healing and self-acceptance.

Pre-Review note: It’s important to understand that this book does contain a lot of triggers(all that are listed within the book I will also list at the bottom of this review). Throughout the review, I talk about how important this book is and how much I think people should read it, but you come first. If any of these triggers are something you feel could be triggering for you, remember that you come first and are under no obligation to read this book if it is something you could be affected by.

This book broke me. If you have even the slightest interest in reading this book(or even if you don’t honestly), you must. The book takes a million twists and turns as the dual first-person perspective narration allows you to slowly piece together Manny’s past, his present, and how it all relates to the mysterious Eli. The story follows these three perspectives throughout the book to slowly bring the whole story together.

To fully break down all the things I loved about this story, I will need to talk about the parts individually starting with the characters. Usually, when I love a book it is for how much I adored and loved the characters. While that is true for this book as Manny was a character that was so very scarily real as well as those he meets, it was also because of how well the villainous characters were written. Their reasonings for doing the things they did were well fleshed out and all the different reactions seen from different characters throughout the book make sense. Manny’s relationship with so many of the characters is complex, and you as well sometimes are unsure if you can keep your preformed opinion about characters as the story progresses. These characters make you think very hard about what the words good and bad truly mean. They show that it’s not just black and white and there is so much gray space within. Overall I cannot truly describe to you the horror some of these characters instilled in me as well as the hope that others did. The best way to do so is to read this amazing story.

The second big thing I’d like to talk about is the plot. There were never parts where I felt like it was going too slow. It was very well placed and all the flashbacks to the past we were given meshed well with what we were coming to understand in the present. It wasn’t hard to follow either when we were in the past or at what point certain events I was reading about took place. The placement and timing of events helped the pieces to fall perfectly into place as the book went by.

In the end, I gave this book 5/5 stars because I don’t think it will ever leave my mind. I will be thinking about this book for a long time. By no means was this book an easy read, but it was a very very important read.

TW: Parental abuse(especially from adoptive parents), religious abuse, conversion therapy and depictions of abusive techniques from conversion therapy camps, parental rejection, teenage homelessness, and predatory adults

Since getting kicked out by his adopted family, Manny has been making it on his own in Southern California. He knows keeping moving is one of the best ways to keep himself alive. As well as not forming any new relationships. Manny's past has shown him he can only rely himself and nobody else. Until meeting one family promises a different kind of future.

On the flip side, Eli seems content in his secluded community with his family. Except for the fact that he can't remember his past. When a body turns up in Southern California, it will bring both boys together in ways that they never expected. And reveal secrets a lot of people would rather keep hidden.

Thanks to Tor Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Into the Light by Mark Oshiro to review! This is their first YA in a few years, after publishing a few middle grade books. Before you start reading, I highly recommend checking out their trigger warnings. There are some difficult topics broached in this book, but know that it ultimately ends on a note of hope!

Oshiro is always good at writing strong, emotional characters. And this book is no different. We get two different points of view throughout, from Manny and Eli. Some of the point of view switching is a little confusing at first, but once you pick up on what's going on, the two narratives definitely make sense. There's a little bit of a surreal element to the plot, but it also helps to emphasize the trauma that Manny goes through throughout this book.

In addition to Manny and Eli, I loved the Varela family. At first, Manny doesn't want to trust them. And as readers, you don't really want to either. But as we get to know more about them, you realize they can be trusted, just like Manny does. There's hope woven throughout the story, despite all of the trauma that Manny goes through.

I wasn't a huge fan of the twist towards the end of the book, so that's the only reason this isn't getting five stars. But it's a beautifully written book, just make sure you're in the right head space to read it!

HOLY SHIT. this was fucking great. a queer, religious cult trauma, eerie mystery mindfuck coming of age story. absolutely gorgeous writing & nonlinear structure. heartbreaking and hopeful i need several moments to process this.

Super engaging, stressful, hopeful story about a homeless queer kid in California trying to get back to the evangelical Christian cult he left behind so that he can find out if his sister, who stayed, is the dead body that’s been discovered in the woods outside the cult facility.

I loved how grounded this book felt in Manny’s perspective, as well as how nuanced its portrayal of religious abuse is - usually if a book is about this it’s about one *particular* bad group, whereas this book felt much more realistic to the current US… state of being… in its depiction of the way these groups can pop up out of nowhere (or Youtube, as the case may be) and be based in nothing, and therefore are totally malleable to whoever is in charge… and meanwhile the same thing can be happening in just a slightly different form right down the road. The interracial adoption element was also chillingly realistic.

So this is a (lightly supernatural) thriller! It’s funny, I requested this ARC because I liked Anger Is a Gift - contemporary YA about police brutality in SF - and I read the author’s recap blogs back in the day (so thanks to him for turning me onto a cool, up and coming author named NK Jemisin haha) and I honestly expected this to be more contemporary YA, or maybe fantasy? But this book is definitely a thriller - I read it in one sitting because I *needed* to know what was going to happen, which pretty much says it all. (Okay I did have to “work” at my “job” for a bit in between chapters.) I will say that like 90+% of thrillers, imo it gets a little shaky at the end - the build-up is almost always better than the reveal - but like a good thriller, the build-up was so good it didn’t really matter… and the very very end? Is fantastic.

Wow. Just wow. I am once again overwhelmed by how well Oshiro writes books. Great characters and characterization. I loved how fleshed out and complex they all were. The plot is also something I've never seen before, with a great twist at the end. I also loved the way different fonts were used to differentiate different time periods. Such a cool detail.

One can tell the author is close to this story, and feels deeply about the topic. It leaves you wishing for healing and safety for children who are in similar situations, and for compassion and care for those who need help. The writing is compelling, and conveys the anguish of a teen who has been abused and cast-off, and who is facing a challenging situation. Key topics of the story include LGBTQ, social safety networks (or lack thereof), consideration of children's thoughts/feelings in family placement, and religious/others that take advantage of the unprotected and defenseless. You feel this story long after you finish.

INTO THE LIGHT by Mark Oshiro is gripping from start to finish. The story begins with lots of questions as it jumps back and forth between different timelines and perspectives. Ultimately, it's the story of Manny and his sister, Elena, who can't find a home from the foster system. They're eventually adopted into a cult, which Manny leaves for unknown reasons. As he drifts about California hitching rides with various strangers, he learns from the news that a body has been discovered on the cult's property and has to find out if it belongs to his sister.

With its various threads, the narrative is intriguing. Manny's emotional wounds make him frustrating at times but always sympathetic as he learns to accept himself and love from others. To be honest, there's a twist late in the story that I wish had been foreshadowed in a way that would've made it more believable, but overall this was a beautiful and compulsive read.